Coming off a game in which the Ravens allowed the highest pressure rate in the NFL, Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Thursday there are things his offensive line must “clean up” heading into Sunday night’s matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Against the Raiders, quarterback Lamar Jackson was constantly under duress from Las Vegas’ pass rush. Jackson was pressured on 54.5% of his drop-backs on Monday, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
“We’ve got to do a better job on the edge. We know that,” Roman said. “It’s just really a technique thing. … We’ve just got to do a better job, and we will.”
Las Vegas’ success at pressuring Jackson wasn’t due to blitz schemes, though, as the Raiders sent more than four rushers fewer times than any team in the NFL in Week 1. Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley called a blitz on only 5% of the Ravens’ drop-backs, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jackson was sacked three times in the loss, including a strip-sack fumble in overtime that preceded Derek Carr’s game-winning 31-yard touchdown pass to Zay Jones.
On the play, the Raiders brought an extra pass rusher on the right side. Right tackle Alejandro Villanueva was too late to notice defensive end Carl Nassib rushing by him, and running back Ty’Son Williams couldn’t prevent the pass rusher from sacking Jackson and causing the fumble.
“There’s room for improvement everywhere,” Roman said about the Ravens’ tight ends and running backs as pass blockers. “I think there was some really good blocking, and then there are some things we’ve got to clean up. That kind of goes every week.”
“I think Al [Villanueva] is a guy who is going to keep getting better in our system,” Roman added later.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley hasn’t practiced this week, and his status for Sunday’s contest is unknown. With starting left guard Tyre Phillips, who played right tackle last season, now on short-term injured reserve, Villanueva and Patrick Mekari are the only other Ravens linemen on the 53-man roster with NFL experience at tackle.
In the last two days, the Ravens have added offensive tackles Andre Smith and Foster Sarell to the practice squad.
