Ravens OC Greg Roman Shakes Off The Criticism

Baltimore has productive offense despite complaints.
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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been a lightning rod for criticism.

His critics say he can't put together an explosive offense capable of winning a Super Bowl. 

However, Roman has broken records with his running game and the Ravens led the NFL in scoring in 2019.

Roman tries to ignore the outside noise.

“Oh, geez. I live and die by what anything in the media is said," Roman said. "No, that was a joke. (laughter) Yes, I mean, we’ve got to stay focused on what we stay focused on. As a professional, we’re all our harshest critics, and I think we know the truth, and you just believe in that and keep trying to get better every day. Don’t get set in your ways; just keep trying to adapt, evolve and adjust, and don’t worry about a thing.”

Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been a lightning rod for criticism.
Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been a lightning rod for criticism

Baltimore's offense did not perform that poorly last season despite a myriad of injuries. 

Here's a breakdown of the Ravens offense this season and where it ranked among the league's 32 teams:

  • Points per game: 22.8 (17th)
  • Yards per game: 378.8, (6th)
  • Passing yards per game: 233 (13th)
  • Rushing yards per game: 145.8 (3rd)

Both wide receiver Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards on the season. It was just the second Baltimore tandem to reach the 1,000-yard mark in the same season, joining Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander accomplished that feat in 1996. 

Brown has since been traded to the Arizona Cardinals.

Jackson missed the last four games with a bone bruise in his ankle. He finished the season with 2,882 yards passing with 16 interceptions and 13 interceptions (87.0 rating). 

Jackson admitted the offense has to be better, especially the passing attack.

"We have great running backs, we’ve got a great run game, but that passing game is going to help us even more, so we need to just keep doing that, keep getting better at that; keep getting better at everything – not just the passing game," Jackson said. "There’s always room for improvement with anything you do.”

The goal this year is to stay healthy. 


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Todd Karpovich
TODD KARPOVICH

Twitter: @toddkarpovich Email: todd.karpovich@gmail.com Skype: todd.karpovich Todd Karpovich has been a contributor for ESPN, Forbes, the Associated Press, Lindy's, and The Baltimore Sun, among other media outlets nationwide. He is the co-author of “If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Baltimore Ravens Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box,” “Skipper Supreme: Buck Showalter and the Baltimore Orioles,” and the author of “Manchester United (Europe's Best Soccer Clubs).” Karpovich, a Baltimore native, is a graduate of Calvert Hall College high school, Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, and has a Masters of Science from Towson University.