One would think that a team that starts the season 2-0 would be creating some buzz. This Baltimore Ravens team however, still seems to be underappreciated. Sure, the two wins came against two teams, the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, who are winless thus far. Add the fact that they needed 25 unanswered points to overcome a 20-0 deficit last week in Cleveland, and maybe it is a bit understandable that they are not considered world-beaters yet.
But still, this team seems to not be getting any love. The power rankings over at NFL.com put the Ravens at number 15, last amongst undefeated teams and behind seven teams with one loss. ESPN shows a little bit more respect ranking them at number 13 only in front of the 2-0 Philadelphia Eagles. Neither of these rankings show faith in this years’ Ravens so far and thus they are flying under the radar. Among these 2-0 Ravens are four players who also seem to be flying under the radar. As the season unfolds look for these Ravens to start getting more hype.
Ravens Under The Radar
Mike Wallace
Let’s start out with maybe the most obvious name of the bunch. Forgotten free-agent signee Mike Wallace has started the season absolutely on fire. In fact, each of the Ravens three touchdowns so far have been scored by this dynamic wide-receiver. Throughout the offseason so much buzz was coming out of Ravens camp about the chemistry between Wallace and franchise quarterback Joe Flacco. And on paper that made sense.
Wallace made a living as a Pro-Bowl caliber receiver early in his career as a big play threat with strong-armed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. After spending the last few years as a miscast in offenses with weak-armed quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Teddy Bridgewater, the former Ole Miss Rebel is finally reunited with a quarterback with a big arm.
Flacco is arguably the best deep ball thrower in the game right now and this new deadly duo showed their chemistry right away with a 66-yard bomb for the first touchdown of the season week one against Buffalo. Throughout last season Baltimore was missing a consistent deep-ball threat. Flacco and Offensive Coordinator Marc Trestman have got to be elated so far at the results of this signing.
Timmy Jernigan
Are we finally seeing the official coming-out party of this former Florida State Seminole? Through two weeks it sure seems that way. Jernigan has been in the backfield blowing up plays at will this season. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gives Jernigan a 78.9 overall grade this season which is a fantastic score. He was especially effective week two against the Browns (81.6 PFF grade) racking up six tackles, two for a loss, and one sack by way of a devastating spin move on center Cameron Erving. Jernigan looks like a force to be reckoned with after displaying flashes sporadically through his first two seasons.
A lot was made this offseason about Jernigan’s newly motivated self and workout regime and it finally looks as though it has paid off. A loaded Baltimore front seven, along with many exotic defensive blitzes by coordinator Dean Pees, make it difficult for teams to double-team the big guy in the middle so look for big numbers from Jernigan this year.
Kenneth Dixon
A potentially surprising name as Dixon has yet to play a snap in his career. After suffering a sprained MCL in the preseason, Dixon’s much-awaited rookie debut has been put on hold. No exact return date has been determined yet, but reports are saying it likely will be sooner rather than later. Boy do the Ravens need it.
To say the Ravens’ running game has been stagnant would be putting it nicely. After making the curious decision to only keep two running backs active in both games the Ravens two-headed “monster” of Terrance West and Justin Forsett has only been able to muster up 3.23 yards per carry. Not only that but the longest run this season so far for the Ravens actually came via wide receiver Mike Wallace and was only 11 yards! This needs to change if the Ravens want to contend in the brutal AFC North which has long been determined by cold weather games, hard-hitting defenses, and dominant run games.
Enter the Louisiana Tech product. As soon as Dixon gets healthy, look for him to ease into the lead-back role. Head Coach John Harbaugh and Trestman could not stop talking about this kid all offseason. Many pundits even called the fourth-round draft pick one of the steals of the draft. Dixon scored an astounding 87 career touchdowns in college, only one shy of the NCAA career record (ironically behind fellow teammate and practice squad member Keenan Reynolds). Dixon has quick feet, jaw-dropping elusiveness, and unbelievable hands out of the backfield looking the part of a true future bell-cow. And unless something drastic changes in the weeks before Dixon’s debut, that is precisely what the Ravens are looking for to electrify this running game.
Michael Pierce
Last, but certainly not least, the most surprising and under the radar name maybe on the entire Ravens roster. Put simply, Michael Pierce has been an absolute beast, when given playing time. PFF gives Pierce the best mark of all Ravens defensive front-seven members thus far with an eye-popping 80.3. Through only a minuscule 33 snaps played, Pierce already has a sack, a quarterback hit, and two hurries. Small sample size warning of course, but after watching both games so far Pierce looks flat out dominant and unblockable. Pierce uses his above-average athletic ability and low center of gravity on his 6’0 339 pound frame to overwhelm any blocker in his way.
As the season goes on and Pierce earns the trust of the coaching staff he stands to gain playing time. With this inevitable jump in playing time and further development, an already deep defensive line will become a true force. The undrafted rookie out of Samford hopes to be another one of the many undrafted gems by this stellar scouting team.
Going Forward
The Baltimore Ravens do not generally fly under the radar. Since 2008, the arrival of Flacco and Harbaugh, Baltimore only missed the playoffs once in the seven seasons before last. Due to all of this, this season has led to the lowest expectations in recent memory for this franchise. However, so far the Ravens have yet to slip up and have played well overall. Another win or two and this team might start getting some respect. Once the team gets more respect, these under the radar players will start to get their due. Watch out NFL, the Ravens are coming.
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