Ravens News 10/16: B game is Plenty and more

How Sam Koch Epitomizes What It Means to Be a Raven - Ryan Mink

“He’s the epitome of what a Raven is,” said Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith, who has been with the team since 2011. “No matter what position you play, it is very difficult to make it in the NFL. And to play as long as he has, at the level he has, for an organization like this, it just shows you his dedication to his craft, and his special abilities.”

“Coming into the league, I wanted to come out here and prove my talents were worthwhile in this league and to take it game by game,” Koch said. “And now I look back, and it’s 15 years, two-hundred and something games, and it’s like, ‘Man, that’s been quite a ride.’ But there’s so much more to prove, so much more that I can do.”

“Continuity. He’s a guy who has persistence in how to do it the right way,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “I think he epitomizes what success looks like over the long haul. A guy who’s dedicated to the process, taking care of the details, working extremely hard. He’s incredibly competitive about what he does. The other thing that people may or may not know, he’s kind of changed … Sam is going to be remembered, in his craft, for changing the way punters punt.”

While Justin Tucker gets much of the adulation among the Ravens’ specialists, Koch is the leader of “The Wolfpack”. It’s the way he approaches his craft with a relentless pursuit of perfection. Heck, he’s even perfect as a passer – 7-for-7 over his career. He’s the most accurate passer in NFL history.

NFL’s top dual threat? Ravens’ Lamar Jackson appears more one-dimensional - Jamison Hensley

“We understand that things are always going to change and evolve,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the nature of football. One week to the next, one year to the next and how we’re defended … we’re just trying to move the ball and score. There are no rules in terms of what direction we go with those kinds of things. We just want to find ways to get it done.”

Marcus Spears, a former NFL defensive lineman and current ESPN analyst, believes the only way the Ravens can win the Super Bowl is with Jackson taking advantage of stacked lines and operating from the pocket at a higher level.

“That’s what you’re supposed to do when defenses are committing the whole damn defense to making sure you don’t run the football,” Spears said.

NFL trade deadline offers: 13 proposals for players who could get dealt in 2020, including Sam Darnold, Dwayne Haskins, Zach Ertz - Bill Barnwell

Falcons, Ravens and Seahawks complete a three-way trade

Seattle Seahawks get: C Alex Mack, DE Takkarist McKinley (from Falcons)

Atlanta Falcons get: C B.J. Finney, 2021 sixth-round pick (from Seahawks), 2021 seventh-round pick (from Ravens)

Baltimore Ravens get: TE Jacob Hollister

For the Seahawks, moving on from Hollister is more about cap space than anything else, given that the 2019 contributor has played just 48 offensive snaps this season and has a cap hold of $3.3 million. The Ravens have disappointed a bit on offense this season, and while trading away Hayden Hurst probably wasn’t the difference between what we’ve seen in 2020 and what we saw in 2019, they are down to two tight ends in Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle. Hollister would fill the Hurst role from a year ago and give Baltimore some insurance if Andrews gets banged up in an expanded role.

6 Baltimore Ravens who could be especially important against the Philadelphia Eagles - Aaron Kasinitz

OT Orlando Brown Jr.

The Eagles rank third in the NFL with 3.7 sacks per game because they have loads of pass-rushing talent on their defensive line. Defensive ends Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat and Derek Barnett each have at least 2.5 sacks. Fletcher Cox, a star defensive tackle, can supply pressure, too.

If Brown provides Pro Bowl caliber play at right tackle, he’d help the Ravens push back against one of Philly’s strengths

NFL Week 6 game picks: Buccaneers top Packers; Steelers edge Browns - Gregg Rosenthal

Baltimore Ravens 30, Philadelphia Eagles 23

The following two points in each statement can be simultaneously true:

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ offense are playing dramatically worse than they did in 2019, but they are still playing well enough to win with obvious room for improvement.

Carson Wentz and the Eagles’ passing game are playing far better the last two weeks, but their ceiling remains closer to average until proven otherwise.

The Ravens’ lack of a one-on-one pass rusher could haunt them against a great offense, but their blitz-happy scheme is a nightmare for vulnerable offensive lines like the Eagles’ unit, especially if Lane Johnson is out.

In short: The Ravens’ B game is plenty.