The Baltimore Ravens started out 2-0 with two strong offensive performances but they’ve dropped two of their last three including this past Sunday in Pittsburgh to fall to 3-2. Lamar Jackson appears to be playing better but the supporting cast just isn’t there.
NFL Insider Jason La Canfora of the Audacy original podcast “In The Huddle” sounded off on Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta for his inability to evaluate two key positions in today’s NFL.
“If they catch the ball for Lamar – seven drops, including at least five dropped touchdowns,” La Canfora said (21:55 in player above). “His ball placement, except for the horrible end-zone throw to Odell Beckham… his numbers would’ve been ridiculous.”
Lamar Jackson threw for 236 yards on 22 of 38 passing on Sunday. He threw a key interception late in the game that gave Pittsburgh the chance to steal a win.
It’s been a tough go for the Ravens this season at the wide receiver position.
“He threw another ball to Zay Flowers, who was wide open, and Zay Flowers fell down. They’re asking a lot of Zay Flowers and the kid’s starting to show his inexperience already,” La Canfora said. “Zay Flowers ain’t supposed to be your number one receiver; he’s supposed to be your two or three who’s learning on the fly.
“He’s the only wide receiver doing anything and now the route tree’s getting really predictable and people are squatting on all the underneath stuff because that’s what Monken’s really running and the kid’s starting to get the crap beat out of him. His catch percentage is coming way down because people are onto what they’re doing there and nobody else is stepping up at wide receiver.”
Flowers, the 22nd overall pick in last year’s draft, is leading the way for the Ravens with 29 catches on 40 targets for 317 yards. That’s the same amount of catches and targets as their next three wide receivers – Nelson Agholor, Odell Bckham Jr., Rashod Bateman – combined.
Unfortunately, this isn’t anything new in Baltimore.
“Stop me if you’ve heard this before, this is the Baltimore Ravens forever,” said La Canfora. “Their general manager Eric DeCosta is a complete and utter fraud when it comes to evaluating really the pass rush and the wide receiver position. They’re kind of important in the modern NFL but they can’t get it right really anywhere no matter what they do at those spots.”
DeCosta has been in the Ravens organization for nearly 30 years. He started as a player personnel assistant and 1996 before steadily moving up the ranks to general manager in 2019.
“It’s really hurting them now because the young defensive coordinator who was brought in not to blitz has to blitz in critical moments now because he has no personnel to win up front. And when he blitzes, Kenny Pickett and Gardner Minshew have beaten their a– in the fourth quarter, stolen their lunch money, and won games against what otherwise is a really good defense.
“Wide receiver, you’re back to the same thing. It’s Zay Flowers or Mark Andrews. It used to be Marquise Brown or Mark Andrews. This kid plays big but he’s not any bigger. How many balls is he going to highpoint deep downfield? And a tight end. It’s the same as it ever was.”