The Ravens Run Game is Heating Back Up

The Ravens under Gary Kubiak are built on running the ball.  Successful running allows for less risky "shot" plays in the pass game due to down/distance and dictates coverage concepts on the back end.  The run game hadn't been as effective going into Sunday's game versus the Browns as they managed only 93 yards and 33 yards against the Jaguars and Texans, respectively.  On Sunday, to the Ravens credit, they eschewed the former coordinator's tendency to stray from the run game and continued to pound the ball even after only minimal success.  As can be seen in the chart below that marks the yards on each attempt this past Sunday chronologically, the big gains came toward the end of the game:

How the Ravens Protection Let Them Down

The Ravens lost in frustrating fashion to the Texans 25-13 and with it, lost control of their destiny fate.  It was clear from early on that the Texans defense was going to be aggressive and look to bring interior pressure in the pass game.  The Ravens offensive line played admirably in one-on-one protection situations but the protection scheme let them down. 

Situation: 2Q 9:57, First and 10 on the Ravens' 8 yardline

With the Ravens backed up to their own 8 yardline, the offense came out on first down throwing.  They use their 12 personnel package to attack the Texans Quarters coverage look.  In order to account for seven potential rushers, the Ravens use "half slide" protection where the 5 OL + 1 RB are responsible for 6 rushers.  If seven rushers come, the seventh is on Flacco.  This is how it played out:

Both TEs (Gillmore and Daniels) are running short stick patterns to the middle of the field.  The outside linebackers follow them in "match" coverage while the two interior linebackers "cross blitz" (also referred to as "Fire X").  This causes havoc for the interior of the protection because they've opened up a lane for the blitzers to penetrate.  The protection scheme was built to withstand six rushers, but due to the Texans superior game-plan, they only needed to bring five to hurry Flacco into an errant throw.

This is football, though.  You get out-schemed on one play, you adjust, and move on.

However, the very next play:

Situation: 2Q 9:53, Second and 10 on the Ravens' 8 yardline

The Ravens show the same protection scheme against the same Texans front.

This time, the first rusher of the stunting linebackers (often know as the penetrator) times the snap and gets to Flacco before Forsett can step up.  The result is intentional grounding and almost lead to a safety.

In a vacuum I would rarely criticize this individual series of plays.  However, the Ravens have experience against heavy A-gap pressure teams.  The Steelers, Bengals, and (to a lesser extent) the Browns all show interior pressure versus the Ravens twice a year. 

Additionally, it wasn't until the 10th(!) pass play that the Ravens changed their 6-man protection call to account for A-gap pressure.  Specifically, "full slide" protection needed to be used to at least account for the interior gaps and allow Flacco to more easily throw "hot" off of edge defenders.  Full slide protection gives you the luxury of using play-action to lead the running-back to his eventual blocking assignment rather than away from it.

The pass protection, at least prior to the injuries, was a problem early in the game but they certainly can't shoulder all the blame.  Receivers dropped open routes in the first two quarters and the run game suffered from interior penetration as well.  Sprinkle in receivers slipping, tipped passes, and specific coverage beaters that Flacco simply missed, and you get a disappointing loss to a (slightly) inferior team.