The Baltimore Ravens need a big game from Lamar Jackson if they’re going to snap a dismal run against AFC North rivals the Cleveland Browns on the road, but that’s going to take keeping Myles Garrett under wraps, and the All-Pro defensive end has revealed his plan for stopping the two-time NFL MVP.
Garrett told reporters on Friday, November 14 how Jackson’s “been sitting in the pocket a little bit more. Whether that’s because he wants to show off the arm or they’re saying he’s still recovering…we gotta take advantage of it either way, so we gotta be able to rush and keep him where we want him and, you know, be able to take the ball away.”
The reference to Jackson “still recovering” highlights ongoing concerns raised by Baltimore’s QB1 missing practice on Wednesday because of knee soreness. Fortunately, head coach John Harbaugh has since confirmed Jackson, who missed four games earlier this season with a hamstring injury, is fully up to speed to face the Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday.
That means Garrett’s focus remains on stopping “the most dynamic quarterback we’ve ever seen,” despite him acknowledging the Ravens pose other challenges, especially in the run game.
Ironically, the Ravens will apply the same laser-like focus to keeping Garrett under wraps.
Ravens Need Fresh Ideas vs. Myles Garrett
Containing Garrett won’t be easy considering the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has logged 10 career sacks against the Ravens, according to StatMuse. The Ravens may need a new strategy, since Garrett already knows what to expect from their blocking schemes.
There’s no shortage of big bodies to chip Garrett on the edge, something he acknowledged when explaining how the Ravens have been “chipping from every position. Whether it’s Pat (Ricard), it’s (Mark) Andrews, it’s (Isaiah) Likely. It’s from inside and outside, from the backfield, Sometimes it’s Derrick (Henry).”
The problem is chipping Garrett hasn’t really worked. It’s one reason why the Ravens have lost 3 three out of their last four road games against the Browns.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken needs something new against Garrett. Perhaps keeping an extra blocker over his face to form an obvious pre-snap double team at the line of scrimmage.
Alternatively, the Ravens could trap Garrett by letting him rush upfield, only to be cut off by a guard turning out. Or even a tight end coming across the formation to execute a wham block.
The best solution will probably be to move the pocket away from Garrett. That would mean testing the strength of Jackson’s knee and hamstring more often.
Lamar Jackson Has Point to Prove
Jackson can defy his lingering critics by showing no ill effects from his recent injury woes and dissecting a rugged Browns defense led by Garrett. Overcoming a nemesis will cement the narrative the Ravens are a genuine contender again with Jackson back in the lineup.
Jackson playing at 100 percent gives the Ravens ability to dominate any opponent, but he won’t be a one-man show against the Browns. Not when Garrett is already wary of the threat posted by the Ravens’ ground attack.
Garrett conceded “you got to always be a bit on edge, not to get too geared to play the pass because at the end of the day, you go a bit too far up field and (Derrick) Henry’s coming downhill, going north, south. And that’s just a bad day for everybody.”
Running at Garrett could work for the Ravens. Or else packaging run action his way, while releasing Jackson in the other direction.
Just as it always does, the formula for a Ravens victory rests on Jackson’s health, something Garrett is sure to test.
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