OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh smiled when requested about the important thing to slowing down Cincinnati Bengals vast receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
“You have heard about him?” Harbaugh joked. “I’ve heard about him. He isn’t unhealthy.”
When the Ravens play on the Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. EST, CBS), the precedence for the Baltimore protection is to comprise Chase as a lot as potential, which has been one of the daunting challenges in Harbaugh’s 18 seasons in Baltimore.
Chase has used his downfield velocity and elusiveness after the catch to supply three of the seven greatest receiving video games in opposition to the Ravens since 2008, which was Harbaugh’s first season as coach. He has averaged 119.1 yards receiving in 9 conferences vs. Baltimore, which is the very best by any participant with no less than 5 video games in opposition to the Ravens.
“They transfer him round a lot, and that is a part of the explanation why they’ve success; you by no means know the place he’ll be at,” Ravens security Kyle Hamilton mentioned. “You attempt to scheme your offense and scheme your protection, or no matter it could be, so your finest gamers can shine, and that is what they do very nicely. Not [just] him, simply all of the weapons they’ve on offense. I believe a giant a part of stopping him is simply understanding the place he’s and what they love to do in sure areas the place he is at.”
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4 gamers have totaled over 1,000 yards receiving in opposition to the Ravens since 2000: Chad Johnson, Hines Ward, Antonio Brown and Chase. However Chase is the one one who has executed so in beneath 10 video games.
Chase’s 1,072 yards receiving in opposition to Baltimore are 385 extra yards than he is recorded in opposition to some other crew. He has a present streak of three straight 100-yard video games in opposition to the Ravens.
“I really feel like I play the very best in opposition to all people,” Chase mentioned. “Some video games occur to be higher than different video games.”
Final season, Chase totaled 457 yards in two video games in opposition to Baltimore. That marked probably the most by any participant in opposition to one opponent in a single season in NFL historical past.
Within the Bengals’ 32-14 win in Baltimore on Thanksgiving night time, the Ravens felt like they took a optimistic step ahead after they held Chase to seven receptions on 14 targets for 110 yards.
“I believed the fellows did a very good job, all in all,” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr mentioned. “The factor that was actually good was we did not let him run after the catch. That is the place he is actually harm us [before], and that is the place they actually get rolling is when he catches a slant or a dig route and runs for giant, explosive performs. I believed we did OK. You by no means need a man to get a 100 yards, however we will be higher, and we all know what we will be higher at.”
Chase has been extraordinarily harmful with the ball in his arms. His 494 yards after the catch are probably the most by a participant in opposition to the Ravens during the last 25 years.
“He is a very good participant, and so they’re a very good offense, however I believe effort a whole lot of the time makes up for errors simply scheme-wise,” Hamilton mentioned. “So, I believe we positively have that down pat – simply run to the ball, enjoying onerous, it covers a whole lot of issues up.”
The Ravens’ focus just isn’t lacking tackles on Chase on the quick routes and never letting him get behind the protection on the go-routes.
Within the final 5 years, Chase has caught 4 passes for 50 or extra yards in opposition to the Ravens. Nobody has greater than two in opposition to Baltimore over that span.
“We perceive that they’ll take their photographs,” Orr mentioned. “After which, on a few the catches that he had, we had protection rolled his manner. So, that is a part of the execution [where] we’ve to be higher after we’re saying that. After we commit that we will handle him, we won’t let him catch the soccer.”
