Ravens sign S Kendrick Lewis

[Sami84]

two aging edge rushers means nothing if they havent shown any kind of decline yet, we'll start talking about how old they are when they start to show it. webb came on strong at the end of the year after being so majorly affected by his injury throughout the regular season and offseason, and im not referring to an upgrade at FS, but with will hill stepping in full time our safety position should overall look more stable than it did last year. rookies dont need 2 years to make an impact, if mike evans or ODB was on the ravens last year you think they would have been a non factor or something? that makes no sense at all. 

 

we hear the same things every single offseason, but the fact of the matter is, we are dominant in the trenches on both sides, we have one of the winningest qb's in the league, and we have leadership. that is a formula for success and ozzie knows this, and he can fill in those blanks as well as anyone in the league, no team is absolutely perfect in this salary cap era, but the ravens will keep winning.

Would you say theres a receiver out there as good as those two at 26 or at least at 18-26?

[H8R]

Okay..maybe I'm being harsh..its just that we could have signed rahim moore who would have complimented will hill perfectly.

Anyhow..whatever. Kendrick lewis has ''potential''…even at 26-27..there I'm being positive. He's better than elam and has a higher ceiling than stewart

hows that for positivity?

You sure are putting a lot of eggs in the Will Hill basket... That's not very wise and I don't think he'll be a long-term Raven. The guy could be arrested at any point and honestly... He was only an average safety for us last year... Better then the bums but not a true playmaker... Did he make some plays? Yes, could be always be counted on? NO.

[Sami84]

Average? he was very good in coverage and man .

 

He's been a top 5 safety in the past two seasons. 

[Ravenslifer]

Any word on what the contract is worth?  I haven't seen anything yet so I assume details haven't been released.

[The Mom Gene]

And if pitta was healthy, boldin hadn't been traded, webb was 100%, Daniels had caught that TD, etc

That's a fun game

Torrey gets his toe down...  and defends that INT in the endzone...  Lots of if's.  I hate when people blame the loss of a game on one guy or one play...  We were up TWICE by 14.   It took them more than a play or two to erase those deficits.   That being said...  yeah...  Jimmy, Webby, Miles, Stewart, And lots of missed tackles in the middle of the field..  I watched the game yesterday again...  Game #3 in the 20 best games of 2014.

[Whos_Up_Next]

This turned into a Matt Elam thread. Either way, even if you don't want to admit it, there's a decent possibility that Elam has a breakout season. If he doesn't he's gone and we can stop complaining about him.

[Moderator 3]

This turned into a Matt Elam thread. Either way, even if you don't want to admit it, there's a decent possibility that Elam has a breakout season. If he doesn't he's gone and we can stop complaining about him.

Not now. Elam has his own thread.

[The Mom Gene]

Did you'll see that highlight reel???  LOVED IT!

[Willbacker]

Did you'll see that highlight reel???  LOVED IT!

Yeah me too.

  

But Matt Elam's highlite reel looked good too.

[Runnin Raven]

Yeah me too.

  

But Matt Elam's highlite reel looked good too.

This guy's a proven starter.  He looked like a Raven out there.

[Sizzlebshu]

Can someone tell me what Ozzie saw in this guy? Seriously he has been average at best throughout his career

I guess he was cheap more than anything else?

[RaineV1]

Can someone tell me what Ozzie saw in this guy? Seriously he has been average at best throughout his career

I guess he was cheap more than anything else?

Average but reliable is an improvement over what we have: a guy coming off an ACL tear, a guy with a history of off the field issues, and a guy who's on the road to being a bust. Also, he's pretty good at tackling, something our secondary has had an issue with.

Edited March 17, 2015 by RaineV1

[ellicottraven]

I don't think the Ravens would sign this guy to a 3 yr deal if they didn't believe he helps our secondary immediately, especially considering he was a free agent and wasn't released. His signing actually cancels out one of our free agent losses with regard to compensatory picks.

[Bltravens]

Can someone tell me what Ozzie saw in this guy? Seriously he has been average at best throughout his career

I guess he was cheap more than anything else?

He apparently is quite adept at picking up a playbook and getting guys lined up properly, as well as getting the assignments laid out. Something the team hasn't had since Edwardo Reed back there.

[MrDelDante]

Lewis and Trill. I can live with those guys in our backfield.

[ellicottraven]

As bad as Matt Elam was, he is cheap to retain and understands our defense (hopefully) by now, to be of some use this year. So, talking about him with much negativity isn't going to help. Instead, let's all hope he comes into his own this year and has an epiphany regarding his tackling and coverage skills and becomes productive.

[1/28/01]

As bad as Matt Elam was, he is cheap to retain and understands our defense (hopefully) by now, to be of some use this year. So, talking about him with much negativity isn't going to help. Instead, let's all hope he comes into his own this year and has an epiphany regarding his tackling and coverage skills and becomes productive.

I think it's understood that we hope any struggling player gets his act together. Problem with Elam is he's just not a smart dude. I think he is currently what at he's gonna be for us.

[52520Andrew]

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider  27m27 minutes ago

Kendrick lewis said michael oher recommended ravens to him

 

Found this to be interesting

[Gtown Purple]

Quality depth if nothing else. Not sure what all the haters think we should do instead. Who is out there in FA who is lights out better? Who in the draft is lights out better? Weak class for safety. We were 40 yards or so from the afc championship game with the joke of a secondary we had end of last year. The best thing for us is to get healthy in the secondary and bring in options. People really need to lighten up...........

