The Ravens' front seven has been dominant

The title of this story should not suggest to you that the reason for the Baltimore Ravens early success here in the 2014 season is due to the play of the front seven. They are winning because of Joe Flacco. Let's just get that straight before we start.

With that being said, the front seven has played a large factor in the teams success. You could look at the numbers and tell me, "how could the front seven be so dominant if the Ravens have the 16th-ranked defense, based on yards per game, in the league?" I would tell you to look deeper into the numbers.

The reason they are ranked so low among defenses is due to their performance in the secondary, or lack there of. Baltimore holds the 24th-best passing defense in the league. But don't blame that rank on the rest of the defense.

The Ravens defense has allowed the eighth-fewest total rushing yards (612), is seventh in rushing yards per game (87.4), and is tied for the fifth fewest amount of touchdowns allowed on the ground (3).

And that's not even the impressive part about the front seven. That distinction goes to the linebackers. Both the middle linebackers and the outside rushers have performed extremely well through the first seven weeks of this season.

Elvis Dumervil has recorded seven sacks, which is second in the league only behind Von Miller. Pernell McPhee has recorded four and Terrell Suggs has added 2.5, but two of them came in the last two weeks.

C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith have formed what might be the best one-two punch at the middle linebacker position this season. Both are top ten in the league in tackles, as Mosley is sixth with 63, and Smith is ninth with 58. For two players on your team to have a combined 121 tackles through the first seven games is extremely impressive.

So here is my advice to you: don't judge a book by its cover. At first glance, the Ravens defense may not seem like a top group. But when you look deeper into it, you see how stagnant this front seven has held opposing teams.