Chuck Clark’s brain has helped fix the Ravens defense
The Baltimore Ravens defense struggled earlier this season against subpar defenses. In week six safety Chuck Clark took the “green dot” and took over play calling for the Ravens defense. The “green dot” indicates the player that wears the head set that gets play calls from the defensive coordinator. Week by week the Ravens defense has improved dramatically.
The Ravens defense was giving up big plays on players that were uncovered due to lack of communication. The Ravens second game veteran and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald had a 54 yard reception on a play he was not covered at all.
Before Clark took the dot the Ravens lost 40 to 25 to the Cleveland Browns and 33 to 28 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens also struggled against the inferior Pittsburgh Steelers. A change needed to be made and it was, the Ravens have also made several transactions highlighted by the Marcus Peter’s trade.
Clark was a Ravens fourth round draft pick in 2017 out of Virginia Tech. Clark has been a backup safety for the Ravens and got the call to start when Tony Jefferson went down against the Steelers in week five.
It is rare for a safety to wear the green dot. Last season Eric Weddle wore it when linebacker C.J. Mosley was injured. Weddle is known as a veteran and one of the smartest defensive players in football. Clark is only 24 years old and in his third season but Clark was Weddle’s understudy and soaked up his knowledge like a sponge.
Clark has become recognized as a leader on the field and someone who has a big football IQ. The Ravens misplays on defense and blown coverages have all but gone away. Clark deserves a lot of the credit taking on a huge role and excelling at the job given.
Jefferson may have been the starter at strong safety but the Ravens defense have been a lot better and against better teams. The Ravens defense played great against the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans to name some of the challenges. Clark wore the green dot for all of those games.
The Ravens are talented at all sides of the ball but credit Clark’s brain as being a huge difference maker. Clark is young and only getting smarter, Clark is a student of the game and will only get better.
