Ravens News 10/4: Tackling, play action, hating the Steelers and more

Baltimore Ravens make practice adjustment to focus on tackling after loss to Browns - Aaron Kasinitz

“There was a lot of situations where we were trying to shed and get off blocks and make the tackle,” Thomas said. “Coach just wanted to go back to Day 1 fundamentals, getting on the sled and seeing yourself actually engage and ricocheting off the block to make the tackle.”

“It’s a little bit of everything, but it basically comes down to fundamentals, technique, angles to the football and tackling,” Martindale said, “which every Pop Warner coach says, what every high school coach says, what every college coach says, what every pro coach says: fundamentals, technique, angles to the football and tackling. That’s what we gotta get done.”

And the Ravens aren’t just saying they want change; they tweaked their practice plan in pursuit of it.

NFL Week 5 Preview: Players to watch, fantasy football advice and betting projections - PFF

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Players to Watch

Something to look for in this one as the Ravens try to get back on track is how often they use play action. In Week 1, they used it on 50% of Lamar Jackson’s dropbacks, 40.9% in Week 2, 20% in Week 3 and 25.6% in Week 4. For the season, Jackson is completing 61.5% of his passes and has thrown five touchdowns and no interceptions when using play action.

NFL Week 5 picks: Rams bounce back and beat Seahawks on road, Steelers upend Ravens - Pete Prisco

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5)

The Ravens are coming off a bad loss to the Browns and their defense is a major issue right now. The Steelers were better on both sides of the ball against the Bengals Monday night, but this a big step up in competition. Is Mason Rudolph up to the challenge? I think he is. Steelers get back in the division race.

Pick: Steelers 26, Ravens 20

Ravens are talking about Mason, Devin & ‘hate’ - Teresa Varley

Pernell McPhee on the Steelers-Ravens rivalry:

“We hate each other. I know for sure we hate them. We hate them. We respect them as men, but we really hate them. That is just how it is. That is the blood between the teams. It’s just a taste. We respect them as men. As a team, as an organization, me personally I don’t care too much for them.”

“It’s the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both based off great defenses. They don’t have Big Ben (Roethlisberger) but they have guys that can come in and get the job done. I know they have a veteran offensive line, pretty solid, they still have some good receivers, their back is pretty good.

“They are still the same old Pittsburgh. They are going to come in with the run game. They have Mike Tomlin, he is a physical coach, so he is going to come in with a physical team. They are going to try to be physical and run the ball down our throats. That is a challenge for the front seven to slow down the run.”