Aggregate OL Results

The Ravens provided Jackson and Huntley Ample Time and Space (ATS) on 6 of 19 pass plays (32%), slightly below their season average.  Among 13 non-ATS drop backs, 10 were balls delivered before pressure could develop (BOQ) and 3 were pressures. 

Summarizing the OL performance:

  • They did not allow any sacks
  • They were charged with 0.67 of the 2 QHs
  • They allowed 0 pressures (Jackson ran for positive yardage on 5 occasions when the pocket was compromised)
  • They were not responsible for a run for loss
  • They were penalized 4 times for 25 yards
  • Among 54 run plays, they had an incredible 48 pulls and 50 blocks in level 2

Individual Scoring

The Ravens ran 73 scored snaps (excludes accepted penalties which result in no play, kneels, spikes, and special teams plays that result in a run or pass).

Brown:  Zeus held Carl Lawson without a pressure event with a lot of help from Lamar Jackson.  On 5 separate occasions, Brown contributed to a compromised pocket (Q1, 13:19; Q1, 12:31; Q2, 11:37; Q2, 7:59; Q3, 12:35).  They were not all entirely his fault by any stretch and Lamar Jackson scrambled for a gain on each.  I charged Brown with a miss on each of the 5, but no negative scores.  He missed 9 blocks, 6 of which were losses at or behind the LoS.  He made 11 blocks in level 2, delivered 2 pancakes, and connected (or sold a fake) on 5 of 8 pulls.  Of his 2 highlights, the more impressive was a pull where he put a shoulder into 3 separate Bengals (NT Xavier Williams, LB Germaine Pratt, and SS Vonn bell) to lead Dobbins 8-yard run (Q3, 2:38).

Scoring:  73 plays, 64 blocks, 9 missed, 1 false start, 61 points (.84 per play).  That’s a B with no adjustment.  In terms of scoring mechanics, those 5 full and partial pressures would have resulted in the equivalent of 3 full pressure charges, which would have reduced his raw score by .08.  Lawson is the Bengals best pass rusher, but Brown also had a game rich with L2, and highlight blocks.  By removing his subjective adjustment, the score is within .02 of a reasonable adjusted score and whether that mark is .84 or .82, it’s still a B.

One thing we’ve discussed on the podcast is that blocking for Jackson isn’t just easier, but Lamar can further benefit the score of a lineman who maintains engagement with his opponent.  Stanley has been expert at that, but Brown did that a couple of times in this game (Q2, 11:37 is the best example), which helped Jackson to find the time and space to scramble

Bozeman:  Bradley had an outstanding game with a remarkable pull total.  He did not log a single negative play or penalty.  Of 7 missed blocks, only 1 was a loss at the LoS with 6 others L2NB or various missed connections on pulls.  He made 6 blocks in level 2, had 3 pancakes, and connected on 16 of 21 pulls.  The 21 pulls tops the individual high I’ve ever scored (19 by LG Hurst on 12/30/18 vs Cle, and RG Yanda on 1/10/10 AFC WC vs NE).  However, Bozeman also made 3 pulls in the 12/30/18 game for the high for a position in a single game (22).  He passed up a block on DE Sam Hubbard on several occasions while pulling.  That looked odd, since he often blocks the edge rusher when pulling, but the regularity here indicates it was a schematic choice.

Scoring:  73 plays, 66 blocks, 7 missed, 66 points (.90 per play).  That’s an A after adjustment.

Colon-Castillo:  Trystan elevated his play in his second game as he was awarded the start over Matt Skura.  His only negative pass rush even was a 1/3 charge on Lawson’s QH when he allowed Margus Hunt to disengage and bat down the pass.  He had another snap infraction false start on the Ravens first play after halftime, but his snaps were all close enough to the strike zone that Jackson handled them cleanly.  Of his 6 missed blocks, 4 were losses at the LoS.  He had 9 blocks in level 2, delivered 3 pancakes, and connected on 4 of 4 pulls.  Of 3 highlight blocks, the first was a well-maintained level 2 block where he finished by pancaking LB Pratt (Q1, 6:00).

Scoring: 73 plays, 66 blocks, 6 missed, 1/3 QH, 1 false start, 62 points (.85 per play).  That’s an B with adjustment.

