Ezeiruaku flashed disciplined edge containment against Baltimore's option attack, but costly lapses against play-action bootlegs and reach blocks held his grade to replacement level.
Run defense6734Pass rush6017Special teams606Coverage561
The full breakdown
Ezeiruaku's run defense (67) provided several positive highlights, notably when he maintained textbook discipline to stop Lamar Jackson for a 1-yard scramble (Q2 6:08) and shed a block to tackle Derrick Henry short (Q2 5:32). However, his grade was dragged down by critical edge-containment breakdowns, including getting hooked by Roger Rosengarten on an 11-yard run (Q3 5:08). He also repeatedly bit on interior run fakes against play-action, surrendering a 21-yard bootleg pass (Q3 1:48) and a short touchdown (Q4 1:34). Combined with a completely neutral pass rush across 17 snaps, these negative plays anchored him near replacement level.
Strengths
Disciplined option containment
Setting edge against tight ends
Backside pursuit vs the run
Weaknesses
Biting on play-action bootlegs
Yielding outside leverage to tackles
Underneath zone break quickness
Plays that moved the grade
+1.5Q2 6:08, 1st & 10Maintained outside leverage against a tight end block on an option keeper, pushing Lamar Jackson out of bounds for a 1-yard gain.
-1Q3 5:08, 1st & 15Got hooked by Rosengarten and surrendered outside leverage, allowing Justice Hill to turn the corner for an 11-yard gain.
-1Q3 1:48, 1st & 10Bit hard inside on an interior run fake, surrendering edge contain for an uncontested 21-yard play-action bootleg completion.
Every graded snap · 15 wins or losses, 43 routine
-0.5Q1 14:56 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseGets reached and sealed inside by TE Durham Smythe, surrendering the edge and allowing Henry to turn upfield.
+0.3Q1 14:21 · 2 & 4 · Run defenseMaintains discipline on the backside edge to honor Lamar Jackson's bootleg fake.
+0.5Q1 06:12 · 4 & 1 · Run defenseSqueezed down the backside edge and helped collapse the pile from behind.
+1.5Q2 06:08 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseMaintains textbook discipline on the boot/keeper action, keeping outside leverage against the tight end block and forcing Lamar Jackson out of bounds for only a 1-yard gain.
+1Q2 05:32 · 2 & 9 · Run defenseSets a stout edge against TE Hibner, rips free inside, and secures the solo stop for a short 3-yard gain.
+0.5Q2 00:13 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseCompresses the edge against Vinson (#76) and folds inside into the pile to assist on the tackle.
+0.5Q3 10:34 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseTakes on the tight end block firmly and turns the run back inside into traffic.
+0.5Q3 09:57 · 2 & 9 · Run defenseSets a firm outside edge against Smythe's block, forcing the run to stay compressed inside.
-1Q3 05:08 · 1 & 15 · Run defenseFails to establish outside leverage against Rosengarten, getting hooked and opening the corner.
-1Q3 01:48 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseBites down hard on the interior zone action to Henry, surrendering contain and giving Jackson an uncontested rollout to the flat.
+0.5Q4 14:29 · 1 & 3 · Run defenseHolds ground firmly against Smythe's block, funneling Jackson directly toward the rallying cornerback.
+0.5Q4 13:22 · 3 & 2 · Run defenseDisciplined on the backside edge, staying balanced against Lamar Jackson's boot fake.
-0.5Q4 03:52 · 3 & 6 · CoverageDrops into underneath zone, breaks late on Andrews' out route, and makes the tackle only after a 10-yard first-down gain.
+0.5Q4 01:43 · 1 & 2 · Run defenseMaintained outside contain against the tight end motion, forcing Henry to cut inside into traffic.
-0.8Q4 01:34 · 3 & 2 · Run defenseCrashes down along the line of scrimmage on the Henry fake, offering no resistance or awareness to the pass throwback.