During the NBC broadcast of the Ravens’ 34-17 victory over the New York Jets, analyst Cris Collinsworth pointed out on more than one occasion how running back Ray Rice impacted the opposing defense when he lined up as a receiver.
When Rice flared out as a wideout, the Jets shifted their coverage and occasionally assigned cornerback Antonio Cromartie to shadow the tailback. When safety Eric Smith got the assignment, Rice ran a quick slant, caught the pass from quarterback Joe Flacco, slipped out of Smith’s diving grasp, and didn’t stop until he had completed a 52-yard gain in the first quarter.
