Through a quarter of the 2019 season, the Ravens sit at 2-2. They’ve had two impressive wins against the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals but have fallen to the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns in back-to-back losses.While some Ravens fans might be panicking after those two losses, there are a bunch of positives to keep in mind. Remember, we’re only a quarter of the way through the season, things will change and this Baltimore team will look vastly different come December. But to help calm those slapping the panic button already, let’s take a look at four positives through four weeks for the Ravens.
Lamar Jackson’s development
Talking about Jackson seems like it’s becoming a trend in my articles but his play warrants it. Jackson has been the Raven who has impressed me the most, not only on the field but off of it as well.
On the field, Jackson has accumulated 1,110 passing yards and 10 touchdowns compared to two interceptions with a 64.9% completion percentage. Compare that to Jackson’s stats through the air in his first four starts last year and the improvement is astronomical.
Jackson has still impressed on the ground as well. But instead of being the pure athlete that played on instincts and skill alone, he’s matured there. He’s shown more poise in the pocket, staying in to deliver strikes in the face of pressure. He’s used the sidelines more often to his advantage, picking up chunks of yards and running out to avoid as many big hits as he took last season.
Combined, it’s put Jackson on a pace to break franchise records and to be a front runner for the league’s MVP award.
The rushing attack
Coming into 2019, many questioned if Baltimore could continue their dominance on the ground. After their wild card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, plenty of pundits and fans figured they were simply a fluke that had been figured out. After four games this season, the Ravens sit at the top of the league in rushing yards and efficiency, having a 5.9 yard-per-carry average.
A large portion of their continued excellence has come at the legs of free-agent running back Mark Ingram. When the Ravens signed Ingram to a three-year deal in March, it was largely seen as a smart move if a little more of the same already on the roster. Some fans who wanted Le’Veon Bell questioned if Ingram would offer enough diversity to the stable of running backs in the same way the dynamic Bell would have.
It’s safe to say Ingram has done just fine and is everything the Ravens could have hoped he’d be. At the quarter marl, Ingram has rushed 55 times for 328 yards (6.0 yards-per-carry) and five touchdowns. He’s also added seven receptions for 62 yards.
Ingram has looked spry this season but he also looks strong. One of the best things about Ingram is his ability to bounce off defenders, make something out of nothing and pick up extra yards. He plays the game with fire, something that the Ravens pride themselves on. He has arguably been the Ravens’ best addition this offseason and at his relatively low contract price, he’s been an absolute steal for Baltimore.
Gus Edwards also looks good in a complementary role to Ingram. Edwards has 148 yards on 33 carries this season, putting up an impressive 4.5 yard-per-carry average. Jackson has balanced things out, adding 238 yards and a rushing touchdown on 36 carries.
The Ravens are a run first team and they won’t shy away from their identity. With the way they’ve performed on the ground so far in 2019, they don’t have to.
The offensive line
If you had told me this offseason the offensive line would be a positive at the quarter mark, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Center Matt Skura and who would be starting at left guard were massive question marks all offseason and preseason long.
Through four games, the offensive line has been a steady presence for Jackson and the run game. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has been one of the best at his position. Left guard Bradley Bozeman has been solid and Skura looks much improved over last season. Right guard Marshal Yanda is Marshal Yanda and right tackle Orlando Brown Jr has shown the same flashes this year that he showed last year.
More importantly, the group remains healthy and intact. Last season, the Ravens suffered a bunch of injuries to the unit, forcing themselves to play musical chairs with their starting lineup. By remaining healthy so far this season, they’ve allowed everyone to gel together and develop into better players individually.
They’re not perfect yet but the consistency that the group has had and the chemistry that they’ve built can’t be overlooked. Hopefully they continue those trends into the rest of the season.
Marlon Humphrey’s ascension to a true shutdown corner
Humphrey is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. He’s arguably one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL right now and he’s easily been the Ravens’ best player on defense through the first four weeks of the season.
Humphrey has gotten some tough assignments this season and he’s passed with flying colors. The one that got the most attention was Cleveland Browns All-Pro wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who Humphrey frustrated all game long. Humphrey held Beckham to no receptions through three quarters, a first in Beckham’s career. By the final whistle, Beckham had just two receptions on seven targets for 20 yards, a career low in single-game yards for the receiver.
Humphrey showed plenty of these types of flashes last year and as a rookie. But for him to make the jump in his third season has to have Baltimore excited for their future. He’s physical, instinctual and smart, which tends to lead to a long career at a high level.