Powers:  Ben had a top-shelf performance despite a scoring assist from Jackson.  He did not have a pass rushing charge, but he was bulled by NT Williams to flush the pocket on Lamar’s 18-yard scramble (Q3, 12:35).  Of 2 missed blocks, both were losses at the LoS (also bulled by Covington).  He had 10 blocks in level 2 and made 6 of 6 pulls.  His highlight was a combination on DT Hunt then CB Tony Brown in L2 (Q3, 5:32).

Scoring:  73 plays, 71 blocks, 2 missed, 71 points (.97 per play). That’s an A prior to adjustment.  I reduced his adjustment because Lamar bailed him out on the above pressure. 

Fluker:  DJ played 32 snaps at RT and displayed both power and mobility in a game where his score was ultimately ruined by penalties.  He did not have any negative charges which were not flags.  Of 5 missed blocks, 4 were losses at the LoS.  He made 6 blocks in level 2 and delivered 4 pancakes.  He connected on all 5 pulls.  I did not score him for a highlight.

Prior to assessment for the penalties he had a score of .81, which would have put him near the high end of the B range with an adjustment reflecting his primary opponent (Hubbard) and the quality of the blocks he made.

Since his penalty adjustment is extreme, I’m going to break it down further. 

Let’s start with the holding flag (Q1, 9:50) on which he threw DT Margus Hunt to the ground.  To summarize my thoughts:

  • I don’t think the flag was marginal, as is often the case with a holding call. 
  • I don’t see a way the responsibility goes to anyone but DJ. 
  • The play was equivalent to a 4-yard sack on first down based on work done on series success rate by Dan Rees (see video section).
  • A 4-yard sack would have been a -6 charge, even though 4 yards is a fairly short loss for a sack.
  • Had the flag occurred on 2nd or 3rd down, the equivalent relative sack yardage cost would have been greater.
  • The full cost of the flag is greater, because penalties that occur during the play can be declined by the defense, so it had additional option value as well.  In this case, Lamar Jackson ran for 3 yards, so the Bengals chose to have it enforced.  However, had Jackson been sacked for a loss of 10 (say), they would have declined it.
  • It’s easier to see the defensive option value on a third down play when such a flag would frequently coincide with a drive-ending incompletion.

Unfortunately, Fluker’s 2nd penalty, came when he was illegally downfield on a pass play (Q3, 8:54).  Since all the other linemen stayed at or behind the LoS, I assume this was just a lapse on his part.  Since the pass was incomplete, the penalty was declined, but he essentially gave the Bengals defense a free play when he moved to level 2.  A 9-point score reduction for the 2 flags may seem harsh, but it’s consistent with my other event scoring, so I’m not inclined to make any offsetting subjective adjustment.  

Scoring:  32 plays, 26 blocks, 5 missed, 1 illegally downfield, 1 offensive holding, 17 points (.53 per play).  That’s a high F even after adjustment.  Fluker’s aggregate level of play at RT since week 8 has still been solid (high end of the C range) and frankly much better than the Ravens had any right to hope.  He’s moved from being an emergency replacement to a player who fits the scheme well and should be considered for a 2021 backup role.

Phillips:  Tyre played an extended relief role at RT.  He had a 1/3 charge on the QH by Lawson when he was bulled by Hubbard to phonebooth the pocket (Q2, 14:16).  He missed 5 blocks, of which 2 were losses at the LoS (once bulled, once shed).  Tyre made 5 blocks in level 2, delivered 1 pancake, and made 3 of 4 pulls.  Of 2 highlight blocks, his more impressive was a pull on which he twice shoved LB Markus Bailey multiple yards (Q4, 11:28).

Scoring:  41 plays, 35 blocks, 5 missed, 1/3 QH, 34 points (.83 per play).  That’s a B with or without adjustment. 

Bredeson:  Ben made 14 of his 17 blocks as a sixth offensive lineman.  Those included 3 blocks in level 2, 1 pancake and a highlight combination on DT Hunt then LB Bailey that he maintained to the echo of the whistle (Q4, 7:37).

Skura:  Matt was active but did not play at center or as the 6th offensive lineman.  Purely as a blocker, Matt had a solid regular season with the bulk of his difficulties relating to snap accuracy.  This was a game where Harbaugh obviously felt the potential variance of result was not worth the risk as the starting center.  It is a little odd to me that he did not get time as a 6th lineman, but were I to speculate on the reason, I’d say the Ravens felt they needed to evaluate Ben Bredeson’s play with a longer trial. 

With the Ravens crowded interior line situation, Matt may not return in 2021.  Given his body of work, I expect him to play somewhere and probably as a starter.

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.