Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Ravens running game took a quizzical turn for the worst this season, as one of the league’s most talented running back duos in Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce averaged a paltry amount of yards per carry and seemed to get nothing going. Plenty of people have pointed their fingers at Rice and Pierce for the poor play on the ground, but the real culprit was horrific blocking. The left side was solid once Marshal Yanda finally got back on form and the Ravens traded for Eugene Monroe, but the rest of the line was a mess. Gino Gradkowski and Michael Oher aren’t going to be starting for the Ravens anytime soon, and the team can only hope that Kelechi Osemele can stay healthy at the other guard spot going forward.
Pierce, Rice, the line, and really the entire Ravens offense needs a bounce-back season in 2014, and they will have plenty of help with Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison on board. That said, more needs to happen for the Ravens, and we’ll see how much they focus on helping out the offense in free agency and the draft.
The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson reported yesterday that Bernard Pierce, per his agent, underwent “successful” rotator cuff surgery, and he will reportedly be out for 4-5 weeks. That means he’s at no risk to miss offseason activities, and you can bet that Pierce will go at it hard this offseason in an effort to have a better 2014 campaign. Improved health will also help him out greatly, as he averaged just 2.9 yards per carry after averaging an excellent 4.9 YPC in a promising 2012 campaign.