Roquan Smith, Ravens’ Shuffled Inside Linebacker Unit Is Excelling

The Ravens made some midseason modifications at security that paid off. Now they’re shuffling their inside linebacker personnel with related outcomes.

Roquan Smith had his highest-graded sport of the season by Professional Soccer Focus (PFF) Sunday in opposition to the New York Giants, scoring an 87.0.

Whereas he solely had 5 tackles, Smith obtained excessive marks in go protection, the place he was focused twice and gave up zero catches with one go breakup. After the sport, Smith mentioned he feels “actually, actually good” after an “superior” bye week, and it exhibits.

A part of his enchancment may additionally be attributable to modifications made subsequent to him. Because the Week 12 sport in Los Angeles, which Smith missed as a consequence of a hamstring harm, the Ravens have used extra of Malik Harrison and Chris Board.

Harrison performed a season excessive 79% of the defensive snaps Sunday in opposition to the Giants and led the crew with eight tackles, together with one sack. Board continued to play about 50% of the defensive snaps.

Second-year inside linebacker Trenton Simpson did not begin for the primary time this season and did not see any defensive motion till late within the fourth quarter, when he had 5 snaps. His snaps have sharply declined for the reason that Week 11 loss in Pittsburgh.

“I’ve quite a lot of respect for ‘CB’ [Board]. He is been an amazing [special] teamer his complete profession, and when he is requested to play linebacker, he performs linebacker fairly good as properly,” Smith mentioned. “Malik, I really like that man’s bodily. The man will knock your facemask off; it is fairly loopy. However I simply get pleasure from being on the market with these guys – veteran guys. I’ve quite a lot of respect for them, and after they see issues, they do not let the identical factor beat them twice, so it is superior simply being on the market with these guys.

“I’ve quite a lot of respect for them, and so they’re simply going to proceed to maintain getting higher, in addition to Trenton. I’ve quite a lot of respect for him and who he’s as an individual in addition to a participant. He is a younger participant, does all the appropriate issues and has a vivid future on this league. So, I am simply excited for our room.”

Listed here are extra takeaways from the Ravens’ PFF grades and snap counts: