Running Simulations
The Dolphins provided plenty of deceptive pass rush despite consistent cover-0 looks.
Specifically, they ran an incredible 24 simulated pressure plays, including:
2 dropping: 16 times
3 dropping: 7 times
4 dropping: once
Nose tackle Adam Butler dropped 18 times (!!!) to coverage which is close to as many times as Martindale might drop all Ravens IDL combined in a full season. Since protections are schemed from the inside and must by nature leave one edge defender unblocked when facing cover-0, the Ravens allowed the Dolphins to drop Butler and a player who could provide some coverage value to either side of him in a short zone and made it more difficult for Jackson to target hot reads. It also meant that the interior Ravens OL often had no one to block while one edge was consistently overloaded.
Because the Dolphins rush generated most of their pressures from free runners, the Ravens linemen scored well in aggregate with no penalties, 2 sacks, 1.5 QHs, and 4 pressures as a group.
Given the propensity for coordinators to mimic success, the Ravens will probably spend much of the week figuring out what they need to do to beat such looks with simulated pressure.
Rushing Numbers
The Dolphins rushed 5+ on 26 of 45 plays (58%) resulting in a pass or sack. While it seemed like an all-out numbers rush, it was only the 3rd most of 5+ this season (Denver 70%, LAC 67%)
Jackson had ample time and space (ATS) on 12 of 45 drop backs (27%), a little low. When Jackson had ATS, he was 8/12 for 73 net yards, 6.1 YPP, which is poor. However, on all other plays he averaged just 4.2 net YPP (fairly typical).
The Ravens again used eligible receivers to help their tackles. The shocking number is not the total of 35 blocks from eligibles (.78 per play), but the fact that 33 of the 35 blocks were set and just 2 were chips. Effectively, the Ravens were not able to have RBs or TEs leak out into any sort of route that might have provided Jackson an outlet. The Dolphins were happy to pin these receivers in the backfield or on the edge, because doing so did not change the +1 rusher overload on 1 side or the other and each set block reduced Jackson’s possible targets by 1.
Individual Scoring
The Ravens ran 71 scored snaps (excludes accepted penalties which result in no play, kneels, spikes, and special teams plays that result in a run or pass).
Villanueva: Alejandro had a solid game. He surrendered a full sack to ROLB Jaelan Phillips when beaten inside to flush Jackson left (Q1, 0:06). He was beaten inside by LB Andrew Van Ginkel (Q2, 2:29). He was bulled by LB Phillips for a full pressure charge (Q4, 2:00). He missed 5 blocks, all of which were losses at the LoS. He made 1 block in level 2 and delivered 2 pancakes. He made his only pull. I did not record a highlight.
Scoring: 67 plays, 59 blocks, 5 missed, 1 pressure, 1 QH, 1 sack, 48 points (.72 per play). That’s a C with or without adjustment.
Powers: Ben had a good game despite the fact he often had no one to block due to simulated pressure. He allowed a pressure when beaten outside by DT Zach Sieler (Q1, 13:51). He failed to pick up DT Sieler who took down Freeman for a 4-yard loss (Q3, 8:47). He missed 3 blocks none of which were losses at the LoS. He and Zietler pulled in opposite directions on a keystone-cops RM1 by Bell (Q3, 6:47). He made 2 of 3 pulls. He did not make any blocks in level 2, deliver a pancake, or record a highlight.
Scoring: 67 plays, 62 blocks, 3 missed, 1 penetration, 1 pressure, 58 points (.87 per play). That’s a B+ after adjustment.
Bozeman: Bradley had his third straight good game. He failed to slow NT Adam Butler and shared his sack with Phillips on a screen pass (Q3, 12:46). He shared a penetration with Phillips when bulled 3 yards into the backfield by DT Christian Wilkins (Q1, 3:41). He missed 2 blocks one of which was a loss at the LoS. He had 2 blocks in level 2, delivered a pancake, and made his only pull. He did not have a highlight.
Scoring: 67 plays, 63 blocks, 2 missed, ½ penetration, 1/2 sack, 59 points (.88 per play). That’s a B with or without adjustment
While Bozeman has not air mailed a snap since early in the season, snap velocity and low placement continue to be issues. That problem was magnified in this game where pressures developed quickly.
Zeitler: Kevin continued his fine play. He did not have a negative play. He registered a missed block when he pulled in the wrong direction and ran into Powers (Q3, 6:47). Of 4 missed blocks, 2 were losses at the LoS. He made 2 blocks in level 2 and delivered one pancake. He connected on 6 of his 7 pulls. He did not have a highlight.
Scoring: 67 plays, 63 blocks, 4 missed, 63 points (.94 per play). That’s an A with or without adjustment.
Phillips: Tyre struggled in his second full game at right tackle this season. He shared the screen sack allowed with Bozeman when he failed to block DE Emmanuel Ogbah who phoneboothed the pocket (Q3, 12:46). He allowed 2 full pressures to Ogbah (Q2, 4:49, batted pass; Q4, 0:54 flushed Jackson right). He took a ½ charge for a QH when beaten outside by LB Jerome Baker (Q4, 12:27). He missed 8 blocks, 5 of which were losses at the LoS. He did not have a block in level 2 but delivered 1 pancake. He connected or sold a fake on both pulls. He had a highlight run block on each of the first two drives (Q1, 12:25; Q1, 6:22)
Scoring: 67 plays, 54 blocks, 8 missed, ½ penetration, 2 pressures, ½ QH, ½ sack, 44.5 points (.66 per play). That’s a D with or without adjustment.
If you’re interested in seeing scoring trends for the players this season, those charts will be posted in the Gallery section and updated weekly.
