Mink: Mark Andrews has just two receptions for seven yards on four targets through the first two weeks. That's especially surprising considering Isaiah Likely has been sidelined by his foot injury, meaning Andrews has carried a heavier snap share (78%) so far this season.
However, I don't think there's reason for concern. Mark my words (pun intended); Andrews will make many big catches for the Ravens this season. He looks like the same MAndrews. The ball just hasn't come his way as often yet.
First of all, the Ravens offense is doing great. Baltimore has scored 81 points in two games. So, it's not like this has been a "problem." While every player wants to make an impact, they all have to be unselfish. Andrews is a team-first guy and is glad the offense is performing well. He's also doing a great job in the blocking game, which has been especially important with fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) sidelined.
In terms of targets, we all knew going into this season that the Ravens' deep arsenal would mean some players wouldn't see as much action in some weeks. So far, much of the passing game has been funneled through Zay Flowers, who has 20 targets. Rashod Bateman has eight and nobody else has more than five. While I expect Flowers will be the top option most weeks, targets will fluctuate.
Andrews got off to a bit of a slow start last season, too, with six catches for 65 yards and no scores through the first four games. Yet he finished with the most touchdowns (11) of any tight end in the league and 673 receiving yards.
The fact of the matter is that with Flowers, Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, and other talented wide receivers, Baltimore's offense has shifted from the days when Andrews was the bell-cow receiver. He's still a huge part of the Ravens' offensive identity and one of Lamar Jackson's most trusted targets, especially in the red zone. Andrews wants to make every play that comes to him and was surely not happy that a touchdown catch versus the Browns was punched out of his hands. Nobody is more motivated or serious about his craft than Andrews, and he's going to make plenty of plays this season.
Brown: To your first point, I agree. Watching your team explode in the fourth quarter is always better than watching it implode.
Poor field position played a part in the Ravens only scoring 10 points before halftime against Cleveland. Three of the Ravens' seven first-half drives started inside their own 12-yard line. That made it harder to open things up offensively, and the Browns have a strong defense despite their 0-2 start.
If you're looking for more consistency from start to finish, I think the key lies with the defense. The Ravens need to avoid giving up big plays and get off the field consistently on third down like they did against Cleveland. If that happens, I think the Ravens will get on a roll, because they lead the NFL in scoring through Week 2.
As for who plays next to Roquan Smith, I think having rookie Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson share reps is a good thing. Buchanan started last week, Simpson is not overwhelmed, and Smith had one of the best games of his career in Week 2. I wouldn't worry about Smith being overwhelmed. He's played at least 16 games in seven of his first eight seasons and has never had fewer than 100 tackles. He's a great player who can handle the load.
Mink: Buchanan is playing well. He's a rookie fourth-round pick stepping into a starting position on Baltimore's defense. That's rare and challenging, especially at a position that requires a lot of quick processing and physicality.
From what I see on tape, Buchanan is handling the mental side of the game quite well. He's routinely in the right place both in his run fits and in coverage. As Buchanan gets more experience, he'll trust himself more and trigger quicker, which will allow him to play downhill with more aggressiveness. He's a fast, smart, hard-working guy. It's only a matter of time until we see Buchanan making more plays in the backfield like he did in college.
I do believe that Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr will continue to give Buchanan the majority of the snaps next to Smith. With that said, Simpson is also playing well, and I expect him to remain in the mix.
Brown: Facing the Lions is going to be a stern test for the Ravens' defense, and yes, they will miss Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) if he can't play. The Bears didn't have a sack against Lions quarterback Jared Goff in Week 2, and he carved them up for 334 yards and five touchdowns.
Goff can be as good as anyone when he finds a rhythm, and the Ravens will need to put pressure on him. However, I think the Ravens have quite a few players in their front seven playing well, including Nnamdi Madubuike, Tavius Robinson, Odafe Oweh, Mike Green, rookie Aeneas Pebbles, and Smith.
If the Ravens can collapse the pocket around Goff consistently, it will go a long way toward keeping him from finding his groove. That's what the Packers did in Week 1 when they sacked him four times and held Detroit to 13 points.
However, the Lions have weapons all over the place – good running backs in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, explosive receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and a talented tight end in Sam LaPorta. If the Ravens' defense has another strong outing, it will provide even more evidence that it's on the right track.
