Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens’ rookies got to experience the other side of what it means to be on the Baltimore team, dominating wins. Let’s check in on the rookies after their first win in their home debuts
Starks was a part of the great defensive effort that came from today’s dominant showing. He’s still not filling the stat sheet or getting his name called and that’s just fine for me. If you aren’t noticing your defensive backs, it’s probably because they are doing their jobs correctly. The splash plays will come, but for now, I’m thrilled about a rookie taking 100% of the snaps and not making mistakes. That’s a rarity.
Kyle Van Noy went down early in the game with a hamstring injury and was eventually ruled out. This led to Green to taking more snaps than normal in today’s game. He came close on his first sack, wrapping up Flacco’s legs, but Flacco managed to ditch the ball just in time on the third down. Otherwise, Green seemed to get in the backfield a good number of times, contributing a lot of third-down pressures while not being victimized in the run. We need to wait for the final numbers but it seemed like a good-not-great effort from Green today stepping up for Van Noy.
Buchanan saw a ton of action this week and has seemingly taken over the starting spot next to Roquan Smith. He was on the field for most of the defense’s series. It was a quiet game for Buchanan, but you have to wonder if he is a steadying presence that allows Roquan Smith to get back to playing elite ball. That could be more valuable than any contribution he could add to the stat sheet. We’ll have to see if his playing time continues next week.
Loop had a perfect day as the place kicker in his home debut. He went 2/2 on his field goal attempts early, hitting from 43 and 32, helping what was initially a struggling Ravens offense maintain a lead. Once the Ravens offense kicked it into gear, Loop proceeded to go 5/5 on the extra points following their touchdowns. He did have penalties as the kickoff specialist, mis-kicking twice on kickoffs, giving the Browns good starting field position. He and the Ravens will have to work on that as the new kickoff rules take place.
Wester had his largest return of his small two-week career. Hjs only play of the day was a special one, confidently taking a bouncing ball out of the air and returning it for 23 yards to help flip the field and lead to the Ravens’ first points. It’s a small thing, but he is the strongest punt return presence that this team has had since Jacoby Jones and it makes a difference, even when it just comes from fielding punts and not making mistakes. The returns are just an added...
