The Baltimore Ravens through the first-four games of the regular season have kept their reputation on defense relatively high as the team is second in the NFL in points allowed at 15 points a game and their red zone defense ranks first in the NFL allowing touchdowns at a 27 percent rate. However, what happened to forcing turnovers?
On the season, the Ravens have forced a total of four turnovers this season with three being fumbles recovered and one being an interception. The Ravens are no doubt stout on defense when it comes to points allowed. Despite that the lack of turnovers is concerning for the unit. It is very concerning considering the fact that the one interception the Ravens do have came from their defense tackle Haloti Ngata.
The Ravens lack players with instinct in the secondary at the moment. Ed Reed is longer with the Ravens to be game changer at safety. Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb has a back injury and no one really knows when Webb will be back. The Ravens have one of the most underrated corners in the game in Jimmy Smith and opposing quarterbacks don't really throw in his direction often for Smith to make a play.
The Ravens face quarterback Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in week 5. Luck has had an MVP type of season with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. If the Ravens intend on defeating the Colts, the Ravens have to force fumbles, get interceptions. The Colts are tied for second in the NFL in passing completions which go at least 20 yards. Luck will test the Ravens secondary early and often.
Another reason for the urgency to force turnovers from the Ravens point of view is due to the fact that under Luck, the Colts have a history over the last three years of coming back into games they had no business being in. The Ravens do a good job of keeping opposing offenses out of the red zone. The Ravens are going to have to do much more than that to hold down Luck and the Colts in week 5.