Ravens
Team’s takeaway numbers taking a dip
After leading league last season, team creating nearly half as many turnovers
The Ravens defense that finished last season leading the NFL in takeaways is finding it more difficult to replicate that success in 2018.
Through five games, the unit has forced six turnovers, tied with five other teams for 17th in the league. The leader with 15 takeaways is the Cleveland Browns, who secured a 12-9 overtime win against the Ravens on Sunday.
At the current rate, the Ravens are on pace to finish the season with 19 turnovers, which would rank as the third-lowest mark in franchise history. After five games last season, the defense had 12 takeaways en route to 34.
Several players said they are determined to add to their takeaways total.
“We can get some more turnovers,” strong safety
While collecting turnovers can lead to pivotal moments in games, middle linebacker
“Sometimes they fall in your lap, sometimes you have to go make a great play,” he said. “We’ve been in the right positions. We just haven’t had a lot of plays where we can get the ball off the quarterback or get the easy interceptions. If you keep doing your job and making the right reads and right drops, then those plays are going to come. We always emphasize [that] in practice because that’s one of our goals on defense — to lead the league in turnovers. If you emphasize [it] in practice, it will come in a game.”
The defense’s ability to create turnovers is more pronounced in the team’s wins and losses. In three wins, the unit has five takeaways, but only one in the two losses. But defensive coordinator
“I think they’ll come in bunches — like when you pull the olive out of an olive jar and they all come out,” he said. “I think that’s what happens with takeaways. We’re playing fundamentally sound, and we’re playing tight coverages. Last week, we had [seven] PBUs [pass break-ups]. Those PBUs become picks. I was really proud with the effort we gave last week and the effort we’ve already been giving in practice. So they’ll come in bunches. I’m not in a panic about them.”
Averett, a fourth-round pick, has not played since Week 2. Turner, an undrafted rookie who has played sparingly on offense this season, did not practice Thursday or Friday after being limited Wednesday.
The Ravens secondary is hoping for improved health elsewhere. Slot cornerback
Also questionable this week are defensive tackle
For the Titans, starting safety
Edwards is “the obvious choice” as a potential replacement, Harbaugh said before the injury report was released. “I think we’re very confident with either one of those guys [Turner or Edwards]. They’re both kind of in the same bucket and do the same things.”
With running back
“You leave yourself a little light if you do something like that,” Harbaugh said.
Edwards, an undrafted rookie from Rutgers, had a team-high 53 carries for 174 yards in the preseason.