Why Ravens’ offensive tweaks could include more multiple tight end sets
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
The Ravens used 12 personnel on 1,044 offensive plays last season, which equated to 11.1 percent of the time and ranked 27th in the NFL, according to SumerSports. Yet, with Likely’s emergence in the second half of last season and the return of a healthy Andrews, the Ravens are prime candidates to use 12 personnel much more going forward.
Monken’s first season was characterized by a dramatic increase in 11 personnel, which calls for one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers. It made sense after the Ravens drafted Flowers in the first round and signed veteran wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor as free agents. The Ravens lined up in 11 personnel on just under 48 percent of their offensive plays. That was still about 14 percent below the league average.
With one of the league’s best fullbacks, Patrick Ricard, at his disposal, Monken also utilized 21 personnel — meaning two running backs, two wide receivers and one tight end — on just under 24 percent of their offensive plays, the third-highest rate in the league.
So while 12 personnel was not one of Baltimore’s top formation choices, it was plenty successful when the Ravens did go to it. The Ravens, who passed 52 percent of the time out of the grouping, led the league in expected points added when they were in 12 personnel.
SI Ranks NFL Coach-Quarterback Duos of 2024: Nos. 32–1
Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated
Coach/QB: John Harbaugh (3) and Lamar Jackson (5)
The Ravens haven’t broken through with this group, but it feels like only a matter of time. Harbaugh is a championship coach with 160 career wins, tied for 20th all-time. Meanwhile, Jackson just won his second MVP, one vote shy of being unanimous once again. The Ravens need more playoff success, but this is an elite pairing.
PFF Cornerback Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2024 NFL season
John Kosko, PFF
16. MARLON HUMPHREY, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Humphrey is a top-five talent, but injuries suffered in two of the past three seasons have hurt his play. When he’s at his prime, he prevents separation at a high level and grades very well, having put up coverage grades north of 74.8 in five seasons from 2017 to 2022. The Ravens need him to return to that level of play in 2024.
An Original NFL ‘Capologist,’ Pat Moriarty Moves Into Consulting Role
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
Moriarty was an original NFL “capologist” before the term even existed. He was a major part in building two Ravens Super Bowl winners and keeping the team competitive year after year. He has managed the financial side of the Ravens’ personnel decisions and negotiated contracts totaling more than $1 billion.
This will be Year 31 in the NFL for Moriarty, with the first two in Cleveland and the other 29 in Baltimore. And now he’s moving into a consulting role as the team’s senior advisor to the general manager.
“He’s an original Raven – a behind-the-scenes salary-cap and management dynamo whose contributions stretch 30 years,” General Manager Eric DeCosta stated. “He’s negotiated some of the biggest contracts in NFL history, and he’s widely respected across both the league and agent community. He’s also my best friend and right-hand man.”
Best 21st century NFL draft classes: Cowboys, Ravens, more
Aaron Schatz, ESPN
6. 2018 Baltimore Ravens
This was an interesting draft because it had so many valuable players despite the Ravens whiffing on their first selection. Nine players selected by the Ravens in 2018 have accumulated at least 10 career Approximate Value points. Tight end Hayden Hurst was chosen at No. 25 but has only one season with at least 10 games started — and that was for Cincinnati in 2022. The Ravens traded back into the first round and selected quarterback Lamar Jackson with the 32nd pick. He has only won two MVP awards for them. The Ravens didn’t have a second-round pick but had two in the third round, and those picks became offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who has made four Pro Bowls so far, and tight end Mark Andrews, who has made three.
The fourth round brought cornerback Anthony Averett and linebacker Kenny Young, who each had five-year NFL careers. In the sixth round, the Ravens got safety DeShon Elliott, who became a starter in his second season before playing for Detroit and Miami. He signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh this offseason. But wait, we aren’t done! Three picks after Elliott came offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman, who moved into the Baltimore starting lineup in his second season and has started three seasons for the Ravens and two for the Panthers at left guard or center. Even seventh-round defensive lineman Zach Sieler has had a nice career since he went to Miami in the middle of the 2019 season, spending the past two years as a regular starter.