If there’s a reason to be bullish about this Ravens’ defense, even with the high-profile defections of some coaches and players, it’s that multi-dimensional, attack-and-cover-from-any-alignment defensive backfield. Oh, the Ravens have had good backfields before, but this has the makeup of a living, breathing organism that offers opposing offensive coordinators very little in terms of matchup advantages.
You have a tight end with size that needs covered inside? Let’s try Kyle Hamilton. A receiver who can play the “X” and inside? Marlon Humphrey is that guy. Quick, cut-on-a-dime slot that eats up the underneath? Let’s throw Arthur Maulet in there.
And let’s just look at the outside, if you will. Besides Humphrey, Brandon Stephens had his best year last season in his first full-time opportunity on the perimeter, and new first-round pick Nate Wiggins brings speed and a pedigree at a big-time program into the fold.
And we haven’t even mentioned oft-injured youngsters Jalyn Amour-Davis and Pepe Williams, both of who have stood out in camp, according to reports.
Do you like safeties? Besides Hamilton, the Ravens also boast Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson, to go along with Ar’Darius Washington and others.
It’s a loaded group.
Brian Wacker of the Sun recently wrote about this group.
“I’d like to really take it one day at a time and get there first, then there will be opportunities,” Harbaugh said Wednesday when asked about what, for now at least, is a defensive backfield flush with depth and talent, per Wacker. “But we have a deep group back there. Every single guy in the secondary, to my eyes, is playing very well and playing like a 53-man type of guy. It’s a good thing.”
And the unit has been as advertised this summer, according to Wacker.
“The Ravens’ defense had 17 interceptions going into Wednesday’s mostly half-speed practice, many of them courtesy of the defensive backfield (albeit most of them came against backup quarterbacks as Lamar Jackson missed nearly a week with an illness),” wrote Wacker. “There are others who are expected to contribute as well, including fourth-round corner T.J. Tampa, who should return from double sports hernia surgery in a couple of weeks.”
If you’re worried about your pass-rushers, what’s the best thing to help? Buy them a little more time. This group looks like it can do just that, with the bonus of turning the ball over and putting it back in the hands of a two-time MVP quarterback.
It also helps if you don’t put a “Weak spot” on film for opposing play-callers to exploit.
“We can never have somebody that’s on the field that’s a liability,” explained Hamilton on the team’s myriad options.
One of my favorite players on this unit is Maulet, a feisty guy who came to Baltimore last season, almost as an afterthought to many in the Flock. But he battled and made plays early, and just continued to do so all season, earning respect along the way.
Clifton Brown shared a great piece on the Ravens’ site on Maulet.
With that crowded backfield, Maulet still plans to earn more playing time this year.
“Maulet wants to force his way onto the field more than last season when he was fourth among the team’s corners with 408 snaps,” wrote Brown. “Hamilton played 465 snaps in the slot last season.”
“I worked out every day, I didn’t take too much time off,” Maulet said, per Brown. “I broke down the film and saw all my weaknesses and attacked them. Just got in the lab man, just was truthfully honest with myself. I wanted to be a bigger piece this year, help this team win.
“If I do it, I do it. If not, then I still have work to do. If I don’t push myself to a higher standard, no one else will.”
He also had a funny moment in Wednesday’s presser, when he responded to some of Patrick Queen’s comments since joining Pittsburgh.
“‘P.Q.,’ we know the food is not better, bro,” Maulet told reporters. “We know the city is not better, bro. Come on, come on now.”
You gotta love it.
Also of note:
