Beating Themselves

Lamar Jackson was sacked twice to stall the first drive en route to a 10-0 deficit to the Bucs but then began a string of 34 unanswered points on 6 consecutive scoring drives beginning with their second possession.

Both during those drives and after they had a commanding 34-10 lead, the Ravens proved capable of beating themselves but the Bucs were not up to the task.  Let’s review:

  • D2 (TD): Drove 70 yards on 6 plays, all of which were 7+ yards
  • D3 (TD): Drove 80 yards on 4 plays and scored despite an invisible hold by Faalele which called back Jackson’s 8-yard TD run
  • D4 (FG): Drove 50 yards for FG despite 3 penalties of 10 yards each
  • D5 (FG): Drive stalled when Linderbaum’s snap hit Flowers for an 18-yard loss
  • D6 (TD): Drove 55 yards on 5 plays and overcame Mekari OH with Bateman 49-yard TD on next play
  • D7 (TD): Drove 92 yards on 5 plays highlighted by 81-yard run by Henry
  • D8 (Fumble): Ended with Jackson’s backward pass recovered by the Bucs to begin their comeback
  • D9 (TD): Drove 70 yards on 8 plays including a 39-yard run by Henry and 13-yard TD pass to Henry
  • D10: (Punt): Replaced Jackson with Johnson, Hill ran 3 times in the middle to force use of all 3 TB timeouts
  • They also lost a drive to a perfect onside kick

Even a defense stacked to stop them could not do so without Ravens help.

Passing Game

Jackson was afforded ample time and space (ATS) on 5 of 24 (21%) drop backs resulting in a pass/sack.  With ATS, he was 3 of 5 for 83 yards (16.6 YPP).

He delivered the ball before pressure could develop (BOQ) 11 times (46%) with 9 complete for 107 yards (9.6 YPP).  He was pressured 8 times (33%), on which he completed 5 of 6 passes for 74 net yards (9.3 YPP) including 2 sacks.

By number of pass rushers:

3:  1 play, 0 yards

4:  7 plays, 107 net yards, 15.3 YPP, 1 sack

5:  15 plays, 157 net yards, 10.5 YPP, 1 sack

6:  1 play, 0 yards

7+:  none

The Bucs rushed 5+ on 16 of 24 plays but it’s fair to say that nothing they tried had the desired impact on Jackson.

OL Scoring

The Ravens ran 54 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 had a top-shelf game reduced by a holding penalty.  He allowed 2 pressures (bulled by OLB Tryon-Shoyinka, Q2, 2:00; beaten outside by Tryon-Shoyinka, Q3, 2:57).  He was flagged for holding DL Hall that helped stall a drive (Q2, 0:40).  Of his 2 missed blocks, neither was a loss at the LoS.  He had 6 blocks in level 2 but did not have a pancake.  He connected on both of his pulls.  He had all 3 of the team’s highlights (Q1, 9:41; Q1, 9:06; Q3, 0:53).

Scoring:  54 plays, 50 blocks, 2 missed, 2 pressures, 1 offensive holding, 41 points (.76 per play).  That’s a B after adjustment.

Mekari:  Patrick took a step back from his outstanding play of the last 2 weeks.  He was party to 2 pressure events (beaten inside and pc’d by ILB David, ½ sack, Q1, 6:57; bulled by NT Vea, 1/3 pressure, Q3, 14:29).  He was flagged twice for holding (Q2, 0:31; Q3, 7:55).  Of his 2 missed blocks, 1 was a loss at the LoS.  He had 5 blocks in level 2 and delivered 2 pancakes.  He connected on all 3 of his pulls.  He did not have a highlight.

Scoring:  54 plays, 49 blocks, 2 missed, 1/3 pressure, 1/2 sack, 2 offensive holdings, 35.33 points (.65 per play).  That’s a D with adjustment.

Despite the grade, I believe Mekari still has a firm grasp on the LG spot.

Linderbaum:  Tyler had his second costly snap in as many games..  He was party to 2 negative events (bulled by DL Hall, 1/3 pressure, Q3, 14:29; bulled then shed by DT Gaines, 1/3 penetration, Q4, 1:52).  I charged him for a sack when his snap hit Flowers and bounced away for a loss of 18.  It appeared Jackson called for the ball but Tyler did not comply until Lamar asked a 2nd time. He was also flagged for being illegally downfield when thrown into L2 by DL Kancey (Q3, 13:52).  Of his 4 missed blocks 2 were losses at the LoS.  He connected on 3 of 4 pulls.  He had 3 blocks in level 2 and did not deliver a pancake.  He did not have a highlight. 

Scoring: 54 plays, 47 blocks, 4 missed, 1/3 penetration, 1/3 pressure, 1 sack, 1 illegally downfield, 36.67 points (.68 per play).  That’s a D- after adjustment.

Had the poor snap been a successful block instead, he would have had a B-.  I could buy an argument that either Lamar or Flowers shares responsibility but I don’t see how a portion of the charge does not belong to him.

Faalele:  Daniel struggled with Kancey, Diaby, and his own decisiveness with regard to finding work.  He was party to 3 negative events (face crossed by DL Kancey, ½ penetration, Q1, 8:27; bulled into cone by OLB Diaby, ½ pressure, Q2, 4:42; beaten outside by Kancey to flush Jackson left, 1/3 pressure, Q3, 14:29).  He was also flagged for holding which negated Jackson’s TD run (Q2, 4:34). That flag was criticized by the announcers and officiating specialist. Of his 11 missed blocks, 5 were losses at the LoS.  He connected on 1 of his 3 pulls.  He had 6 blocks in level 2 and delivered 1 pancake.  He did not have a highlight.

Scoring:  54 plays, 40 blocks, 11 missed, ½ penetration, 5/6 (1/2 + 1/3) pressure, 1 offensive holding, 32.33 points (.60 per play). That’s an F evenafter adjustment.

Had the infuriating holding flag not been thrown, Daniel would have finished with a D+.

Rosengarten:  Roger had a solid game which provides a third positive data point in 4 starts.  He was charged with 2 pass rush events (beaten inside by OLB Diaby, sack, Q1, 7:42; beaten outside by Diaby, pressure, Q4, 6:38).  Of his 3 missed blocks 1 was a loss at the LoS.  He had 2 blocks in level 2 and delivered 1 pancake.  He connected on 1 of 2 pulls.  He did not have a highlight. 

Scoring:  54 plays, 49 blocks, 3 missed, 1 pressure, 1 sack, 41 points (.76 per play).  That’s a B with adjustment.