NFL Are the Ravens Really a Smashmouth Football Team?

[Dirty Bird]

I keep on hearing this description about the Ravens and Steelers for years, though, commentaters have moved the Steelers onto more passing. Having just collected the stats for all teams in season openers for the last 11 years, I believe the Ravens are not a smashmouth team, infact, they're just about average. Of the 31 other teams, 16 have rushed it more often as a % of plays than the Ravens.

So, are the Ravens really a smashmouth football team?

fwiw - Here are the stats I have collected for most rushing %

1. Redskins - 53.28%
2. Texans - 52.95%
3. Steelers - 52.34%
4. Vikings - 52.12%
5. Falcons - 51.07%
6. Bills - 50.32%
7. Chargers - 49.55%
8. Titans - 48.82%
9. Bears - 48.64%
10. Jaguars - 48.42%
11. Seahawks - 46.84%
12. Jets - 46.65%
13. Chiefs - 46.29%
14. Broncos - 45.85%
15. 49ers - 45.22%
16. Bengals - 45.16%
17. Ravens - 44.40%
18. Raiders - 43.76%
19. Giants - 43.71%
20. Cowboys - 43.61%
21. Packers - 43.10%
22. Panthers - 43.08%
23. Patriots - 42.47%
24. Saints - 41.19%
25. Eagles - 40.80%
26. Lions - 40.28%
27. Cardinals - 39.97%
28. Buccaneers - 39.97%
29. Dolphins - 39.76%
30. Browns - 39.15%
31. Colts - 36.76%
32. Rams - 35.44%

 

[Pies_10]

When we had Jamal Lewis yes i'd say we were but not with Rice and now we actually have a decent QB in Flacco id say now that stat looks to be correct.

 

[drd23]

I'm not sure where you got these percentages from, but I doubt they are correct considering they vary greatly from numbers I've seen from actual game charting projects that take out QB scrambles, kneel downs etc.

But to answer the question, the Ravens aren't really a smash mouth team anymore (but I don't think any team really is) and they aren't going to if they continue to run the new, faster offense they've run so far this year. That said, the Ravens did run the most plays with a traditional FB last year of any team and are usually one of the teams with the highest PA%.

 

[Blacky]

I'm not sure where you got these percentages from, but I doubt they are correct considering they vary greatly from numbers I've seen from actual game charting projects that take out QB scrambles, kneel downs etc.

But to answer the question, the Ravens aren't really a smash mouth team anymore (but I don't think any team really is) and they aren't going to if they continue to run the new, faster offense they've run so far this year. That said, the Ravens did run the most plays with a traditional FB last year of any team and are usually one of the teams with the highest PA%.

Denver last year was probably the closest thing.

 

[Woodson]

You need a bruiser like 'THE BUS' to become a bustling Smashmouth Team. I don't buy into any team being smash mouth anymore. Game is changed and teams are forever losing their original identity and it's more or less, pass and let the RB touch the ball once in a while. Could it be that O-Linemen in the league are becoming more fatigued/ banged up with the pounding bodies and/ or teams want their RB's more healthy for much of the season so going more pass orientated lessens the physicality of both O-Lineman & RB's.

 

[Beetlebum]

I agree with you Woodson the league has become more and more about tossing the ball about rather than handing it off and letting the RBs like the Bus, John Riggins, Larry Csonka and those types just bulldoze their way through..