Head Coach John Harbaugh opened his press conference Monday by running through some of the issues that led to Sunday's "gut-wrenching" loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A pair of items on that list were special-teams gaffes that cost the Ravens dearly.
Harbaugh pointed out the two personal foul penalties on cornerback Asa Jackson, calling one "foolish." The head coach also said Jeremy Ross could lose the punt return job after a killer fumble.
Jackson was flagged for an illegal low block on a punt return that wiped away great field position, and then he was hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty for a late hit on another punt return.
"The two personal foul penalties, there's no place for that," Harbaugh said. "There's absolutely no reason to leave your feet. I don't care if you're slipping or not. You might be slipping, but if you're out of position to make the block, you don't make that block. And you certainly don't throw yourself back into a guy's legs on a kickoff return. That's blatantly illegal.
"And blocking a guy after the ball is down and dead – that's just foolish. That's what we call a foolish penalty. And for one guy to have three personal foul penalties in a season – in a career, let alone a season, let alone two in a game – is unacceptable."
Jackson's miscues have cost him before, as the Ravens cut him before the season after he struggled to hold onto the football as a return man. He eventually found his way back to the roster after spending time on the practice squad, but the Ravens were clearly frustrated with his penalties Sunday.
The other problem on special teams was a fumbled punt by Ross.
"The muffed punt killed us," Harbaugh said.
The error came after the Ravens defense had just forced Jacksonville to a three-and-out and the Ravens offense was set to take the field with decent starting field position. But Ross allowed the punt to slip through his arms while trying to make a fair catch, and the Jaguars took over at Baltimore's 37-yard line.
Jacksonville scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to take the lead.
"It was one of the four turnovers that shouldn't happen," Harbaugh said. "It wasn't an easy catch, and the ball was moving from left to right, and behind him. But it's still a catch that you have to make in that situation. For sure."
Harbaugh acknowledged that the Ravens will take a look at the roster this week to determine whether Ross will remain the punt returner. That was his second fumbled return this season, and the Ravens place a high priority on being able to secure the ball on special teams.
"It just goes with the territory," Harbaugh said.
