All Ravens Tight Ends Are Becoming a Matchup Problem
Over the previous two video games, most performs made by the Ravens’ tight finish trio of Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar have been delivering blocks to free Henry for 350 yards and three touchdowns. But in the Bengals’ concerted effort to decelerate the Ravens’ tailback, the tight finish trio got here alive in the go recreation, and Pressbox’s Bo Smolka notes how they’re difficult opposing defenses.
“The Ravens’ tight ends proceed to be a matchup downside for opposing defenses, and in a number of methods,” Smolka wrote. “Not solely do they make catches, however they’ve been distinctive perimeter blockers this season, usually wiping out smaller defensive backs to spring lengthy runs, and so they have turn into main decoys.”
Smolka famous their manufacturing wasn’t the one factor impacting the Bengals’ protection, however their presence, too.
“Asked this week about Andrews’ low manufacturing this season, quarterback Lamar Jackson famous that when Andrews has been double-teamed, the sector opens for others,” Smolka wrote. “Indeed, in the primary quarter, the Ravens confronted third-and-five at their 21-yard line. Many, many instances over the previous 5 years, Jackson has seemed for Andrews in that actual state of affairs. That’s most likely why the Bengals double-teamed Andrews. Instead, Jackson lofted a go simply past Andrews and people two defenders, to a wide-open Zay Flowers for a 26-yard achieve. In the third quarter, Likely went in movement to the left, and after receiving the snap, Jackson seemed that approach. Then he rapidly seemed proper and located Kolar wide-open for a 55-yard catch-and-run.”
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