Whats up with the D-Line?

[Ruhskins]

The Ravens back up D-line (2 DEs and 1 NT) has 11 tackles this season. But they also have great DBs.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

The Ravens back up D-line (2 DEs and 1 NT) has 11 tackles this season. But they also have great DBs.

...and Ed Reed. The best safety in football and maybe the best to ever play IMO.

[calia]

To be clear, though, the D-line is obviously designed to free up the LBs to make tackles, and they've done that. But if you look at teams with really strong 3-4 defenses, their front three do have tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles, and our guys aren't generating that. Until we do, I think opposing QBs are going to have enough time to pick our struggling secondary apart. They've been good at clogging lanes so that RBs don't have room (and our LBs have been closing fast and tackling well), and I agree that Bowen has looked pretty strong in getting his hands up on passes and otherwise forcing QBs to worry about him, but losing Carriker and Nield has been significant. I would also add that losing Orakpo has hurt the front 3 a lot -- teams can focus only on Kerrigan as they think that no other D-lineman can get to the QB. With Orakpo and Kerrigan, the D-linemen won't get as much O-line attention, and can get more pressure, etc.

Bottom line: with the injuries we have had, we really need to see if we can get better production out of Jenkins, Baker, and Cofield if our D is going to improve this year.

[SFREDSKIN]

One thing the line has been doing on a consistent basis, is deflecting many passes, especially Bowen.

[CrustyRedskin]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

One thing the line has been doing on a consistent basis, is deflecting many passes, especially Bowen.

That's a good deal cause the target it's headed to is more than likely wide ass open.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by CrustyRedskin

That's a good deal cause the target it's headed to is more than likely wide ass open.

Like the NO game that Bowen prevented a TD.

[skinsfan69]

I'd like to see a little more of a pass rush but they've been solid, especially against the run.

[Mechanix544]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

Like the NO game that Bowen prevented a TD.

so did orakpo, twice in a row inside the 15 if I remember correctly. Orakpo is not among the 5 best at his position in all of football, but he is a strong veteran player who did take alot of the focus off of the front three. With him gone, the front three are getting double teamed and chipped, when Orakpo was the main concern. Now that has shifted, because even though Kerrigan is a stud, he is not as pure of a pass rusher as Orakpo. He is better in space and in coverage than Orakpo, and is quicker, but most of the time opposition doesnt double team Kerrigan. This negatively affects our front three, but the bottom line is they HAVE to create more havoc than they have been in order to somewhat cover up the ridiculous weakness that is our secondary. Our entire season might be riding on the effort that they bring, because without it, teams look like they are going to score at will.

[Evilgrin]

Pass rush hasn't been good, but 2 injuries and everyone that watches Jenkins says he isn't back yet.

[los panda]

Originally Posted by Evilgrin

Pass rush hasn't been good, but 2 injuries and everyone that watches Jenkins says he isn't back yet.

when he gets back, he's going to cause some serious problems for his opposition. he looks a lot bigger and stronger than his listed size. i believe in jarvis!

[punch it in]

I just pointed this out in another thread, but here goes again. We are not as strong against the run as we think. We are actually in the bottom third of the league when it comes to yards per carry - only nine teams give up more than us. We are up there in total yards, but teams dont run alot on us. Why - because they know how easy it is to pass on us. The only team that really attacked us on the ground was the Rams and they shredded us for 170 yards.

[RGIII]

Cofield isn't built to play nose in the pros. He's playing hard and doing a repectable job but, the lack of brut push up the middle isn't there. That's not his strength, never has been.

[Evilgrin]

Originally Posted by punch it in

I just pointed this out in another thread, but here goes again. We are not as strong against the run as we think. We are actually in the bottom third of the league when it comes to yards per carry - only nine teams give up more than us. We are up there in total yards, but teams dont run alot on us. Why - because they know how easy it is to pass on us. The only team that really attacked us on the ground was the Rams and they shredded us for 170 yards.

I think your probably right on this unfortunately.

[punch it in]

Originally Posted by Evilgrin

I think your probably right on this unfortunately.

After seeing all the posts about the run d not being so bad and ranked up in the top D's I have been excited about it actually - like - oh we are a corner or safety away and maybe its not Haslett, etc, etc. Than today I was thinking about the Rams game and I started digging. Didnt like what I found either.

[MTK]

Cincy did try to pound it a bit, Green-Ellis had 17 carries for less than 40 yards.

Outside of the Rams game I think we've done a good job against the run.