The Baltimore Ravens are off to a slow start this year. Although the season is still young, the team has struggled to click on all cylinders. At times, the Ravens look like a dangerous team but that visual has been all-around inconsistent. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is playing at an elite level as expected, but he hasn’t been able to utilize all his weapons. Baltimore’s offensive play-calling seems to be limiting Jackson’s options, as players such as Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, and Nelson Agholor seem to be underutilized. Kicker Justin Tucker has been reliable, but less than the superhuman he once was, and the Ravens defense isn’t giving off “Bullies of Baltimore”.
The Ravens are not typically a team that sputters out of the gate, but this season has been uncharacteristic. Baltimore is 0-2 to begin the season for the first time in nine years. In 2015, the Ravens finished 5-11, one of the worst seasons in franchise history. At the time, head coach John Harbaugh had produced his first losing season in eight years, but many factors contributed, including a myriad of injuries to star players.
Three Big Reasons Ravens Are off to a Slow Start
1) Defense
The secondary is starting to bend to the point of breaking in crunch time. The defense is playing well in spurts, which hasn’t been good enough to propel the team to victory. So far, the Ravens’ defense has given up 567 passing yards which is the most in the NFL. Baltimore has also given up the most passing first downs in the league with 29. In Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders, the defense allowed 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Ravens held a 10-point fourth-quarter lead that quickly dissipated. If the Ravens plan on turning things around, the defense will need to hold up.
2) Running Game
The Ravens offense is underutilizing players that can make a difference, hence the slow start. Running back Derrick Henry was used more in Week 2 than he was in Week 3, but still not nearly enough. Henry is a workhorse who doesn’t mind carrying the ball 20-plus times per game, and that has yet to happen. Henry is also a great pass catcher, but he isn’t getting many opportunities to catch the ball out of the backfield. For the entirety of Henry’s career, he’s been the focal point of any offense he’s a part of. Baltimore is a run-heavy team and must get the ball in King Henry’s hands more often. Henry’s backup Justice Hill has also been used sparingly. Hill has proven to be a reliable player with big-play abilities. The Ravens could have the scariest backfield in the NFL if the trio of Henry, Hill, and Jackson can gel.
3) Kicking
Ravens Kicker Justin Tucker is the greatest kicker of all time and Baltimore is lucky to have him. Tucker has had quite a career so far and that’s an understatement. No matter how great, history proves that even the greatest players can have bad stretches. Unfortunately, Tucker is in the midst of a bad stretch. Tucker is usually automatic from 50-plus yards but is 0-2 this season. Since the start of last season, Tucker has only made one of seven attempts from 50-plus yards. The Ravens rely on Tucker to be their safety net and will need better contributions from the legend.
Main Photo: [Tommy Gilligan] – USA Today Sports
