BALTIMORE — It’s easy to see how Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson mesmerizes fans, from his dazzling juke moves to his slingshot-like acceleration and pinpoint precision as a passer. He put those qualities on display throughout Sunday’s 38-6 season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns.
But the football enthusiasts who pore over game film and consider evolving strategies are often equally impressed with what the Ravens do on the other side of the ball.
And defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale flexed his game-planning prowess in Sunday’s just like Jackson showcased his talents.
Martindale, living up to his reputation, unleashed all sorts of disguised coverages and creative blitzes Sunday that befuddled Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield, who routinely throw passes into crowds of defenders or failed to anticipate the angles of pass rushers. In the end, Mayfield completed 21 of 39 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Browns converted just 3 of 12 third downs and none of their three fourth-down tries. Mayfield’s average of 4.8 yards per pass attempt for the game was the second-worst mark of his career.
No moment underscored his struggles quite like the interception he threw on the game’s first drive.
Before the play, a third-and-10 just shy of midfield, the Ravens crowded the line of scrimmage with seven defenders who appeared ready to rush toward Mayfield in an all-out blitz. So Mayfield appeared to assume the middle of the field would be empty, allowing him a clear lane to throw — and he fell in Martindale’s trap.
Below is a picture of what Mayfield saw right as the shotgun snap reached his hands. Notice that no defender is in coverage in the center of field between the 50-yard line and the Ravens' 43.
The key here was that the Ravens only rushed four of the seven players at the line of scrimmage. Three pass rushers — defensive end Calais Campbell (No. 93) and outside linebackers Tyus Bowser (54) and Matthew Judon (99) — all dropped in coverage immediately after the snap, loading the middle of the field with lengthy defenders.
Look at the field now, about one second after Mayfield caught the snap, and see what the scene is like at the 50-yard line.
Mayfield, expecting to feel the heat from the blitz, delivered a quick throw that he would’ve completed had the 6-foot-8 Campbell not been in its path to deflect the ball. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey intercepted it on the ricochet.
Campbell, a Pro Bowl lineman, deflected three passes Sunday in his first game under Martindale, which equaled his combined total from his previous two seasons playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Here’s a full look at Humphrey’s pick:
On other occasions, the Ravens' defense confused Mayfield in the opposite fashion: by beginning a play without the look of a blitz and bringing extra rushers anyway. The best example of this came in the second quarter, when rookie inside linebacker Patrick Queen surged through the Browns' offensive line and twirled Mayfield to the ground for his first career sack.
Here’s what Mayfield saw before the snap, when he called out protections and scanned the field: Baltimore had four pass rushers near the line of scrimmage and two linebackers standing about 7 or 8 yards behind them.
Martindale designed the Ravens defense with flexibility and on-the-fly adjustments in mind. Perhaps that’s why Queen, seeing no running back next to Mayfield to help in protection, began to creep forward in the moments before the snap and was in position to dart toward the backfield.
It’s clear Cleveland did not expect Queen’s rush. Browns center J.C. Tretter turned to right to search for a defender to block and left guard Joel Bitonio stepped to his left to help on defensive end Derek Wolfe.
Queen ran right between them to sack Mayfield.
A complicated defense like the one Martindale calls doesn’t come without risks, and an upended 2020 offseason magnifies those. Miscommunications are likely to happen.
And that burned Baltimore in the second quarter when Campbell began to leave the field before a snap only to rush back on and try to get lined up. He didn’t get set in time, and Browns running back Nick Chubb cut back for a 29-yard gain that set up Cleveland’s only touchdown.
Here’s a look at where Campbell stood just moments before that snap — sprinting back into position.
The confusion allowed Chubb to find his biggest hole of the game on a cutback to Campbell’s side of the field.
Baltimore also allowed running back Kareem Hunt to gain 22 yards on a run later that drive on a play that didn’t include an obvious error. Cleveland simply paved a hole for Hunt on the right side of the field, with one key block driving outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson out of position.
So, yes, Martindale’s unit has things to clean up, from communication to run defending.
Still, it thrived more often than it struggled Sunday, partly because of scheme and partly because of the talent on the field. The Browns' fourth-and-4 try in the third quarter showcased the latter.
On this play, Mayfield expected a blitz and wanted to target a receiver to his right quickly. The problem? Baltimore had two All-Pro cornerbacks, Humphrey and Marcus Peters, and an experienced starter in Jimmy Smith on that side of the field.
Most other teams can’t position three cornerbacks of that caliber next to each other; some can’t line up one or two corners that good anywhere on the field. Mayfield needed to make a short throw and didn’t have anyone open.
That kind of stellar coverage allows Martindale more leeway when dialing up blitzes, and without a clear target on that fourth down, Mayfield had to evade pressure from safety Chuck Clark. Eventually, outside linebacker Tyus Bowser pulled him down for a sack.
After Bowser sacked him, Mayfield slammed the ball into the ground before climbing to his feet, another show of the frustration caused by the Ravens' defense.
Aaron Kasinitz covers the Baltimore Ravens for PennLive and can be reached at akasinitz@pennlive.com or on Twitter @AaronKazreports. Follow PennLive’s Ravens coverage on Facebook and Youtube.
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