By Joe Schiller
Through three weeks of the 2019 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens lead the league in quarterback hits (29). Not too shabby for a team who lost two of their leading pass rushers from last season in Za'Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs this offseason.
TOTAL QB HITS PRODUCED THROUGH WEEK 3:BAL: 29JAX: 26CAR, NE: 25GB: 24CHI: 23HOU: 22MIN, NO: 21TB: 20NYJ, PIT: 19ATL, CIN, IND, NYG, SF: 18BUF, CLE: 17DAL, DET: 16ARI: 15KC, PHI: 14TEN: 13LAC: 12LAR, OAK: 11MIA, SEA, WAS: 9DEN: 3
— Johnny Kinsley (@Brickwallblitz) September 24, 2019The Ravens produced eight quarterback hits on Patrick Mahomes in Sunday's loss, but just one sack. It came from Matt Judon on the opening drive of the game.
Judon is off to a strong start in a contract year, but the Ravens haven't gotten a consistent contribution from the rest of their edge rushers this season, and Head Coach John Harbaugh called out the play of Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams on Monday.
"Those reps are up for grabs," Harbaugh said, via ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "We'll see who takes them."
John Harbaugh isn't happy with the play of Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams as pass rushers. "Those reps are up for grabs," he said. "We'll see who takes them."
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) September 23, 2019The third-year duo was expected to be key contributors to the pass rush this season, but that hasn't happened through three games. Bowser and Williams haven't recorded a sack, and allowing quarterbacks to have more time in the pocket is problematic against a defense that is already down two of its top corners. Not to mention, an important divisional matchup against a talented Browns' wide receiver core looms on Sunday.
Judon has accounted for three of the Ravens' seven sacks. They will need more contributions from Bowser, Williams, and the rest of the pass rush this season for the defense to be successful – there's no doubt about it.
