Steelers Crossover: Week 5 Q/A with Ravens writer Steve Zavala
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are preparing for a pivotal battle on Sunday. With the Bengals struggling, and the Browns having injuries, whoever comes away victorious out of Steelers-Ravens will have sole possession of first place in the AFC North division. So in an effort to get a beat on what it looks like […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are preparing for a pivotal battle on Sunday.
With the Bengals struggling, and the Browns having injuries, whoever comes away victorious out of Steelers-Ravens will have sole possession of first place in the AFC North division.
So in an effort to get a beat on what it looks like in Ravens country, I broke down their film vs. Cleveland, and then I reached out to Steve Zavala of A to Z Sports Baltimore. He gave some nuggets that Steelers fans won't want to miss:
Action Jackson
The Ravens have adopted a new offensive scheme under OC Todd Monken, but from the looks of things on film, there is still an emphasis on getting Lamar Jackson involved in the run game. What wrinkles or differences have you seen that vary from Ravens offenses of the past? – Steelers writer, Rob Gregson
Jackson’s early season success on the ground has really come down to a mix of taking what the defense has given him and simply being unpredictable on the field. For one, all four of his touchdown runs this season have come under shotgun, including his first rushing score against Cleveland on Sunday. Even when it seemed as if a designed passing play would be on the horizon, the two-time Pro Bowler wound up waltzing his way into the end zone.
– Ravens writer, Steve Zavala
An Entirely New Threat
As good as Lamar Jackson has been targeting the middle of the field in his career, the Ravens drafted Zay Flowers to be a deep threat on the perimeter. His ability to separate and win downfield is notable. How big of an impact do you see him having as the season carries on? – Gregson
Zay Flowers has already proven that he can be a reliable downfield threat for the Jackson-led Ravens offense, but I see his versatility as a wideout being what will truly add another dimension to the unit, especially in the red zone. From his sheer agility in tight space to his top-notch speed, he has what it takes to emerge as a force in the red zone. – Zavala
Backer Buddies
On the other side of the ball, the Ravens boast the best inside linebacking duo in the league in my opinion. Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith work beautifully off each other, imposing their will on opposing offenses. How important are the two of them to Baltimore’s success?
– Gregson
Smith and Queen have been a vital part of Baltimore’s success on the defensive side of the ball this season, and it can be credited to the two meeting each of the tasks that have been provided from Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. For one, they were called on to regularly rush Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in Week 1, which was expected considering it was the passer’s first start in the NFL. The two versatile linebackers ended up combining for 12 blitzes, three pressures and 2.0 sacks. Expect to see Smith and Queen continue to blossom as do-it-all linebackers, including in coverage as well. – Zavala
Sir Hamilton
On the backend, the Ravens have tinkered with the alignment and usage of second-year safety Kyle Hamilton. He seemed to come into his own over the back half of last year and is the ultimate traffic cop on defense. How impressive has he been early in his career?
– Gregson
Kyle Hamilton reminds me of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel a bit. Through 20 regular season games played in the NFL, Hamilton has already showcased that he can be a do-it-all player on the field. From his 3.0 sacks outing against the Indianapolis Colts to the stout 32.4 passer rating allowed while in coverage mark, he continues to show that regardless of the task at hand, he can exert quite an impact on defense. – Zavala
Ravens Suddenly Getting Healthy?
Finally, Baltimore has been banged up through the first quarter of the season. Having said that, they seem to be getting healthy at the right time, with OBJ, Bateman, Humphrey, and Stanley all participating in practice early in the week according to reports. What’s the likelihood we see a fully healthy Ravens roster on Sunday?
– Gregson
The Ravens received plenty of good news with their Wednesday injury report, and I expect multiple players to make their returns to action against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Among them, Ronnie Stanley (knee) and Marcus Williams (pec) each have been sidelined since Week 1 due to their respective injuries. Barring a major setback in the coming days, the two should be on the field in Week 5. There is some concern that a few regular starters may not play against the Steelers, including right tackle Morgan Moses. He suffered a shoulder injury against the Browns, and he did not take part in Baltimore’s first practice session of the week on Wednesday. If Moses ends up missing his first game since the 2014 season, then Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt may be in for a field day in Week 5. – Zavala
Steelers Film Room, Week 5 Preview: These aren’t your dad’s Ravens
Here is an All-22 breakdown of what Pittsburgh is preparing for on Sunday.
