Throughout coaching camp, Ravens second-year exterior linebacker Odafe Oweh appeared each a part of a participant on the verge of a breakout season, utilizing his velocity and energy to wreak havoc on virtually each snap.
Oweh’s stable rookie season and preseason efficiency made him poised to be a foundational piece for a Baltimore protection that hasn’t drafted a Professional Bowl participant since cornerback Marlon Humphrey in 2017. However throughout the first two video games of the 2022 season, Oweh hasn’t appeared just like the “monster” that Humphrey referred to after final 12 months’s dwelling win over the Cleveland Browns, recording simply 5 tackles and 0 sacks.
“[Oweh] has received to play higher, like all of us do,” coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “We’ve received to educate higher, received to play higher, and also you’ve received to make a reputation for your self on the market. You’ve received to go do it.”
Oweh’s potential was onerous to overlook final season. The previous Penn State standout totaled 33 tackles (5 for loss), 5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits whereas contributing to the league’s greatest run protection.
He stepped up when it mattered most, too, recording 4 sacks, eight quarterback hits and three compelled fumbles in 5 prime-time video games. The primary-round draft choose made an instantaneous influence, forcing a fumble by Chiefs operating again Clyde Edwards-Helaire late within the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ Week 2 victory over Kansas Metropolis. In the course of the Ravens’ time beyond regulation win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, Oweh strip-sacked quarterback Carson Wentz within the pink zone late within the first quarter to finish a promising 11-play drive.
After 15 video games of expertise and offseason shoulder surgical procedure that allowed Oweh to play with out a brace for the primary time since highschool, he entered his sophomore marketing campaign with huge expectations underneath first-year defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who Oweh mentioned permits him to be himself.
“He needs to be a man that, after we want him, he can get to the quarterback,” Macdonald mentioned throughout coaching camp.
Nonetheless, that man hasn’t proven up but.
Oweh has but to document a sack or a quarterback hit by way of two video games, however he has gotten shut. Within the season-opening win over the New York Jets, Oweh had 5 quarterback hurries because the Ravens sacked Joe Flacco 3 times. In a Week 2 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Oweh had three hurries, however Baltimore sacked quarterback Tua Tagovailoa simply as soon as as he handed for 469 yards and 6 touchdowns to steer a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback.
Via two video games, the Ravens rank close to the underside of the league in sacks (4) and strain fee (20.4%) whereas permitting probably the most passing yards (768) and touchdowns (seven) within the NFL.
When the Ravens have wanted a cross rusher to generate strain, they’ve typically failed. In accordance to Professional Soccer Focus, Oweh has 35 rushes this season on “true cross units” — which exclude performs with fewer than 4 cross rushers, play-action passes, screens, brief drop-backs and passes with a time to throw underneath two seconds — and has six pressures on these reps. Teammate Justin Houston has a pair of sacks, however has simply three pressures on 35 rushes in “true cross units.”
The Ravens have requested rather a lot out of Houston and Oweh as a result of lack of depth at exterior linebacker (Steven Means just lately suffered a torn Achilles tendon whereas Tyus Bowser and rookie David Ojabo are recovering from the identical harm). Houston, 33, performed 49 snaps (69%) towards Miami, whereas Oweh performed 58 snaps (82%).
“It’s a tricky blow,” Oweh mentioned, referring to the shortage of wholesome edge rushers. “However we knew coming in that it was going to be like that. We simply received to get extra conditioned.”
In contrast to final 12 months, Oweh mentioned opponents have extra movie on him, to allow them to dissect what he does effectively and plan accordingly. In response to ESPN, Oweh is likely one of the most double-teamed edge defenders within the NFL, getting extra consideration than stars Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers and Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, who mixed for 18 1/2 sacks final season.
“They know what I’m good at,” Oweh mentioned. “However that’s not an excuse. You study to have a counter for every part, so I’m working by way of that.”
After the Ravens’ loss to the Dolphins, Harbaugh mentioned he had breakfast with Oweh, they usually had a “nice dialog” about working more durable and being prepared for Sunday’s matchup towards the New England Patriots.
“It’s actually each facet of the place,” Harbaugh mentioned. “The most important factor is that the method results in the manufacturing. Are available in day-after-day, deal with enterprise, hold it easy, let’s not overthink every part; begin along with your stance and your alignment, and we’ll go from there.”
Oweh mentioned he’s onerous on himself, however that mindset made him an NFL participant. He is aware of that he will be nice, and so does Harbaugh.
“He’s so decided, [he] needs to be so good,” Harbaugh mentioned.
Week 3
RAVENS@PATRIOTS
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Ch. 45
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 2 1/2
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