GBag Nation
Crusty's Corner: Bryan Broaddus takes a look at the Ravens Defense
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(upbeat music) Here's Brian Brodus with a look at that Baltimore Ravens defense. - Thank you very much, Jim, I appreciate that. Yeah, this is a team that's struggling a little bit on their defensive side of the ball. They're not getting the pressures. They're not getting pressures or sacks when they blitz. That's another problem that they've had in this. When you watch them play, there's some teams. They got the, away the defensive end for the Ravens. Got the first sack of the first play of the game against the Raiders of the day. And then other than that, it was kind of like they were really kind of struggling to get some pressure on the Raiders. And Kansas City was the opening opponent. They had some opportunities in those games and they just didn't, but the teams have done a pretty good job of attacking this Raven defense. The two games that I watched were, they're not getting off the football. They're not getting the pressures. They're not doing things that normally when you see a Raven defense. But they've got a lot of size up front. If you think you're gonna run the football against these guys, it's not gonna happen. Travis Jones has got size, Michael Pierce. I don't think they could block Michael Pierce in the running game because of just the size that they have. These guys don't give you any ability to give any push. When you get into them, what they do is they just absorb your block and then they get rid of you and then they find ways to make tackles. A Rowquan Smith at linebacker. It's a lot like when you're playing Coramour against the, against the Browns in week one. He's a smaller guy. He's gonna run to the ball. He's gonna make tackles, you know. - But he's smart like tomorrow Davis. - Yeah, he's just instincts galore. - Where they've where teams have taken advantage of him a little bit and the Raiders were able to do this was they got him in coverage. Kansas City did the same thing. - Yeah, Steve's tore him up. - Kansas City put him in coverage where they split their tight ends out. They played their tight ends detached and then they ran. They made, they got him in some one-on-one stuff. But they, they, this team has struggled to like I say, with playing some pass defense. Marlon Humphrey usually plays the left corner. He's given up two touchdowns already this season. He gave up one last year. - Doesn't look like he can run as well anymore now. - It's funny about him though. He, things have happened to him where like when, especially when they put him in the slot, they throw it quick on him. If, if they're gonna play him in the slot, every time that he's in the slot, and I know this is this, you know, it's rough to say, well, go after an all pro player like this. But in the slot, that's where I would attack him. On the outside, I would leave him alone. 'Cause he's comfortable playing on the outside. The slot looks to me like that he's a little bit of like he's not sure. Like, and I mean, not sure of like, which way you're gonna go. Where do I have to carry you? Are you gonna run me over here or up the field? And so it's, it, if, if you-- - It's a different beast in there. - It is a different beast. It's been a, and he's played this a lot more than he has at any point in time of his career. But they're trying to get Nate Wiggins involved. They have a guy, a second year player named Amor Davis, Jalen Amor Davis, that is playing some as well. This safety bunch has had trouble covering tight ends. So-- - Kyle Hamilton, that's interesting, he should be like an eraser. - Okay, Hamilton's playing, he's playing linebacker, he's playing, he's playing like, when you watch the games of him, they've got him now playing like curse did for the Cowboys. - Had like a Rover? - No, like down is a box, like a box linebacker. - I mean, they're, they're trying to replace Patrick Queen, maybe Trent and Simpson's not ready for that. - They're trying to, the thing is, they're trying to get tacklers down and there's what you're trying to do. But you can, you can look at, you can look at Hamilton, he'll play linebacker, he'll play slot, and he'll also play safety. And they're all kind of equal, like how, how they, how it's divided up. But the majority of the times where he's making plays is down in the box playing as that linebacker. I have a feeling he's gonna be the guy that's gonna carry Ferguson in this game. I don't think they're gonna-- - Yeah, come on. - Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson have had problems with the Raiders, and the Raiders have got two quality tight ends. The Raiders gave him problems, we all know what the Chiefs got it tied in, that could be a problem. And this is a team that's struggled with that, but they, you know, when you look at him also too, they've got this length on the edge when I was talking about OA and then Kyle Van Nooy. They're really big inside and they've got length on the edge. Their pass rusher, David Ajobu is there, I think, who is a backup, he wears number 90. - He's-- - He's finally healthy. - He's the one. - He's the one draft and stash. - Yeah, he's the one guy that when you watch them, like the get off of the football and get up the field, he's a guy that can cause some problems for you. So I think OA, Ajobu, those are the two guys. Montebique in the middle is not getting the pressures that we saw from him last year, he's not getting off the ball as quick as he was last year. And you can see people are blocking him more as that three technique. So the challenge is gonna be, like I say, if they can find any way to run the ball, I think it's gonna be very, very difficult here, just because of the size and the length that the Ravens have. Throw in the football, that's I think where you're gonna be. If you protect this thing, you've got a couple of different avenues to go at it. I would say Brandon Stevens is the right corner. - It's a plain old wildcat, right? - Yeah, Brandon Stevens is a guy that I would, he's one of those guys that has trouble at the top of the route. All of a sudden you're running routes on him and then you break inside, he has trouble just quickly adjusting inside to carry routes. So anything that kind of breaks in or makes him have to move could be a little bit of a problem there for him. - Yeah, I mean, I think all these corners, you can, particularly with CD lamb, totally take advantage of it. - I would take, I would take cooks and I don't know if they'll use cooks because we ask for it every year. - Yeah. - I would put cooks on Brandon Stevens 'cause I think that cooks is one of your best route runners. - Yeah. - I would have, I would wear Brandon Stevens out with cooks in this game, just making him defend routes all day. - Yeah, it's not something that's ever come naturally for him. - No. - He's he played corner safety back to corner. He's had to bounce around quite a bit. - Yeah, Marlon Humphrey to me is a guy, there's still that ability to make plays. He had an interception against the Raiders. He was a poorly thrown ball that he was able to, but he's not playing as well, but I wouldn't tempt fate there. Go the other way, attack if Wiggins somehow gets in the game, attack him. - He practiced today, I believe, so. - Yeah, Amora Davis, I would go after him. He wears number five, Brandon Stevens number 21. Those are the guys that I would try and take a run. And I think this could be a big game for cooks, especially if you match him up against Steve. - So Humphrey is playing mostly in the nickel on the inside. - Yeah, when they wanna get Wiggins on the field, that's what they've been doing. - Okay. - So then Lamb, maybe you wanna keep him on the boundary a little bit more 'cause he's pushing 60% of his snaps in the slot right now. - Yep. - Last year he did more Boundary X stuff, so maybe this is back to that. - I have a feeling, if you go in that slot area, then Humphrey's probably gonna walk in there with you. That would be my idea. - I mean, you're comfortable either way. - And that's a good spot. - It's always us. - I think to me, Humphrey's looks like he's struggling more at nickel than he is struggling on the outside. - Hey, Mike Filenny here, host a cash to ticket alongside my partner, Jim Costa. It's really simple. Are you tired of podcasts claiming they're a bunch of pro betters when they live in their mommy's basement? Are you tired of podcasts that claim they hit 80% of the games? When really, they just lose like most of us. Think cash to tickets, the spot for you. We're real, we're transparent, we're having a hell of a good time with it. And we sit there and we're there for the sweat with you guys. We're just trying to figure it out just like you. Follow and listen to Cash the Ticket on the free Odyssey app or wherever. You get your podcasts. (upbeat music) - Hmm. - So it could work out pretty wealthy, but this team, it's no joke. It's not because people can't run. They give up some big plays. Those explosive plays that talk about 14 of them, I mean, they're way ahead of where they were last year. I think as a unit, I think they give up 10. - And do you expect them to remedy that at some point this season? - I hope it's not, I hope it's not this weekend. - That's my hope, I mean, to me, they got to-- - When you're watching them, do you see good players? - Oh yeah, they're good players. - Making mistakes 'cause it's early or doing things out of character. - I think they missed their coordinator myself. - I think that they lost three coaches. - Yeah. - And two of the coaches, well, one of the coaches became a head coach, the other two became coordinators. I think they're struggling right now with a first year coordinator and they're struggling to play as a unit for him, but they're also giving up some big plays. And that's not what their game is, but if they don't correct that, then to your question, they're gonna be a team that's probably not gonna win many games because that's kind of their, that's their MO, is they play really, really good defense and they give the ball to their quarterback and here we go, but right now, they're struggling with that. - It's been a huge storyline, I think. And I don't know if coordinators have always been this big of a factor, but it seems massive right now, the continuity, knowing the strengths of your players, knowing a guy works well with your players, he calls the game well for your players, all those things definitely go into it across these corners. So you expect the Cowboys to have success on Sunday offensively? - I think there's possibilities for success. I don't think they'll be able to run the ball, but I do feel like if you protect your front, then there's a couple of opportunities, I think, with the way that the Ravens are playing their second, or the way the Ravens are currently playing their secondary that you can make some plays on them, but it will see how that goes. I mean, every time, like I say, you feel like, oh, hey, get cooks involved, you know? He's got a matchup here. - Oh, run them against a guy that can't really play routes all that well, then he'll have one target in the game for that kind of thing. - And we're talking about in the post game, like what the hell happened with cooks? - Yeah. - That kind of thing. - Is there a guy in that front seven, you mentioned OA as the edge guy? Is he moving around all over the place? - He's playing right and left side, him and Van Noy switch sides, and then a Jobo will also switch sides too. So yeah, if, you know, if, you know, Steels had a situation the last couple of weeks, he's given up a sack in the last, you know, two times, two games. I have a feeling they'll probably look at him, they'll probably try and attack the rookie. - Yeah, Jobo against Skyton makes me a little nervous 'cause he's got some natural bend to him. I remember him coming out of Michigan, he