Passing Game

Jackson was afforded ample time and space (ATS) on 17 of 34 (50%) drop backs resulting in a pass or sack. That total for dropbacks excludes the second official sack, which was clearly a designed run and I expect the Ravens will appeal to the league to get changed to a run play.   With ATS, he completed 7 of 17 for 121 yards (7.1 YPP).

He delivered the ball before pressure could develop (BOQ) 6 times (18%) with 4 complete for 48 yards (8.0 YPP).  He was pressured 11 times (32%), on which he completed 5 of 10 passes for 36 net yards (3.3 YPP).  In total, Jackson underthrew his opportunity set by 14 yards (actual 205, expected 219), which is 0.4 yards per play below expectation.

By number of pass rushers:

3:  none

4:  18 plays, 56 net yards, 3.1 YPP, 1 sack, 1 TO

5:  8 plays, 67 net yards, 8.4 YPP

6:  7 plays, 40 yards, 5.7 YPP, 1 INT

7:  1 play, 42 yards

The Steelers rushed 5+ on 16 of 34 plays (9.3 YPP) and averaged 4.7 pass rushers per play.

In response, the Ravens used 39 eligible receiver blocks (15 set, 24 chip, 1.15 per play) which is the season high.  In particular, the 24 chip blocks were primarily an attempt to help the tackles.

OL Scoring

The Ravens ran 57 scored snaps (excludes accepted penalties which result in no play, kneels, spikes, and special teams plays that result in a run or pass).

Stanley:  Ronnie’s score/grade was tarnished by a holding flag.  He was party to 3 pressure events (failed to pick up CB Sutton, pressure, Q1, 5:18; bulled inside by LB Herbig, pressure, Q1, 3:07; beaten outside by Herbig, ½ QH, Q3, 6:25; beaten outside by Herbig, ½ QH, Q4, 1:26). He was also flagged for holding DT Heyward (Q1, 10:00). Of his 3 missed blocks, all were losses at the LoS.  He had 4 blocks in level 2 and delivered 2 pancakes.  He was not assigned to pull.  He did not have a highlight.

Scoring:  53 plays, 46 blocks, 3 missed, 2 pressures, 1 (2 * ½) QH, 1 offensive holding, 34 points (.64 per play).  That’s a C after adjustment.

Had he avoided the flag, Stanley would have finished with a low B, so the infraction cost him 1 full grade level.

Mekari:  Patrick blocked well but he accumulated 3 declinable flags which greatly reduced his score. He was party to only 1 negative pass-rush event when he and Linderbaum had their double team split by NT Benton to flush Jackson on what eventually became a sack (1/6 sack charged to each player with most of the downgrade going to Jackson who failed to unload the ball, Q4, 15:00).  He was flagged for holding Heyward (Q2, 7:39) which stalled a drive. He was also twice flagged for ineligible down field (Q4, 8:46 and Q4, 1:34) which negated plays of 15 and 34 yards respectively. Of his 2 missed blocks, only 1 was a loss at the LoS.  He did not have any blocks in level 2 or deliver any pancakes.  He connected on all 3 of his pulls.  He did not have a highlight.

Scoring:  53 plays, 50 blocks, 2 missed, 1/6 sack, 1 offensive holding, 2 ineligible downfield, 38 points (.72 per play).  That’s a C after adjustment.

Mekari’s offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct flag did not impact his score, but his other penalties were the difference between a mid/high A and a C.  It’s not appropriate to excuse the penalties in this case and I think the magnitude of the downgrade is fully justified if not understated.  Mekari now leads the Ravens in penalties with 12, nullified yards with 77, and has 3 stalled drives, 1 declined foul, and 1 offsetting.  He and Ronnie Stanley (6) are the only 2 Ravens with more than 2 stalled drives.  Patrick now has 1 flag every 56.8 offensive snaps, a 68% higher rate than John Simpson in 2023.

Even more amazing is that Mekari even with all infractions included, has been a solid B player at LG this season.

Linderbaum:  Tyler Struggled with Heyward and Benton but compensated in art with some good mobility.  He was party to 4 pressure events (bulled by Heyward, ½ pressure, Q3, 9:30; shared pressure with Mekari when split by Benton, 1/6 sack, Q4, 15:00; bulled by Heyward for PD, ½ pressure, Q4, 3:29; bulled then pancaked by Heyward to flush Jackson right, ½ QH, Q4, 1:26).  His only missed block was a loss at the LoS.  He connected on his only pull.  He had 6 blocks in level 2 and delivered 2 pancakes.  He had 3 highlight combination blocks. 

Scoring: 53 plays, 48 blocks, 1 missed, 1 (2 x ½) pressure, ½ QH, 1/6 sack, 43.5 points (.82 per play).  That’s an B- after adjustment.

Faalele:  Daniel struggled with missed blocks and had difficulty finding work in level 2 in particular.  He was party to 3 pressure events (bulled by DT Lowry, pressure, Q1, 2:31; bulled by Benton, ½ pressure, Q3, 9:30; tripped Rosengarten backing up which caused failed exchange of LB Roberts/DT Ogunjobi; ½ pressure, Q3, 7:33).  Of his 10 missed blocks, 5 were losses at the LoS.  He connected on 1 of his 2 pulls.  He had 2 blocks in level 2 but did not deliver a pancake. He had 2 highlight combination blocks.

Scoring:  53 plays, 40 blocks, 10 missed, 2 (1 + 2 x ½) pressures, 36 points (.68 per play). That’s a D with or without adjustment.

Rosengarten:  Roger had consistent help with TJ Watt which helped him to a solid overall score.  He was party to 3 negative events (failed to block LB Watt who penetrated to tackle Henry RM-3, penetration, Q3, 10:09; tripped over Faalele, ½ pressure, Q3, 7:33; beaten outside by Watt to flush Jackson forward, ½ pressure, Q4, 3:29).  Of his 9 missed blocks 7 were losses at the LoS.  He did not have any blocks in level 2.  He had 1 pancake. He connected on 1 of his 2 pulls. He did not have a highlight, 

Scoring:  53 plays, 41 blocks, 9 missed, 1 penetration, 1 (2 x ½) pressure, 37 points (.70 per play).  That’s a C with adjustment.

Among 34 pass plays, the Ravens had 24 right-side set or chip blocks. 

Cleveland:  Ben played 1 snap as a 6th offensive lineman and made his block.