The Ravens are looking to begin a winning streak by heading to Minnesota with three consecutive wins. How should the Ravens prepare for the Vikings after a 10-day rest following a game on Thursday night?
The Ravens are looking to begin a winning streak by heading to Minnesota with three consecutive wins. How should the Ravens prepare for the Vikings after a 10-day rest following a game on Thursday night?
We all remember the last time Lamar Jackson faced Brian Flores. The “cover zero” Miami game became the new blueprint for stopping Jackson. Flores’ defense was blitzed on 60% of Jackson’s dropsbacks in a week. It worked. That was in 2021, and a different offensive coach was on the team. Jackson’s efficiency and talent have increased tremendously since then. Todd Monken, the new offensive coordinator, has given Jackson more control to adjust his defense and be prepared to go hot when blitzes are thrown at him. This has made him one the best quarterbacks when it comes to blitzes, possibly because of what happened in the 2021 game.
The Ravens will now face another Brian Flores defence, this time at Minnesota. Flores’ love of blitzing has not changed. According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Vikings lead the NFL with a 42.3% blitz rate. Flores will blitz and simulate pressure. He’ll also present all kinds of crazy looks. Jackson, Monken and the offense will have to be ready for this and be ready with answers, unlike in 2021. I would like to see Isaiah Likely, Rashod Bateman and others used against blitzes. Likely is a versatile player who can be used anywhere as a safety valve, or for extended plays. Bateman has the ability to win at the line quickly and thus makes him an ideal candidate for hot routes.
Zach Orr, the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, should be prepared to use a Flores style game plan when facing the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted by the Ravens in April 2024 but has played only three games due to injury, is still a rookie. The Vikings will rely heavily on Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. who have been limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. They are officially questionable to play.
The Vikings young signal-caller hasn’t seen much film, but he isn’t used to the Baltimore offense either. McCarthy is a rookie who loves to hold onto the ball. He’s near the top in the league for throwing in his small sample. McCarthy is also near the top in the league for average target depth; in other words he’s willing to wait before attempting to push the football downfield. Kevin O’Connell will want to do just the opposite, and make it easier for McCarthy to throw the ball early and on schedule. The Ravens’ main goal is to make McCarthy feel uncomfortable and get him to make mistakes while he holds the ball. The pass rush will have more time to reach the field and secondary players can make plays with the ball in scramble drills.
Kyle Hamilton has been playing more as an outside linebacker than anything else in the box. Hamilton should be able to play in all situations this weekend, even though Dre’Mont Jones’ trade will keep his body healthier. McCarthy is unlikely to have seen a defensive tool quite like Hamilton. The Ravens should take advantage of this against the rookie quarterback. Make McCarthy think by using Hamilton in a variety of positions: deep safety, outside linebacker or backer, downlineman, inside linebacker or corner, even as an outside corner. Make him think by changing the look on his face.
We know that the Vikings will blitz. Running backs are one of the best ways you can beat the Vikings blitz. It could be running the ball effectively on early downs in order to avoid obvious pass situations, using specific run designs for the blitz or running hot routes and screens to defeat the blitz. In five of the eight games, they have allowed more than 119 yards on the ground. They’ve also given up more than 200 yards twice. In their other three games they have only allowed 65 yards. Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchel can help slow the Vikings’ blitz by running the ball with Keaton Mitchell and Derrick Henry off the edge. I would like to see a number of two-RB pony’ packages, with Henry and Mitchell both on the field next to Lamar Jackson. Jackson’s arm and three dynamic runner options will make it harder for a defense to blitz with reckless abandon. This should help a middling offensive front.
Mitchell and Justice Hill will also be crucial as receivers in the backfield. In Jackson’s career, the Ravens struggled to plan checkdowns and instead relied on his legs in order to save them from bad plays. Jackson is also known to hold on to the ball in order to make a spectacular play every time. Jackson is a very special quarterback. However, he must be able to deal with the pressure from the defense. Jackson will push the ball in this game, but I think he needs to have options when his offensive line gives up on pressure. The Ravens’ running screens have improved dramatically since 2024. A timing screen that works well with Mitchell Hill Likely and Zay Flower is another way they can help their quarterback.