Designer blitz packages were a feature of the Ravens league-leading defense last season, but Pees has restored some unpredictability to this year\u2019s group. The Ravens are still near the bottom of the league\u2019s standings with a 21.8 blitz percentage, per\u00a0Pro Football Reference<\/a>, but they are being more selective and more effective about sending extra rushers on Pees\u2019 watch.<\/p>\n A more significant change has occurred in how the Ravens deploy their personnel since Pees was hired. Specifically in the formation of the defensive backfield.<\/p>\n Choosing\u00a0new starters at safety<\/a>\u00a0inspired improvement against the pass. In particular, moving All-Pro\u00a0Kyle Hamilton<\/a>\u00a0out of the box and into the deep third of the field.<\/p>\n Cornerback\u00a0Marlon Humphrey\u00a0has given the\u00a0lion\u2019s share of the credit\u00a0to Hamilton moving back for the upturn in the Ravens\u2019 pass defense. The numbers support Humphrey\u2019s view.<\/p>\n Numbers like \u201cWeeks 1-10: 0.036 EPA\/Play Allowed (7th worst in the NFL),\u201d compared with \u201cWeeks 11-15: -0.085 EPA\/Play Allowed (5th best in the NFL),\u201d\u00a0per Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus.<\/p>\n The Hamilton-led secondary should worry Tomlin and the Steelers ahead of Saturday. Especially when they\u2019re likely to be without their most dynamic pass-catcher.<\/p>\n Wide receiver\u00a0George Pickens\u00a0is set to miss the game due to a hamstring problem, according to\u00a0Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. Being without Pickens is a major blow for a Steelers offense reliant on the 23-year-old for big plays through the air.<\/p>\n To put Pickens\u2019 impact into perspective,\u00a0The Baltimore Banner\u2019s Jonas Shaffer\u00a0cited numbers from TruMedia to show how the Steelers fare with and without the second-year wideout. The statistics make for welcome reading from a Ravens perspective: \u201cYards per play: 11th \/ 32nd\u00a0<\/span>Success rate: 18th \/ 32nd\u00a0<\/span>Explosive-play rate: 13th \/ 32nd.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n That combination of a pass attack missing its best playmaker and a defense making strides in coverage and pressure will be vital for the Ravens. It should prove decisive in ending a miserable run against the Steelers, who\u2019ve won eight of the last nine meetings.<\/p>\n Add in extra motivation from Tomlin\u2019s omission of Orr\u2019s role in the unit\u2019s success, and the Ravens defense could dominate in Week 16.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The secret to the Baltimore Ravens success is well known to Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The secret behind the\u00a0Baltimore Ravens\u00a0recent defensive revival is no mystery… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nMike Tomlin, Steelers Have a Problem<\/h2>\n
![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2185261456-e1734698426646.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780\")
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