PFF: Orlando Brown Jr. keeps QBs clean, Jimmy Smith locks it down in season finale

After an adrenaline-filled 2018, it’s only right for PFF to give us a mix of Week 17 coverage and full-season stats.

OFFENSE

T Orlando Brown finished his rookie year with a clean sheet and 69.9 game grade. He managed to go the whole season without allowing a sack, and ranks 15th in Pass Blocking Efficiency among tackles (96.5).

Third round? The Ravens drafted this young man in the third? Mercy, what a turnaround. For years to come, we can expect Zeus Jr. to bully AFC North defenders in the first, second and hopefully third levels as he creates lanes for Lamar Jackson & Co.

The Ravens offensive line as a whole had a strong season as pass protectors, ranking fourth in the league in PBE (83.7).

I was confident in this unit as a whole, but they certainly exceeded expectations. Ronnie Stanley and Marshal Yanda were the building blocks and the re-signing of James Hurst was a great move in hindsight. Now, with Zeus Jr., Bradley Bozeman and Matt Skura, they’re bullying in the run game and creating pockets for Jackson to get his passing game tightened up.

QB Lamar Jackson earned his highest passing grade of the season (73.6), but was let down by a poor 37.4 run grade, chiefly due to his two fumbles.

If not for those fumbles, Jackson is earning incredible numbers. Unfortunately, he’s not fixing the fumbling issue and it could be the downfall in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter how strong, fast and agile you are if you give the ball back to the opposition.

DEFENSE

CB Jimmy Smith turned in his best performance of the season, grading at 90.6. He allowed just one catch on seven targets into his coverage for one yard, two interceptions and a pass break up.

I had Jimmy Smith’s stock down for a bit and he was looking a step behind. Boy, did ‘Beans’ make me eat crow. He produced his first multi-interception game as he straight-up picked Baker Mayfield’s first passing attempt of the game and later on reeled in a deflection from Tavon Young’s great coverage. To cap things off, he allowed only a single yard against the Browns. You want to talk about lockdown?! This is the Jimmy we know and love. The one we voice our frustration for when the NFL forgets to include him in the top-tier of cornerbacks. It appears he’s back and ready to punish those quarterbacks who throw in his range.

CB Marlon Humphrey struggled after a recent fine run of form, giving up 143 yards on seven receptions.

I refuse to crank up the heat on Humphrey after his past few games. He was voted the team MVP this year and crucial component to the defense’s number one ranking. Ozzie, your crimson-tinted glasses once again brought a baller from ‘Bama.

LB C.J. Mosley capped off a solid season with a team-leading 91.1 game grade. He was a force as a pass rusher, collecting four hurries, and sealed the win with an interception.

I certainly didn’t have Mosley as the team’s highest-ranked player, but half-man, half-amazing sits atop the throne beside his teammates, the AFC North champions. While I’m still cautious of his pending free-agency, I’m now back into the realm of entertaining some higher offers than originally expected. This man liberated the Ravens from their all-too-familiar collapse, for goodness sake.