The Ravens defense held Cleveland to 235 yards, 13 points and just 5-of-16 on third down. Normally, that’s more than enough to win a football game. Cole and Spencer Schultz go through the tape to break down what went right, including a much-improved pass rush with Trey Hendrickson and Nnamdi Madubuike leading the way. But there are still some questions about how Jesse Minter is deploying his secondary, particularly the amount of space Baltimore is conceding underneath. We also take a closer look at the Jerry Jeudy completion that helped seal the game and why some of these coverage tendencies could become a bigger issue against quarterbacks like Joe Burrow.
Episode Rundown
00:00 — Defensive performance: Baltimore holds Cleveland to 235 yards and 13 points, but it isn’t enough to overcome the offense’s struggles.
02:15 — The Jerry Jeudy completion: Breaking down Cleveland’s dagger concept against Cover 2, the responsibilities of Malaki Starks and Jalen Hawkins, and why the Browns had the right call.
08:40 — Jesse Minter’s coverage tendencies: Why Baltimore continues to concede space underneath, the conservative approach in Cover 4, and the risks against better quarterbacks.
13:15 — Scheme vs. execution: Minter is creating opportunities for his defenders, but missed tackles and failures to finish plays remain an issue.
15:40 — Inside Baltimore’s pass rush: How Anthony Weaver is using alignments, stunts and simulated pressure to create free rushers, including the impact of Trey Hendrickson.
22:25 — Nnamdi Madubuike is finding his form: Five pressures, explosive individual wins and how Hendrickson’s presence is creating better opportunities along the defensive front.
27:15 — Defensive standouts and the bigger picture: Kyle Hamilton’s impact, Nate Wiggins’ development and why Baltimore’s defense is trending in the right direction.
32:55 — Looking ahead to Joe Burrow: Why the Ravens need more deceptive coverage rotations and turnover opportunities against Cincinnati’s passing attack.
