Russell Street Report Street Talk Consistency is the Key on D

The Ravens are their own worst enemy.

This was the assessment from Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees on Thursday’s Press Conference. Coach Pees also brought up a concern with consistency on Defense. He gave an example of the same pressure call used at two different points in the game. Let’s take a look at what happened on those two plays.

Play 1 – Q1 3rd-and-9 on the Cleveland 42-yard line

The Ravens defense line up in a ‘Psycho’ front. This just means that less than 3 guys have their hand on the ground. The defense is giving a look that they will bring pressure towards the Quarterback. The Ravens rush 4, but overload the rush on the right.

Mosley shoots the B-Gap and takes an inside path to the Quarterback. The result? The Quarterback is flushed out of the pocket and has to throw the ball away.

Play 2 – Q3 3rd-and-8 on the Baltimore 31-yard line

Coach Pees calls the exact same defense.

Unfortunately, Mosley decided to take an outside path to the Quarterback. The result? Josh McCown is able to step up into the pocket, scramble and throw a 15-yard completion to his Tight End.

If Mosley kept the same path, he would have sacked the Quarterback. The Ravens might have given up a field goal. Instead they eventually gave up a touchdown on that drive.

Consistency. That’s where the defense needs to start.