If the Baltimore Ravens were looking for any tips on how to setup their defense for Week 18’s AFC North title showdown, perhaps a few words from Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III will inadvertently provide inspiration.
Austin was asked if he’d like to see the Ravens play as much man coverage as when the teams met back in Week 14. The Steelers won that game, 27-22 at M&T Bank Stadium, with some controversial officiating calls dominating the narrative, but Pittsburgh’s passing game also produced a host of big plays against one-on-one coverage.
When revealing if he wants to see the Ravens play more man techniques in the secondary, Austin replied, “I pray they do. If they stick with that, then, ‘Hey, let’s go,’” per Trib Live’s Chris Adamski.
Perhaps Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr will take note and have a few disguised coverages and zone shells awaiting Austin. The latter is almost the last wideout of note left standing for the Steelers ahead of the game at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, January 4.
Austin is capable, but he’s hardly likely to offset the absence of DK Metcalf, who will miss out through suspension. His omission from the lineup could encourage the Ravens to stay aggressive on the back end, although recent coverage breakdowns should give Orr pause about taking too many risks, even against the banged-up Steelers.
Ravens’ Coverage Plan Has Been Burned
It was Metcalf who did most of the damage four weeks ago. The two-time Pro Bowler burned the Ravens for seven catches and 148 yards, including a 52-yard gain.
Those plays helped the Steelers to shred Baltimore’s reliance on man coverage. As Mike DeFabo of The Athletic revealed, “In Week 14, the Ravens played man coverage on 35.3% of plays, their 4th-highest rate of the season. In those situations, Rodgers was 7-of-12 for 163 yds (season-high vs. man) and a TD for an EPA/Att of 0.58 and a passer rating of 130.6.”
Not having Metcalf available may prompt a change in the Steelers’ approach, but expect veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers to still challenge the Ravens with some deep throws. Especially since Austin is averaging 10.4 yards per catch and got behind the Ravens for a 31-yard gain in the first meeting.
That play is part of a worrying trend of the Ravens giving up yards in chunks through the air. It’s enough of a problem for head coach John Harbaugh to publicly critique Orr’s play-calling.
This winner-takes-all game is the ideal moment for the under-fire DC to shift his approach in some subtle ways to surprise Austin, Rodgers and the Steelers. Unfortunately, recent attempts to shake things up haven’t exactly worked out well for the Ravens.
Zach Orr’s Defense Needs the Right Blend vs. Steelers
Flipping the script from heavy use of man coverage to a plethora of zones hasn’t worked for Orr. It didn’t work when, as DeFabo pointed out by citing TruMedia, “Baltimore played man at its two lowest rates of the season Week 17 (11.4%) and Week 15 (16.9%). They also played man 29.6% in Week 16, which is slightly below season average.”
Those numbers include last week’s game against the Green Bay Packers, when the Ravens were torched for multiple long pass plays. Backup quarterback Malik Willis threw for 288 yards and a touchdown against Ravens defenders having trouble communicating and assigning responsibility for receivers running through zones.
Avoiding something similar will demand the right blend from Orr and experienced secondary chief Chuck Pagano. They can lean into a hybrid mix of man coverage with some zone-style safeguards.
A two-man coverage scheme, man coverage underneath two safeties over the top to take away the big play, seems like the best fit. The Ravens can risk getting physical in underneath areas, particularly if the Steelers follow advice from a former head coach about a pair of hidden threats.
A receiver corps sans Metcalf can be covered one-on-one, provided those underneath know the deep areas of the field are protected. So Austin should get what he’s hoping for, only not with the result he expects.
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