No-Win Situation

The Ravens faced a trap game in the Meadowlands with sky-high expectations and converted the opportunity with a result that exceeded the standard in all but one significant manner.  Let’s review:

  • The Ravens were facing a team which was one of the biggest home dogs in recent years:  They didn’t lose a game gambling markets said they had a 91% chance to win.  That’s exceeding expectation, not meeting it.
  • The Ravens had a bye and the Giants played in week 14.  The Ravens are now 14-3 after a bye in the Harbaugh era.  Expectations exceeded.
  • The Ravens faced a pair of backup QBs in Tommy DeVito and his injury replacement Tim Boyle and held them to 4.5 net yards per pass play.  Expectations exceeded.
  • Despite the impressive passing yardage allowed, they played an uneven game of pass defense which contributed to 8 first downs by penalty for the Giants.  Expectations not met.
  • The Giants offensive line is decimated with injuries, including those to players who kept right on playing.  The Ravens held a decent rushing attack to 2.8 YPC.  Expectations exceeded.
  • The Giants had a secondary decimated by injuries.  Jackson threw for 10.4 net yards per play, a passer rating of 154.6, and 5 TDs with 0 INTs.  Expectations exceeded.
  • The Ravens averaged 5.5 yards per rush, 7.5 yards per offensive play, and converted 9 of 11 times on 3rd down (9/10 with Jackson).  Expectations exceeded.
  • The Ravens were expected to be able to cruise, rest starters, and get playing time for some backup players.  They rushed out to a 35-7 lead early in the 4th quarter, removed some of their stars on defense, swapped out 3 starting offensive linemen, finished the last 2 drives with Rasheen Ali at RB, and benched their MVP for Josh Johnson.  Expectations exceeded.

Yes, the Ravens have had a problem with defensive fouls, particularly in the secondary, which is something that could contribute to a playoff loss.  However, the defense of late has been among the best in the league and the team reclaimed the #1 spot in the overall DVOA rankings this week.

Despite the fact the Ravens are more likely than not to lose the AFCN to the Steelers, they remain one of the teams with the highest probability of hoisting the Lomabrdi.

Enjoy the ride and buy your playoff tickets wherever the Ravens may be playing.

Packages

Note: all snap totals exclude penalties resulting in no play, kneels, spikes, and specials team plays resulting in a run or pass.  As such, they will be lower than other published totals.

The Giants ran 59 such snaps.

Jumbo (1):  The Ravens used 4 DL along with 2 OLBs, 2 ILBs, 2 S and 1 CB, on 1 play, Tracy’s 2-yard wildcat conversion.  1 play, 2 yards.

Base (5): The Ravens used their base 3-4 defense with 2 ILB on 2 runs for 5 yards and 3 passes for 5 yards. 5 plays, 10 yards, 2.0 YPP. 

Standard Nickel (49): The standard nickel includes 2 DL, 2 OLB, 2 ILB, 3 CB, and 2 S.  It is most frequently used as a response to 11 personnel.  These plays included 15 runs for 49 yards, and 34 passes for 172 yards.  49 plays, 221 yards, 4.3 YPP, 3 sacks, 1 TO.

Heavy Nickel (1): This version of the nickel included 2 down linemen, 3 OLB, and 1 ILB, 3 CB, and 2 S.  1 play, 0 yards.

Dime (3): The Ravens deployed a dime included 2 down linemen, 2 OLB, 1 ILB, 4 CB, and 2 S in obvious passing situations. These 3 passes went for 14 total yards but no conversions.  3 plays, 14 yards, 4.7 YPP.

Pass Rush

Orr deployed a heavy blitz by numbers with some of the highest rates of deception he has called all season.

For the game, DeVito/Boyle had ATS on 6 of 40 drop backs (15%).  Those plays resulted in 28 yards (4.7 YPP), 1 INT.  However, he also delivered the ball before pressure could develop (BOQ) 17 times (42.5%) for 77 yards (4.5 YPP).  The Ravens generated a pressure event on 17 plays (42.5%) on which the Giants gained 76 net yards (4.5 YPP), including 3 sacks.  The Giants QBs had expected net yards of 212 and actual of 181, falling 31 yards short (0.8 YPP) of the standard for their opportunity set.

Summarizing by number of pass rushers:

3 or fewer: 1 play, 0 yards

4: 26 plays, 108 yards, 4.2 YPP, 3 sacks, 1 TO

5: 12 plays, 68 yards, 5.7 YPP

6: 1 play, 5 yards

7+: None

Total: 40 plays, 181 yards, 4.5 YPP, 3 sacks, 1 TO

The Ravens rushed 5+ on 13 of 40 drop backs (33%) on which the Giants gained 73 yards, 5.6 YPP.

Orr used 11 total blitzes (.28 per pass play) from off the LoS, all singles.  These 11 plays resulted in 1 ATS, 5 BOQ, 3 pressures, 2 QH and 82 net yards (7.5 YPP). 

The Ravens stunted 6 times, all singles, on which Giants threw for 29 net yards, 4.8 YPP. 

The Ravens showed simulated pressure 7 times, with 2 or more dropping from the LoS which resulted in 1 ATS, 3 BOQ and 3 pressures.  7 plays, 58 yards, 8.3 YPP.

I define a deceptive pass rush as incorporating 2 or more of the above elements (off ball blitzes, stunts, and simulated pressures).  The Ravens ran 6 deceptive rushes (15%) on which the Giants gained 58 yards, 9.7 YPP.

