–Ravens head coach John Harbaugh wants the NFL to reevaluate the rules with replay challenges.
He contends coaches shouldn’t have to win both challenges in order to get one back. The conversation stemmed from the previous game against New Orleans when Harbaugh used two challenges in the first half. He won the first one, but lost the second one.
Under league rules, coaches are permitted two challenges per game but are awarded a third if the first two challenges are successful.
“The rule should be changed. You shouldn’t have to win both challenges to get another challenge back,” Harbaugh said. “That’s been talked about, and that’s been just dismissed by the powers that be; who knows why. Maybe they can explain it to you in some way that would make sense. But the other thing is, we never challenge it unless we think we’re going to win it clearly.”
Harbaugh admitted he would have used a third challenge on a 1-yard plunge by quarterback Drew Brees on a fourth-and-1 at the Ravens’ 18-yard line in the fourth quarter. Baltimore’s defensive line appeared to knock Brees short of the marker, but officials awarded the first down. The Saints scored a key touchdown later in the drive.
“You’ve got to at least get close to the line of scrimmage,” Harbaugh said. “And you know, it’s not like you put the ball across the plane or goal line. You can’t put the ball across the plane for the first-down marker; it’s got to be forward progress. And absolutely we’d challenge that one.”
–The Ravens have the league’s 22nd-ranked rushing offense. Starter Alex Collins has 309 yards on 27 carries, which ranks 27th among the league’s runners. Javorius Allen is primarily used in short-yardage situations and catching the ball out of the backfield.
As a result, the Ravens might be tempted to look at acquiring a running back before the 4 p.m. trade deadline on Oct. 30. However, that scenario appears unlikely because of the limited options. Some of the potential available players include LeSean McCoy, LeGarrette Blount, Lamar Miller and Ameer Abdullah. However, Collins and Allen might be the better options moving forward.
Baltimore offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg might have to be more creative with his play-calling to get more out of the run game. He has already implemented various jet sweeps with receivers to get more yards.
“The only thing that really stops them in their tracks is (if) you have an edge player that runs up the field and stands right in front of him, and he’s coming across there,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “You set him up with different blocking schemes and different actions in the backfield.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 27 – Sacks by Baltimore this season, which leads the NFL. Outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith have 5.5 sacks apiece.
