'Every Guy Can Touch The Ball' Ravens Mike Macdonald Reveals Focus In Defending Miami Dolphins
It'd be nice for the Baltimore Ravens to get some time to enjoy their win over the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers, but that's not how the NFL works.
One week after dispatching the other conference's best team the Ravens are hosting the Miami Dolphins who know a win on the road makes them the best in the AFC.
If Baltimore pulls off the win, then there won't be much room for detractors to not crown the team as the best in the league today. That's not enough to secure a Lombardi Trophy, but the momentum and the first-round bye that comes with it would be invaluable.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) gains yardage after his catch in the fourth quarter defended by Baltimore Ravens safety Chuck Clark (36) at M&T Bank Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
We're getting ahead of ourselves, of course, because before all that has to come a win on Sunday against the Dolphins who are widely considered to be the fastest team in the NFL.
“It’s a challenge. It’s unique to the rest of the league because it’s at every spot," Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said of the speed Miami is bringing to the game. "Every guy that can touch the ball can take off and score from any point. So, it sounds cliché, but it is all 11 [players]. You have to take great angles, [and] you have to have great force, great secondary force, and a third guy in the alley. So – and the ball can hit at any point in the field, anywhere from the A-gap all the way out to the alley."
Even with receiver Jaylen Waddle not playing this weekend the secondary will have a bit of an easier job, but the task at hand won't be easy regardless.
With receiver Tyreek Hill healthy again after suffering an ankle injury earlier this month his speed alone is enough to strain even the best NFL secondaries. And with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa getting the ball out faster than anyone the speed in delivery and reception is hard to defend.
It's a tall task for Baltimore, and an opportunity for Macdonald and his defense to flex their collective muscles.
With everything on the line, the greats show up, and that's exactly what the Ravens need to be this weekend to secure their path to this year's Super Bowl.
