Ravens Defense Bounces Back
Nov 1, 2009, 7:48PM
Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson knew he was going to be blitzing on the first play from scrimmage Sunday. That much was scripted.
He didn’t know he would be wide open for a massive hit on Denver quarterback Kyle Orton and he didn’t know how massive that sack would be in setting the tone in Baltimore’s 30-7 win over the Broncos.
Johnson’s sack provided the spark and Baltimore’s defense built from there, showing that it was the best defense on the field Sunday afternoon.
And more importantly the Ravens’ defense may have taken a step towards regaining the dominance that has come into question over the past few weeks.
“It really sets your tempo and lets them know what kind of game it’s going to be,” Johnson said of his sack. “We’ve made some vast improvements from how we played the last few games, even the games we were winning. We’ve got to carry that momentum.”
Denver’s defense, which came into the game ranked No. 2, surrendered nearly 300 total yards and a season-high 30 points.
Asked what it was like not to enter the game as the better defense, linebacker Terrell Suggs said, “That was the case today? Wow, time has changed. I guess we’ll just have to show you just how good we are.”
Baltimore’s secondary surrendered just 134 yards through the air and the rush defense was staunch, holding the Broncos to just 66 yards on the ground.
The Ravens held Denver to two consecutive three-and-outs to start the game and recovered a fumble on the Broncos’ third possession. Denver also converted just three of 13 third downs.
As the Ravens said after the game, it’s difficult to pinpoint one aspect of the defense that particularly stepped up.
The secondary has shouldered by far the most blame for the Ravens’ defensive woes this season. It held Broncos big-time wideout Brandon Marshall to just four receptions for 24 yards. The unit only gave up one play of 20 yards or more.
“I think a guy named Ed Reed and myself and [Fabian Washington] had pretty tight coverage throughout most of the second half,” cornerback Domonique Foxworth said. “It’s pretty hard to make big plays. That’s one of the things Orton prides himself on; he’s not going to throw into coverage. Guys were covered today.”
Much of the reason for the secondary’s success was the result of better defensive pressure up front. The Ravens’ defensive linemen won more battles and consistently collapsed the pocket. Orton rarely had a chance to set his feet and wait for his receivers to get down the field. He was sacked twice.
The linebackers gave defensive coordinator Greg Mattison credit for putting them in the right position. Johnson said the Ravens were more “multiple” this game and he was freer to “do more things than normal,” like blitz.
On his sack, the Ravens defensive line slid to its right, taking the Broncos’ pass-blocking offensive line with it. That left Johnson unblocked blitzing off the left side.
Suggs said he can’t remember ever seeing a game start with a sack like that.
“I think for all the heat that coach has been getting, he put together a pretty good package for the Broncos today,” Suggs said. “I think Coach Mattison did a good job of putting all of us in the right plays and playing a good chess match today.”
But Suggs was quick to add that the warm fuzzies from Sunday’s defensive performance will only last a week unless the unit can repeat its success against the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday.
“If we can play consistently then we can say, ‘Alright, now we’re back,’” Suggs said. “But until then we have to go right back to the drawing board and be hungry.”
