Downing: It all the time looks like the pendulum is swinging for one aspect to the opposite. In recent times, we have answered loads of questions on why the Ravens are too reliant on the run recreation and are not giving Jackson the chance to point out his potential as a passer. Now we’re getting questions on an absence of dedication to the bottom recreation. Like most issues, the reality is someplace within the center.
First, let’s begin with Gus Edwards. I am an enormous fan of Gus the Bus, and as he informed us in his current look on the Lounge Podcast, he desires the ball in his fingers for a heavy workload every recreation. He can deal with 20+ touches in sure video games if the Ravens want that from him, however there are advantages to spreading the wealth on this offense. Justice Hill has additionally seemed good this 12 months and introduced some flash to the offense. Hill averaged 4.6 yards per carry in Sunday’s recreation towards Pittsburgh and displayed his elusiveness on a few of these runs. He is proven that he is deserving of touches this season. After all, his fumble is a mistake that merely cannot occur, and he’ll be targeted on avoiding that form of miscue in future video games. The NFL is an extended season and the Ravens need to guarantee this backfield is at its greatest for the lengthy haul. They already misplaced J.Ok. Dobbins for the season within the opener, and spreading across the ball is an efficient strategy at this level of the season.
Now, by way of the broader dedication to the run recreation, I am not shopping for the notion that the Ravens are too depending on the move. Baltimore ranks fourth within the NFL with 164 dashing makes an attempt this season. Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken has proven a want to be balanced in his play-calling strategy, and we have seen that by means of the primary 5 video games. I had no situation with the run-pass stability in Sunday’s recreation in Pittsburgh. As Mink lined above, the issue was with the execution on the a part of the receivers, not a run-pass imbalance.