Week 2 definitely seemed more like a team win. Yes, the team put up 33 points and had some big rushing totals, but it didn't feel like the Ravens overwhelmed on offense. They settled for FGs more often than they have in the past year. This was an old school game where Tucker and the Defense put up the points. I think the fear of the Ravens offense beat the Texans into submission and demoralized Watson all game long. Lamar still looks good passing, but it feels like they are trying to be too conventional this year. Yes we saw more read option this week, but not an excessive amount. Going traditional is showing some weaknesses in the OL as they aren't being given the extra split second against the defense. Orlando Brown had a tough time with JJ today, but that isn't going to sour me on him. I said last week that Edwards is tough to be your bell cow due to mistakes, but man he is great at closing out games. No one wants to tackle him in the 4th. Tavon Young being injured again is rough. Why when we lose a CB do we put Averrett in and on the outside? He is definitely the liability out there. So far 2 weeks from Judon and 0 sacks. This draft should feature DeCosta going big on young edge guys. Hopefully he can work some magic there as with the WRs. We're kind of tied to Judon because we don't have great options, but he's not that dominant edge guy. He's no Suggs. That INT from Peters was ridiculous. I didn't even know Peters was in the picture there. Boykin got some balls fed to him today and he responded well. He also made some nice blocks. I'm really not sure what to expect next week against the Chiefs. We are exactly where we should be right now though and continuing to dominate the scoreboard as we did last season.
It's interesting to see a game where the o-ine plays poorly, the coaches call, I think, 4 or 5 total runs by the back in the first half, the passing game struggles to get going (again because of the line mainly) and we still win by 3 scores against a good team. Idk what Dobbina did to only get 2 carries, 1 of which was in garbage time, but I did like seeing Gus Edwards run the ball. Been a fan of his since 2018. Loved seeing them get Boykin involved more. Duvernay seems to get 1 or 2 targets a game then doesn't play anymore. Not a fan of that. Peters and Humphrey are INT and FF machines. Loved seeing Malik Harrison play more. He had a great pursuit angle on one Watson scramble. Speaking of which, love watching Watson. Dude is almost as hard to tackle as Lamar. He saved his himself from a lot of sacks today. It was entertaining to watch. It's a sbame they traded away his best weapon. Going to be interesting to see the game vs the Chiefs next monday. Both teams showed why they are great as well as showed that both have weaknesses.
Does anyone else get the feeling that the offense is purposely holding back so as not to tip their hand to the Chiefs? I almost am feeling like we are intentionally showing a different offense so as to confuse them. I can't really understand why the intense shift from the read option last year to almost the polar opposite this season. It is feeling like in a movie when a boxer learns to bow with their non-dominant hand then then later in the fight all of the sudden switches and dominates because they went to their natural style???? I get it that they don't want Lamar to get hit/hurt but this is so stark a contrast it is like a totally different offense altogether. That being said, I think they look good from top to bottom. Running, passing, blocking, defense, special teams. It all looks like mid season form. I know that the team will still need to gel and will get even better but it is pretty good right now. Hurts to lose Tavon Young for the season again, which is what it looks like at the moment.
I think they've gone away from the read option because of the o-line. Either that or to prove Lamar can win frok a traditional offense, which he has after two weeks. Also, "Lamar Jackson is the 1st player in NFL history w/at least 45 pass TDs and fewer than 10 INTs over his first 600 pass attempts, per @NFLResearch Mahomes (49/12); Marino (48/16) & Warner (45/18) are the only other players with fewer than 20 INTs in 1st 600 attempts #RavensFlock" Took this from a post in another forum. His decision making when throwing the ball, from a ball security standpoint, has been fantastic
The difference is that they did it in one season, Jackson just reached 600 passes after 24 games. Teams have to play the run first before they can play pass defense against you guys
