Last winter, when the Ravens reviewed what went right and wrong during the 2016 season, their running game stood out as an area that needed improvement.
The Ravens finished the season ranked No. 28 in the league in rushing, No. 21 in yards per rush and No. 30 in rushing attempts. Those numbers didn’t lie.
Fixing the ground game became a major organizational directive during the offseason. The Ravens hired new coaches, including Greg Roman, a run-game specialist. They installed new blocking schemes. They overhauled their offensive line personnel, both the starters and backups.
Now, with the 2017 regular season beginning Sunday in Cincinnati, it’s time to see whether all the focus on the rushing game has paid off.