5 Big Questions Facing Green Bay Packers v. Ravens
By Paul Bretl
Can the Green Bay Packers slow the Baltimore run game?
Whether it’s Lamar Jackson under center or Tyler Huntley, you can expect that the Ravens are going to lean on the run game just as they’ve done all season. Baltimore’s 31.3 rushing attempts per game are the third most in football, while their 4.6 yards per rush ranks sixth, and their rushing offense ranks seventh by DVOA.
To make matters more challenging for the Green Bay Packers, they will very likely be without Kenny Clark, who was placed on the reserve/COVID list earlier this week. Although we have seen elevated play from Dean Lowry and Kingsley Keke this season, there, of course, is no replacing Clark, not to mention that generating a push up the middle with Clark next to you and doing it on your own are two very different things.
Matt LaFleur would also mention that rookie TJ Slaton is going to play a pivotal role. We’ve seen flashes from Slaton and terrific push up the middle this season, but it’s been over limited playing time. We’ve also seen some rookie mistakes as well.
"“T.J. has done a really good job with the reps he’s taken and he’s going to play a bigger role this weekend,” said LaFleur. “This is one of the premiere rushing attacks in the National Football League. It’s going to be a great challenge for our defense.”"
Devonta Freeman has the most rushing yards among Ravens’ running backs with 440 this season on 4.3 yards per rush–not bad. But the Baltimore run game has gone through Jackson, who leads the team with 767 rushing yards on 5.8 yards per rush. This, of course, is a combination of scrambling and designed run plays.
On a much smaller sample size, Huntley is averaging 5.9 yards per rush on 16 attempts this season. In addition to the interior rushers creating push, it’s going to be crucial that the Green Bay Packers’ edge rushers set the edge in an effort to keep either quarterback in the pocket.
For the most part this season, the Green Bay defense has tried to take away the passing game and basically dared opposing offenses to run the ball. You have to wonder if they will alter this strategy a bit this week.