Can the Ravens Protect Lamar Jackson from Browns Pass Rush?
The Baltimore Ravens might be the most balanced offensive front the Cleveland Browns will face to this point in terms of their pass protection, but the areas where they are potentially vulnerable are in the worst spot for a quarterback like Lamar Jackson. That makes the choices both coordinators make this week on that side of the ball compelling.
The Ravens have dealt with injuries, missing both left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Tyler Linderbaum, missing the last two games. They might be on track to return against the Browns this week, which should provide a nice boost, but their replacements have done a solid job in pass protection during their absence.
Patrick Mekari has been one of the most valuable swing tackles in the NFL and showed why in his two games at left tackle. However, the Ravens would much rather have Stanley in there, especially if he can be at full strength when dealing with Myles Garrett. Stanley was pretty good in both games against the Browns last year.
Garrett's worst game of the season in 2022 was against the Ravens. Garrett's shoulder injury played a role, but Stanley and the help he was getting against Garrett was enough to limit him. Garrett did record a sack and generated some pressure, but he wasn't nearly as effective as he was the rest of the season. The second matchup, Garrett had 1.5 sacks against the Raven with Tyler Huntley at quarterback.
Sam Mustipher has done an admirable job at center in pass protection while Linderbaum has been out. That said, John Harbaugh believes that Linderbaum has Hall of Fame potential and he may be right. Linderbaum really excels as a run blocker, but he's light on his feet and anchors well to deal with power or pick up a blitzer.
It will be interesting if Browns nose Dalvin Tomlinson can create some problems for him with his sheer size and strength. Even just forcing Linderbaum to focus all of his attention on Tomlinson could create opportunities for teammates.
The Ravens are likely going to count on Linderbaum being able to block him without help and prevent him from collapsing the pocket. They are going to need their guards to be free to block elsewhere. If Tomlinson can be disruptive, that could provide a significant advantage for the Browns.
Right tackle Morgan Moses has been the most consistent offensive lineman on the Ravens to this point. He's a powerful, wide bodied block of a right tackle that consistently proves to be a valuable player. He doesn't have a ton of speed, so it's possible to get around him, but Moses tends to take good angles and just give himself the best chance succeed consistently.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo might be able to get him with speed, but Moses has the ability to deal with pure speed rushers. He's more vulnerable against opponents that have both power and speed.
The area where the Ravens are the most vulnerable is guard. Neither John Simpson nor former Brown Kevin Zeitler have been the weakest point on the offensive front. This is likely going to be an important matchup throughout this game. It's particularly important because if the Browns can generate pressure in the B gap, that may limit where Jackson can escape the pocket.
If the Browns are able to consistently put the Ravens into obvious passing situations, this could be a major pressure point. The Browns are all too happy to put Za'Darius Smith on a guard. Maurice Hurst has had success as an interior pass rusher as well.
Pressure up the middle is an issue for Jackson. He wants to be able to step up both to throw as well as pull the ball down and scramble, gashing the defense to extend a drive. If he faces pressure up the middle, he's forced back up and try to roll out. The Browns have the speed necessary to cover that type of escape and could either force throwaways or sack Jackson and kill drives.
The Browns haven't faced a premier athlete at the quarterback position yet this season. In their first three games as well as the preseason, the Browns have allowed their defensive line the freedom to attack however they want, relying on linebackers to play a secondary contain role.
It's difficult to believe that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will not have this defensive linemen playing stricter pass lanes. Jackson's too agile and fast to allow him free access to roll out, especially to his right.
The Browns have some interesting ways they can approach the situation. First, they can simply play a five front, putting a man over every lineman and gap. It makes it easier for the offensive line to plan their protection, but also forces the opponent to single block everyone.
One of the more intriguing options is to play in an even front with their defensive line lined up in double three-techniques and nine-techniques, then to have a free rusher attack up the middle. This accomplishes the goal of isolating the guards, but it also occupies Linderbaum so he can't help. He's got to stay in his gap to protect against a possible rusher.
This could be another great opportunity to line up Garrett over the center with a running start. If Linderbaum can't get to him, Garrett may put instant pressure on Jackson and force him into teammates off the edges who are playing contain.
Another option is to line up with the same front, but have multiple potential blitzers who will attack in the A gap. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah could sprint up the middle. They could have Grant Delpit coming on a safety blitz not unlike he did against the Cincinnati Bengals. Sione Takitaki could be a heavier padded A gap blitzer. They could send two in the form of a double A gap blitz, sending six in all.
Regardless of the approach, the Ravens have to account for multiple threats up the middle which could again produce immediate interior pressure, but also helps to prevent Jackson to just take off and run up the middle.
The Browns also have the personnel to do what the Miami Dolphins did against the Ravens when Brian Flores was their head coach in 2021. Send heavy blitzes from different angles while playing man coverage behind it. The 2-7 Dolphins upset the 6-3 Ravens 22-10. sacking Jackson four times and hitting him seven.
The Browns are likely to try to heat up Jackson as much as possible to limit the time he has to throw and make it difficult for him to use his legs. Additionally, Jackson has fumbled four times in three games, so if the Browns can get to him, he's shown he will put the ball on the ground.
If the Browns are sending all kinds of pressure at Jackson, they want to spread the opponent out with receivers under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The problem is that they've been down wide receivers (Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. did not practice on Wednesday), so they'd be relying on relying on tight end Mark Andrews, rookie Zay Flowers and then players like Devin Duvernay and Nelson Agholor. The Browns may like their chances against those matchups even if they have to dedicate extra attention on Andrews.
They may feel compelled to keep in extra help to protect Jackson, playing more big bodies to help in pass protection. Mekari, who has occasionally been used as a jumbo tight end might be an option for the sake of pass protection. They have gotten solid production out of their running backs there too, but the more guys they keep in, the fewer the Brown have to account for on the back end.
In the previous three games, the Browns had overwhelming advantages with their pass rush. This week, the Ravens have talent and experience to give them a steeper challenge, so it may come down to the schematic choices Jim Schwartz chooses to make and the answers Todd Monken has for his offense, which should make for a fun matchup to watch.