In words, Orr rushed numbers to lean on the young QBs with lots of deception.  While the sample size was small, deceptive elements were much less successful than in recent weeks.  However, the overall ratio of pressure to ATS (17 to 6) was outstanding.

Van Noy led the team with contributions to 4 pressure events (3 pressures, S-7).  No other Raven had more that 2 but 13 players had at least 1 pressure.

Extended Treatment

Michael Pierce

  • (Q2, 3:28): On 2nd/4, he contained DeVito inside to set up Ojabo S-1
  • (Q2, 2:46): On 3rd/5, he started to wrap up DeVito off initial pressure from Oweh, was blocked off play by LG Stinnie as Oweh recovered for S-5 negated by his IH
  • (Q3, 11:59): He pursued RB Tracy right for hard tackle PM4 (-5 + 9) [3] on jet toss
  • (Q3, 4:01): He was waived by on screen but pressured Boyle as play was diagnosed/denied by B. Washington
  • (Q4, 3:50): He bulled LG Stinnie to flush Boyle who Harrison chased down for S-2

The Giants managed just 2.0 YPP on Pierce’s 20 snaps.  He was paired primarily with Washington and Urban, but also played a single snap of nickel with Jones on 4th/2 (Q4, 15:00), something which has very rarely occurred in the time the 2 have been teammates.  The impact of Michael’s return bodes well for the remainder of the season as the Ravens will be able to deploy at least one of their big bodies on each play if they so choose. 

Roquan Smith

  • (Q1, 14:05): He cleaned up Tracy RM4 after Harrison MT at 2
  • (Q1, 12:52): He was rubbed off coverage of Tracy but ball was thrown high, INC
  • (Q1, 7:42): He assisted A. Washinton on tackle of Tracy RM1 despite loss of right edge by Oweh to RT Neal
  • (Q1, 3:12): He filled to tackle Nabers PM1 (-4 + 5) [3] jet toss off containment by Hamilton
  • (Q1, 2:34): He was blocked by RG Van Roten as part of Tracy RM12
  • (Q1, 0:35): He blitzed then recovered to tackle RB Singletary PR3 (-5 + 8) [4]
  • (Q2, 6:44): He was closest in zone on Nabers PL6 (5 + 1) [2] as Hamilton tackled quickly
  • (Q3, 10:50): On 3rd/5, he stunted through right B-gap for QH, Van Noy bulled LT Eluemunor to phonebooth pocket, and Boyle threw incomplete deep right for Robinson to force punt
  • (Q3, 2:59): He surrendered PL17 (9 + 8) [2] trailing TE Bellinger cleaned up by Humphrey
  • (Q3, 2:34): He dove over RB Tracy for PD off pressure from Madubuike

Roquan contributed to 4 defensive wins among 5 tackles and consistently made cleanup plays off containment and missed tackles.

David Ojabo

  • (Q1, 1:56): He was sealed by TE Bellinger as part of Tracy RL6
  • (Q2, 3:28): He delivered cleanup S-1 off initial pressure from B. Washington and containment by Pierce
  • (Q3, 2:59): He was not fooled on PA boot left and pressured Boyle on PL17

David had his first extended play (19 snaps) since week 10, a period which included 2 healthy scratches.

Kyle Hamilton

  • (Q1, 3:12): He contained left edge allowing Smith to tackle Nabers PM1 (-4 + 5) [3] on jet toss
  • (Q1, 2:34): He had MT at 4 yards as part of Tracy RM12
  • (Q2, 15:00): He streaked up to tackle Tracy RL1 after Robinson, Harrison overran play
  • (Q2, 14:18): On 3rd/6, he delivered thunderous hit to WR Robinson on PM5 (5 + 0) [3] to set up 4th/1
  • (Q2, 6:44): He made QT on Nabers PL6 (5 + 1) [2] with Smith closest in zone
  • (Q2, 5:22): On 4th/2, he had tight coverage, near PD of Robinson for PL2 (2 + 0) [1]
  • (Q3, 15:00): He blitzed unblocked off ORS for QH as Boyle threw PR5
  • (Q3, 14:07): He trailed Nabers on PL20 (20 + 0) [1] negated by illegal shift
  • (Q3, 11:34): He knocked back WR Hyatt to win left edge, blow up Singletary RM1
  • (Q3, 2:59): He was stiff-armed by TE Bellinger for MT at 14 yards on PL17 (9 + 8) [2]

Kyle had 2 missed tackles, but again contributed against the run, in coverage, and as a pass rusher.

Ar’Darius Washington

  • (Q1, 7:42): He penetrated through right C-gap to tackle Tracy RM1 with Smith
  • (Q1, 1:17): He was underneath WR Nabers by right sideline as DeVito overthrew, Wiggins failed to leap on potential INT opportunity
  • (Q2, 4:06): He beat WR Slayton inside to force Tracy outside where Humphrey/Wiggins tackled RR-1
  • (Q3, 3:51): He fell down in coverage of WR Robinson who he rotated to cover with Humphrey blitzing as Boyle completed PR25 (25 + 0) [5] behind him and in front of Wiggins
  • (Q4, 15:00): On 4th/2, he tipped Humphrey’s initial PD but was unable to collect INT in end zone
  • (Q4, 2:23): He undercut WR Nabers 33 yards [2] for INT on Giants final offensive play

Ar’Darius did not travel with the team and the Ravens were fortunate to have him available.

Defensive MVPs

  1. Ar’Darius Washington
  2. Michael Pierce
  3. Roquan Smith

Honorable mention to Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Van Noy, Nate Wiggins