Ravens News 2/4: Rookie Review and more

Ranking all 54 Super Bowls, 54-1: Here’s where we put Chiefs’ win over 49ers, as well as every other big game - Will Brinson

51. Super Bowl XXXV

Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7

The Giants had the tables turned on them after demolishing the Vikings 41-0 in the NFC Championship game, getting completely snuffed out by the Ravens in the title game.

15. Super Bowl XLVII

Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31

An oddly thrilling game in the Superdome featuring a terrifying power outage, two brothers coaching against one another (the Harbaughs) and a compelling comeback by the 49ers that fell just short when Colin Kaepernick couldn’t hit Michael Crabtree on a late fourth down.

There’s More Than One Way To Build A Super Bowl Team - Neil Paine

The 2019 Chiefs were even better after addressing some of their big weaknesses from 2018. They added key defensive contributors such as safety Tyrann Mathieu and defensive end Frank Clark, and they subsequently improved from 30th to 13th in schedule-adjusted EPA on that side of the ball. And the offensive core of Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Tyreek Hill remained as dangerous as ever en route to the title. As a result, the Chiefs were one of the better champions in modern NFL history, with a final Elo rating of 1745 — 24th-best among all-time Super Bowl winners.

The 2019 Bucs’ roster clearly had potential. Weighted by AV, it was actually the best collection of pure talent in the league in terms of how highly its players were drafted.

Beyond Brady and the fourth-ranked EPA passing attack in the NFL, the Bucs finally got their breakthrough because of a defense that ranked third in EPA overall, including fourth against the pass and eighth against the run.

The teams’ different philosophies are even reflected in how they spent their salaries this season. Although they’re known for their explosive offense, the Chiefs actually spent the second-most salary cap dollars on defense of any team, according to Spotrac, trailing only the Buffalo Bills. (K.C. spent the ninth-most of any team on offense.) And the Bucs spent the third-most salary cap dollars of any team on their offense, while ranking sixth in spending on defense.

Report: Texans hiring Andy Bischoff as tight ends coach - Myles Simmons

Texans head coach David Culley is bringing one of his Baltimore colleagues with him to Houston.

Andy Bischoff will join the Texans staff as tight ends coach, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Bischoff has been with the Ravens since 2015, spending the last four years as the assistant tight ends coach.

Wilson also reports that Bischoff will have a significant role in planning the run game alongside Culley and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

Reviewing Ravens’ 2020 draft class after unprecedented season - Luke Jones

ILB Patrick Queen

Queen finished with PFF’s second-lowest grade among all off-ball linebackers. Even if you believe that assessment swings too far in the negative direction, the 21-year-old would surely benefit from adding muscle to his 232-pound frame to hold up better against the run and must improve in coverage substantially to justify using a first-round pick on an inside linebacker in today’s game.

RB J.K. Dobbins

Dobbins was sensational upon returning from his COVID-19 infection, rushing for 425 yards and averaging 6.85 yards per carry over the last five regular-season games to take the lead back role. His need to improve in pass protection and as a receiver was magnified in the playoff loss to the Bills, but Dobbins was the clear star of Baltimore’s 2020 draft class.

DT Justin Madubuike

A summer knee injury delayed the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Madubuike’s debut until Week 5 as he then fought for playing time in a veteran-laden rotation, but the rookie showed no shortage of potential as a pass rusher and against the run, finishing 41st out of 130 interior defensive linemen in PFF’s grading.

2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT 5.1 - Joe Marino

27. Ravens

Azeez Ojulari

EDGE, Georgia

Baltimore has been terrific at manufacturing pressure on the quarterback, but the defense would go to a new level if it could achieve that organically and without the need to send extra rushers as frequently as it does. With Yannick Ngakoue and Matt Judon slated to become free agents, Baltimore needs to find some new answers to get after the quarterback. Ojulari is bursty, bendy and a great fit for the hybrid fronts Baltimore likes to run.

59.Ravens

Brevin Jordan

TE, Miami