While the blue and black division has turned into an offensive powerhouse, the Ravens have returned to the roots of the division. The defense and running game are back. Going into the 2020 season, the Ravens offseason moves may have put fear in AFC North defenses. The key addition to the offense of J.K. Dobbins will make life easier for a Ravens running attack that was already above the rest.
After his career at Ohio State, it’s easy to see why the Ravens see him as the right fit for the team. During his final season at Ohio State, he rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns while catching 23 balls through the air. His addition to this mouth-watering rushing offense will take the pressure off of an older Mark Ingram and fewer rushes for Lamar Jackson.
The two-headed monster of Mark Ingram and Gus Edward will all return. The Ravens had the best running game in the league last year with an NFL record 3,296 rushing yards. Ingram was second on the team with 1,018 yards on 202 carries, followed by Edwards with 711 yards on 133 carries. Dobbin’s all-around game will mesh well with the other running backs. Dobbin’s ability to catch out of the backfield brings an extra dimension to the Ravens attack. Jackson carried the ball 176 times for 1,206 yards rushing, which is the most by a quarterback. The plan is to limit Jackson’s chances of being hit by dumping the ball to Dobbins and running more screenplays.
It’s been a tumultuous offseason for NFL rookies. Except for some virtual meetings, they’ve been forced to work out on their own because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But still, Dobbins has been around nothing but greatness since getting drafted. He will be playing with a Pro Bowler in Mark Ingram. During the offseason, he has been training with another Pro Bowl Running Back in Dalvin Cook.
“Training with Dalvin was valuable to me, it was so good,” Dobbins said. “The way we linked is we have the same agent, so we’re like a family. It was very, very valuable to me. He taught me a lot of things in just a short time. He works hard. It was just great to be around him. He gave me some outlook. I want to be like this guy; I want to be a Pro Bowl running back. It was extra motivation, as well, to work out with him”
Dobbins is a flashy runner who can run between the tackles and attack the edge. He may not be the fastest player on the field but is quick and shifty. Dobbins likely won’t be a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie. His ability to be a three-down running back is what’s going to make him so beneficial. Dobbins is the future and his impact will be felt throughout the offense for years to come.
