The Ravens may finally be about to unlock the version of their defense they envisioned when the season began.
For all the talk around Baltimore’s pass rush, the two headliners have barely shared the field. Across 3,410 total defensive reps, the Ravens have had their two most accomplished rushers on together for just 32 snaps. That number should change in a hurry, with Sunday in Cleveland lining up as the first real chance to see Trey Hendrickson and Nnamdi Madubuike working together at close to full strength.
That matters because the timing could hardly be better for Baltimore. Cleveland’s offensive line has been a problem, and Deshaun Watson is taking sacks on nearly 12% of his dropbacks, second-worst in the NFL. If the Ravens are going to get more disruptive up front, this is the kind of matchup that can help flip the script.
Madubuike has already started to look like himself again after missing the first few games while working back from the serious neck injury he suffered last September. He’s played his way into the team’s heaviest workload at the line of scrimmage over the last three games, and he’s also led Baltimore in pressures since returning.
“Every game, every practice, I'll say I feel better and better,” Madubuike said this week. “Getting better.
I really feel the same, honestly. I am just thankful to be back playing football and with the guys and making plays.
There are things we can clean up and we are going to continue to emphasize that and get better at that, but no, I feel good."
That sort of presence has ripple effects. Madubuike’s ability to draw double teams and collapse the pocket has already helped open up a deeper rotation for others, and it gives Baltimore a real chance to start generating more heat without leaning on any one player too heavily. For a defense that’s been fighting through issues on third down, and one whose cornerbacks and safeties have been under real stress, that’s not a small thing.
Hendrickson’s situation has been different, but no less important. He flashed in Week 1, when Madubuike was still out, then played through a painful finger injury that eventually required surgery before Week 4.
Baltimore brought him in expecting the same kind of impact he produced for the Bengals, where he consistently piled up elite pressure and sack rates. The Ravens need that edge pressure, especially late in games, if they’re going to get the kind of closer they’ve been missing.
“I needed it Week 1,” Hendrickson said of the surgery. “I've had two healthy quarters here.
It's not what I planned for the offseason, but God has a plan. It's one of the things that is very humbling, but [I was] pushing through it through Week 2 and Week 3, but the best decision for everybody was getting it fixed for [the] long-term and short-term."
He said the pain is down since the procedure, though he was more guarded about whether he’ll need to keep his hand protected for a while.
“That's obviously an ongoing process, so we're just working it out," he said.
Even before the sacks start showing up in bunches, simply getting Hendrickson and Madubuike on the field together should matter. Baltimore sits 20th in pressure rate and 21st in sack rate, with Tavius Robinson serving as the team’s most reliable finisher so far.
The Ravens have been waiting for the front to take shape. That part may be coming soon.
In Other News...
Ravens Finally Get A Real Test For Their Big Pass Rush Bet
Trey Hendricksons return gives Baltimores pass rush a chance to prove it can be more than just a weekly talking point. After missing the past two games with a finger injury, Hendrickson is expected back as the Ravens prepare for a Cleveland offense that has been on shaky footing up front and has put its quarterback under plenty of pressure already this season.
The Browns have been sliding into a matchup that could tell the Ravens a lot about where their edge rush really stands. Deshaun Watson has absorbed a heavy workload of hits behind that line, and Baltimore will be watching closely to see whether Hendrickson can immediately add force to a front that has been built to change games at the line of scrimmage. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Week Just Got More Interesting With Browns Trade Buzz
The AFC North picture got a little more complicated this week as Cleveland heads into a Week 6 meeting with Baltimore at 3-2 and trying to steady itself after a loss to the Jets. At the same time, reports have tied the Browns to Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson, one of the more notable names floating around in the early trade chatter as teams start to eye possible line help.
For the Ravens, any move that strengthens a division opponent is worth watching closely, especially with Cleveland already trying to regroup in the middle of the season. Dickersons status has been part of the conversation because of the Eagles recent struggles, but nothing official has happened yet, which leaves Baltimore waiting to see whether a familiar divisional matchup gets a little tougher before the week is over. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick Henry Could Be Set Up For A Huge Ravens Breakout
A familiar division matchup suddenly looks a little softer up front for Baltimore, with Cleveland entering Week 6 carrying real uncertainty on three defensive players who could shape the way the game is played. Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger and Derek Barnett are all listed as questionable after each was limited to just one practice this week, and that kind of availability cloud can matter a lot when a defense is trying to hold up against a physical Ravens offense.
For Derrick Henry and Baltimores running game, the potential ripple effect is easy to see. Graham and Schwesinger would matter especially inside, while Barnetts status impacts the edge, and any combination of those absences could make life more comfortable for the Ravens as they try to lean on the ground game and control the tempo. [Read more 🡒]