Entering 2023, Baltimore finds itself in a precarious position by relying on two young players for their pass rush. David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh’s respective breakouts will be imperative in the Ravens having any pass rush success in 2023.
It is no secret that the Baltimore Ravens pride themselves on defense. It is what carried them for so many years since 2000 when the defense led the way to a Super Bowl XXXV victory.
Over the years, the pass rush has been a massive part of those defenses. They have been led by the likes of Peter Boulware, Michael McCrary, Rob Burnett, Adalius Thomas, Terrell Suggs, Matthew Judon, and Za’Darius Smith. Since Suggs and Smith’s departures after 2018, the Ravens have scrambled to find ways to get to the quarterback.
Judon left in free agency after 2019, Baltimorr traded for Yannick Ngakoue in 2020, signed Justin Houston in 2021, signed Jason Pierre-Paul last season, and even brought back Pernell McPhee from 2019-2021.
Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo Must Lead Ravens Pass Rush in 2023
Increase In Sacks Is Key for Odafe Oweh
Baltimore selected Oweh with the 31st pick in the 2021 draft.
General Manager Eric DeCosta loved his upside coming out of Penn State despite not recording a sack in his last year in college. Overall, Oweh only recorded seven sacks at Happy Valley with five of them in 2020. His athleticism and potential made him a first-round pick, and he is still trying to develop a consistent sack game.
After Oweh’s first two seasons, he has only notched eight sacks in his career. His decent rookie campaign consisted of five sacks.
However, Oweh’s most significant moment came on a forced fumble and recovery against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs had the ball on 2nd-and-3 after the Ravens took a 36-35 lead. Oweh, in just the second game of his career, would come up huge.
Odafe Oweh with the HUGE play to force the fumble 😤😤pic.twitter.com/LC0nUGmItr
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 20, 2021
Oweh took a step back in 2022. Not only did the sack numbers not go up, but he was barely around the quarterback. Most of the Ravens’ pass rush came via veterans Calais Campell, as well as Houston and Pierre-Paul.
Despite this, all three veterans from a season ago are not on the team anymore. Campbell was released and signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, Houston and Pierre-Paul are still free agents.
Thus, the onus is on Oweh to finally take the next step this year because Baltimore wants to know what they have in him. One thing is for sure, Oweh is up for the challenge and wants to be ‘dominant’ this year.
David Ojabo Working Through Injury
The Ravens took Ojabo in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, knowing he would be a 2023 player to watch.
Ojabo tore his Achilles during Michigan’s Pro Day, effectively sidelining him for most of his rookie year. Whoever took him was getting an impact player with significant upside. Ojabo had twelve sacks during his junior season, which was his first full year as a starter.
Unsurprisingly, the Ravens, who always stick by their board and pick the best player available, were the team Ojabo went to.
The former Michigan Wolverine was placed on injured reserve and saw just one snap until Week 14. In the regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, Ojabo played 20 snaps and recorded a sack.
One week later, in the postseason, Ojabo only got two snaps on defense and four on special teams.
What to Expect From Young Ravens Pass Rush in 2023
The Ravens lack depth on the outside besides Oweh, Ojabo, and Tyus Bowser.
The problem with Bowser is his knee flared up during the off-season, and he is on the NFI list to begin training camp.
If the Ravens pass rush is going to click, Oweh and Ojabo will have to lead the way for a defense with high expectations. With the help of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, the duo will have to produce at a high level by reaching seven sacks or more each.
One of the pair hitting double-digits would do wonders for Baltimore. If they can do that, it will go a long way in determining how far the Ravens will go this season.
Main Photo: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