played opposite aid in Hutchinson, and that could be an issue for Skyton, if he's not, you know, that we talked about that hands in the field, if he starts lunging, a Jobo's gonna be-- - Hands are getting better over there if you watch that kid play, but he's got some ways to go. - Cross, he's corner is brought to you by Reliant air conditioning, gimmick-free AC repair and replacement, Reliant. So you did the Ravens offense for us yesterday, today the Ravens defense. Do you feel like the Cowboys are gonna get, if they're gonna win this game, is it going to have to be a shootout? Are they gonna have to score 25, 30? What do you think? - Oh, they're gonna have to score 30. I think they're gonna have to score 30. They're gonna have to find ways, you know, you've got to find ways to put pressure on this Ravens offense, you know, to me, and I said this early, I'm stacking this box and daring you to run the football, you know? I really am, I'm like, if you feel like that, if you feel like that you are sweet, I'm gonna make them throw the football by stacking the box. I'm gonna say, if I'm the Cowboys, Zae Flowers is a good player, don't get me wrong, Bateman's a good player, you know, the running back, they've got all good players, but the one thing that, you know, the quarterback, the biggest questions you have about him is his ability to throw, and throw consistently. So to me, you know, if I'm making him throw down after down after down, what happened in the championship game, the AFC Championship game last year, I think they ran about 16 times here with the rest of time and they didn't go anywhere, you know? So to me, I would rather die that way than having them just run the ball down my throat. - Well, with the over show news, he said today, he's gonna be in base. You know, I guess they see him as the spy on Lamar. - You know what, if you're gonna be the spy guy, this is a couple of things you need to do. You need to play with balance and you need to be a damn good tackler. And 'cause if you don't do either one of those things and you go up there and you miss, it's a huge play. Whoever that guy is, you know, if it's Parsons, whoever they decide, make sure you have balance and then make sure you're able to tackle. Because as a spy, you have to be able to kind of mirror where that quarterback goes. This guy's difficult in the pocket. I was watching the Raiders game and he throws the ball all the way across the field to save flowers as he's drifting back and drifts back again and then goes to his right and then throws the ball the way across the field. - So frustrating. - They lose coverage. They lose coverage because the longer, I mean, if you look at him in the league, the metrics tell you that this guy holds the ball longer than anybody in the league. You know, like over three seconds. The longer you make him hold, maybe the better shot you have, but what you don't want him to do is you don't want him to see a lane because then that takes off. Then that's where your spy comes in. All of a sudden you're like, you're starting to kind of drift and then you go out of place, much like we saw with Kendrick's on that screenplay, you overrun it and now it's a huge play. Can't have that if you're a spy. - But over shown, I think is the guy. I mean, he-- - He can close better. - I mean, his closing speed is crazy. - He can close and he can tackle him. - Awesome. - And he, I mean, he kind of flies in there sometimes. He's a little over pursue a little bit. That's the one thing he needs to make sure he doesn't do. - You gotta get these guys in passing situations though. If they stay, if it's, you know, how many times like we got to the third quarter last week in that game and the Saints were like four for four on third down. Late in the third quarter, four for four. They were converting on first down, second down, first down, second down, the whole day. - Didn't Zimmer start going to at times to try and help with the run defense, doing like some five, two stuff there towards the, in the second half of that game where he had kind of like five, he had like five D linemen and two backers like to try and help the situation. 'Cause I'm wondering if that's part of what he is going to be wanting to do to stop this particular rushing attack. - He's got to find a way to, like I say, you have to take it that the one guy that could be a liability is their right guard that run or pass, that could be a liability for them. So whatever you have to do to maybe attack that area, to maybe help you in run defense, I know it's one gap and one player, but if you play up the field against that guy, you might have a chance, but if you don't, if you, you know, if you do what you did last week and let these tight ends and this full back beat you up and you play slow and you play in the middle of blocks and you don't have any leverage, you'll get run over again. - Right on tremendous report once again from Brian Broadus, Krusty's corner, most afternoons 340 here in the G back nation, but the Rangers were in the process of getting too hit by Gosman in the Blue Jays pitching staff this afternoon. He retired after five with back stiffness, but Krusty's corner is brought to you by Reliant Air Condition. Anything else about either team? Before we move on? - No, I'm okay. - Okay, thank you. - Hey Mike Valenti here, host a cash to take it alongside my partner, Jim Costa. It's really simple. Are you tired of podcasts claiming they're a bunch of pro betters when they live in their mommy's basement? Are you tired of podcasts that claim they hit 80% of the games? When really, they just lose like most of us. Think cash to take it's the spot for you. We're real, we're transparent, we're having a hell of a good time with it and we sit there and we're there for the sweat with you guys. We're just trying to figure it out just like you. Follow and listen to Cash The Ticket on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. (upbeat music)