Pass Rush Remains Ravens’ ‘Biggest Concern’
The Ravens thought they had addressed one of their biggest needs when they reached an agreement with edge rusher Za’Darius Smith early in free agency, but the deal fell through.
Baltimore revamped its defense this offseason by loading up in the secondary and bolstering its run defense, but the pass rush remains a question mark.
Tyus Bowser, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, led the Ravens in sacks last season with seven, and rookie Odafe Oweh had five. No other edge defender on the current roster had any sacks in 2021.
“Without question, pressuring the quarterback is the biggest concern the Ravens have going into the 2022 season,” Russell Street Report’s Chris Schisler wrote.
The Ravens could have the best secondary in the league, but a subpar pass rush could limit the defensive backs’ effectiveness and ultimately prevent the team from making a deep playoff run, Schisler said.
“Having a great secondary increases the chance of coverage sacks where the opposing quarterback holds the ball too long. The secondary helps the front seven, yet the front seven has to hold up its end of the bargain,” Schisler wrote. “Without players winning one on one matchups up front the work of the defensive backs only goes so far. The Ravens’ lack of difference makers that go after the quarterback could become a weak link.
“The Ravens have a lot of the pieces synonymous with a Super Bowl contender. If they find themselves in the playoffs against Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, having enough pass rush is essential. The one thing that could hold the Ravens back is pass rush that performs vanishing acts.”
That said, there is cause for optimism. It starts with Oweh, who showed flashes last year and could make a jump in Year 2.
“In theory, he could be the double-digit sack artist the team needs,” Schisler wrote.
Bowser has shown steady improvement since the Ravens drafted him in the second round in 2017, and his best football might still be ahead of…
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