Image courtesy of Hudl
FOXBOROUGH – Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews.
We all know the names that could cause problems for the Patriots when it comes to the Ravens’ offense on Sunday night. But, one guy that doesn’t get nearly enough attention is former Everett star Isaiah Likely.
Likely did get some national attention his first few years in the league – especially last season after catching 42 balls and six touchdowns – but with just 22 catches for 248 yards this season, it’s as if people have forgotten how good he can be and how much of a weapon he is for Jackson and the offense.
Patriots defenders aren’t about to make that mistake though.
“Both of those guys are really dynamic pass catchers,” linebacker Jack Gibbens said in the locker room on Wednesday. “They’re both always somebody the quarterback is looking for. They both run well, they’re both good after the catch, very crafty with their routes and stuff. We’re going to have to be locked in and prepared for those guys. They have a little bit different body types and move a little bit different, but they both have similar play styles and they’re used in similar ways. They use both of those guys as receivers and tight ends. They can be very versatile with those guys. They can get in traditional tight end positions and flex them out and they’ll run routes a lot of receivers will be running. They’re definitely good chess pieces for that offense.”
Fellow linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson echoed many of the same sentiments that Gibbens shared.
“I think (Likely) is a true key piece of their offense,” he said. “Obviously, he’s a threat downfield, but I also think he’s underrated when he’s within the box. He makes plays with his blocking. He can cause some confusion at the line of scrimmage. He’s a true weapon that they try to take advantage of, for sure…I just think the tight end position is such a versatile piece for all offenses these days. Likely takes advantage of his skillset and they put him in positions where he can make plays. I think (Baltimore) does a great job of making sure you can’t pick up on their tendencies (with tight ends) too much. They have some favorites (plays and formations) where they want to run it and stuff like that, but all tight ends are capable of doing anything they want. Between Andrews and Likely, they’re both really, really good.”
Safety Craig Woodson may be a rookie, but he too already knows that Likely and Andrews will present quite a challenge for this defense on Sunday night, even if it is his first time facing Baltimore.
“He’s a guy that can pretty much do everything,” Woodson said of Likely. “The way he’s built, with his skillset, he’s a big player with good hands. So, we’ll have to be alert for that when we’re on the field, especially with certain schemes they use and stuff like that. Honestly, they’re both kind of receivers in a way. They both find ways to get open, they both find ways to use their skillset. They create matchup problems on safeties and corners. We’ve got to stay alert.
“Knowing that they both have speed, we’ve just got to be ready for that.”
The whole Ravens offense is predicated on speed and lots of it, but it could be a local guy from Everett that ends up being the X factor in this game.
And the Patriots know it.