The NFL season is quickly approaching and opening night for the Baltimore Ravens will be a rematch of the AFC championship, with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens’ offense will need to be much better than it was in the playoffs if Baltimore hopes to dethrone the champs, and general manager Eric DeCosta said tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely will be key components.
DeCosta was gushing about Likely, a third-year player, to the media when he addressed the dynamic duo. He told reporters on Thursday, August 29, “I just feel like he [Likely] and Mark Andrews will be the best tandem at their position in the league.”
The Ravens have relied heavily on their TEs in recent years, with Andrews being a favorite of QB Lamar Jackson, and have run much of their passing game through the position in recent years.
This season there is a high likelihood that the offense will be running a lot of two-TE formations, not only to complement the running game but get the most out Likely’s and Andrews’ abilities to create problems for defenses.
While Andrews has been a known commodity, Likely exploded onto the scene last season. Heading into 2024 it appears that defenses will need to figure out how to guard both.
DeCosta said, “[They] will create a lot of problems for opposing defensive coordinators.” Defensive coordinators will need to figure out how to stop the running game of Derrick Henry and Jackson, while defending two physically gifted TEs and second-year sensation WR Zay Flowers.
The Ravens offense will be able to employ different packages and looks, which will now allow defenses to key into any one phase.
