When the Ravens offense takes the field Sunday against the Denver Broncos, a top priority will be keeping quarterback Joe Flacco upright against one of the NFL's top pass rushes.
Von Miller, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and Elvis Dumervil lead the Broncos attack, which averages an NFL-leading three sacks per game.
"They create problems for you," Offensive Coordinator Jim Caldwell said this week.
Miller has been one of the league's top pass rushers throughout the season and currently ranks third in the NFL with 16 sacks. Dumervil has eight sacks on the year.
Both players have the ability to be power or speed rushers, and are able to get around offensive tackles in a hurry.
Miller is having a historic season, and he's just the third player since 1994 to notch at least 15 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles in a single season.
He will likely be matched up for most of the game against left tackle Michael Oher.
"They're pretty good," Oher said about Miller and Dumervil. "They're fast, have a lot of moves and they get the job done."
Oher's man has gotten to Flacco for stip/sacks in the last two games. The fumbles both came in the second half and were critical in the outcome of the two losses to Pittsburgh and Washington. Flacco could help Oher out with more movement in the pocket.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said this week that Flacco needs to improve his pocket awareness, and members of the offensive line also took responsibility for protecting their quarterback.
"You are talking about Joe's pocket awareness and ball security, well you talk to the O-line," center Matt Birk said. "Give him a good pocket, give him clean lanes to throw to, receivers get open. Everything is connected. Everybody is in this together. It's no one guy. We're all out there. Everybody has a piece, everybody has a role, everybody has a job to do. If one guy doesn't do the job, then offensively, we don't get it done."
All eyes will be on the offense after Caldwell replaced Cam Cameron as coordinator this week, and being able to protect Flacco will be imperative for the Ravens to have a good day on Sunday.
"We have to work together with Joe and we have to know where he's going to be, and he has to know what we're going to do," Oher said. "Once it all comes together it's going to be great."
