Courtesy: Bleacher Report
*FAN SUBMISSION by Brad Kroner of Baltimore, Md. Follow him on Twitter @bradkroner.*
In the week leading up to the Baltimore Ravens playing the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, the headlines were focused on the smack talk between Matt Elam and Calvin Johnson. The headlines missed the most important story of this game: How will the Ravens offensive line stop the Detroit Lions defensive line?
The offensive line is the Achilles heel of the Ravens 29th ranked offense. After a dominant performance in last season’s playoffs, Baltimore has allowed 41 sacks in 2013, sixth worst in the NFL. Quarterback Joe Flacco is dodging bullets every play, as he rarely gets a clean pocket.
The offense could lean on the ground game last season, as Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce combined for 1,675 yards. With just two games remaining in the season, they have yet to reach the 1,000 yard mark. Rice has rushed for 100 yards just once this season, against the Chicago Bears.
The offensive line is turning around its dismal play.
Flacco was only sacked twice by Pittsburgh Steelers. The Minnesota Vikings got to him twice as well. In previous weeks, they allowed four sacks to the New York Jets, and five sacks to both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.
Continuing to improve, they suffered just one sack against a front featuring Ezekiel Ansah (7 sacks), Ndamukong Suh (5.5 sacks), Nick Fairley (3.5 sacks), and Willie Young (3 sacks). Uncharacteristically stalwart, the line kept a clean pocket for Flacco. The offense didn’t light up the scoreboard, but the line enabled the offense to put Justin Tucker in position for six field goals, including the 61 yard game winner. The game is won in the trenches, and the Ravens line came out on top in this match up.
A month ago, the Ravens might not have fared so well against the athletic front.
The running game hasn’t taken off, but it is making progress. Rice averaged 3.9 yards per carry against Minnesota and 4.7 yards per carry against Detroit. While those numbers are not up to Rice’s usual career averages, they are vastly improved over his other games this season. With Rice’s numbers trending upward, the rushing attack might get rolling just in time for the Ravens to make a run.
The unit has seen a significant amount of turnover since last season. Only two starting linemen, Marshal Yanda and Michael Oher, remain from the front that played in Superbowl 47. Due to retirement, injury, and inexperience, the offensive line hasn’t hit its stride. The line is starting to overcome the turnover.
As the current lineup gains experience and chemistry, they can only get better. The offensive line has found a way to protect Flacco, but they still need to open running lanes for Rice and Pierce.
The line played a crucial role in the victory against the Detroit Lions.
The Ravens are gearing up for a run, and with a division title on the line, the offensive line will have to do its part to get it done.
