ESPN’s Sando: Baltimore Ravens defense banged up, struggling
Oct 26, 2015, 12:07 PM
It sounds weird to say it, but the Baltimore Ravens defense isn’t very good in 2015.
Once the calling card for a team that a franchise that made the playoffs seven times in a nine-year span from 2006 to 2014, Baltimore is 16th in the league in total defense, and 20th in passing defense. That side of the ball has been a big reason why the Ravens limp into Monday night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at 1-5 overall.
On the other sideline, we know how Arizona head coach Bruce Arians likes to take his shots down the field. It’s something that could be exploited by the Cardinals, according to ESPN NFL insider Mike Sando.
“The Ravens had to turn over their defense, they lost Terrell Suggs,” Sando told Bertrand Berry Monday on Off the Edge with B-Train on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “They can’t cover down the field. They’ve given up more deep passes than any other team in the league, and that plays right into the strengths of the Cardinals.”
Baltimore has yielded 26 passing plays of 20 or more yards in its first six games this season, or 4.3 per game. By comparison, last year’s Ravens allowed just 54 passing plays of 20 or more yards, an average of 3.4 per contest.
The Ravens have also allowed three touchdown passes of 68 or more yards on the season.
Baltimore’s secondary is banged up heading into the Arizona game, with cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Asa Jackson and safety Kendrick Lewis listed as questionable and another safety, Terrance Brooks, won’t play.
In years past, the Cardinals had a lethal passing game, but didn’t offer much in terms of balance. In an 11-win season a year ago, the Cardinals ranked in the league’s top half in passing yardage per game, but were second-to-last in rushing.
That’s changed this year, and should make things even more difficult for the Baltimore defense, according to Sando.
“Their running backs are averaging over five yards per carry,” he said. “That’s number-one in the league. They were last in that category last year. You look at what this coaching staff and front office did to improve run game personnel — on the offensive line, at running back.
“And you have to give Larry Fitzgerald a lot of credit for the way he’s blocking, too. I think they just need the threat of a running game, but they have a real running game and that’s huge.”
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