[Sami84]

Quality depth if nothing else. Not sure what all the haters think we should do instead. Who is out there in FA who is lights out better? Who in the draft is lights out better? Weak class for safety. We were 40 yards or so from the afc championship game with the joke of a secondary we had end of last year. The best thing for us is to get healthy in the secondary and bring in options. People really need to lighten up...........

 

We'll resign Duwan Landry. ( ranked 8th best Saftey in the league last year and is constantly aside from 2 seasons in his career in the top 11)

[Gtown Purple]

With what cap room dude? That guy is asking for more than Lewis signed for. Why do you think he is still a FA?

 

The ravens wanted someone who can create turnovers. landry created 0 turnovers last year. Lewis made 5. Not tomention Lewis is 6 years younger.

 

Stop hating until you educate yourself. Jesus..........

 

 

 

We'll resign Duwan Landry. ( ranked 8th best Saftey in the league last year and is constantly aside from 2 seasons in his career in the top 11)

[Tru11]

he is insurance in case something happens to will hill since they both play FS and probably also insurance elam doesn't take the next step like is expected.

 

also he adds depth since brooks wont be back in time .

[jazz1988]

We'll resign Duwan Landry. ( ranked 8th best Saftey in the league last year and is constantly aside from 2 seasons in his career in the top 11)

 

If you mean The Ravens should have signed Landry instead well it seems like The Ravens wanted more of a playmaking safety and some one that is more capable of playing free safety.

[52520Andrew]

Should also throw in Landry being 32 years old

[Static]

he is insurance in case something happens to will hill since they both play FS and probably also insurance elam doesn't take the next step like is expected.

 

also he adds depth since brooks wont be back in time .

 

 

Very True but considering Kendrick's salary and Elam's current play I'd SS is Kendrick's spot to lose.

Edited March 17, 2015 by Static

[Tru11]

Very True but considering Kendrick's salary and Elam's current play I'd SS is Kendrick's spot to lose.

 

probably but remember that both Kendrick and will are FS and we all saw what can happen when you play them out of position.

 

stewart was horrible at FS but played much better when he started at SS along side Hill and well we all saw how elam did as a nickel corner lol.

 

so its probably elam SS spot to loose and Kendrick I guess just in case Hill gets another suspension orso since its a long way till the regular season starts and we already had a report about him not paying child support or some like that lol.

 

take in consideration he did not get a high tender and I think the FO isent that certain about him getting to the regular season without trouble either hahahha.

 

or im just reading to much into it.

[GrimCoconut]

I'm probably in a minority here, but I don't agree with the vast majority of projections here. I've done a lot of thinking and I see Lewis as the FS and Will Hill and Elam as the SS. I think Lewis will be the one responsible for the centerfield job and communication necessary to get players into position. I also believe that Will Hill and Elam will split time at SS, in a method to get Elam more acclimated to the SS job and to ease him into the job unlike before. This is also apparently a direct indication of our opinion on Elam as well. Elam used to be the one who got the secondary into position. I distinctly recall that being mentioned in articles on this very website. Now, he would appear to no longer have that role. 

 

I think this also bodes poorly for Will Hill. I can't imagine the team would give a player a 3-year deal for the sake of cutting him next year. We don't typically operate that way. Yes, we did this with Jacoby Jones but he was the exception and not the norm. I don't think the team is going to extend Will Hill when his contract is up and that they will allow him to walk next year (unless he walks this year) in FA and receive a comp pick in return. That would set them up with Elam as a starting safety in his final year of his rookie deal, where he will either sink or swim. By that time, Brooks will either be ready to take over the FS job or will be in a different position. 

 

Either way, I expect Lewis to be the FS on the team, with Hill and Elam both as SS. I think we're still likely to see continued 3 safety sets as well. As a SS, Will Hill will be closer to the LOS and will be even more responsible for the TE, which he does well against in coverage. 

[K-Dog]

I wonder what number he is going to end up with.

I hope its not 20.

[52liveforever]

I'm probably in a minority here, but I don't agree with the vast majority of projections here. I've done a lot of thinking and I see Lewis as the FS and Will Hill and Elam as the SS. I think Lewis will be the one responsible for the centerfield job and communication necessary to get players into position. I also believe that Will Hill and Elam will split time at SS, in a method to get Elam more acclimated to the SS job and to ease him into the job unlike before. This is also apparently a direct indication of our opinion on Elam as well. Elam used to be the one who got the secondary into position. I distinctly recall that being mentioned in articles on this very website. Now, he would appear to no longer have that role. 

 

I think this also bodes poorly for Will Hill. I can't imagine the team would give a player a 3-year deal for the sake of cutting him next year. We don't typically operate that way. Yes, we did this with Jacoby Jones but he was the exception and not the norm. I don't think the team is going to extend Will Hill when his contract is up and that they will allow him to walk next year (unless he walks this year) in FA and receive a comp pick in return. That would set them up with Elam as a starting safety in his final year of his rookie deal, where he will either sink or swim. By that time, Brooks will either be ready to take over the FS job or will be in a different position. 

 

Either way, I expect Lewis to be the FS on the team, with Hill and Elam both as SS. I think we're still likely to see continued 3 safety sets as well. As a SS, Will Hill will be closer to the LOS and will be even more responsible for the TE, which he does well against in coverage.

I agree. I think he is more of a free safety than will hill. I don't think this pick up is getting quite the respect it deserves. I always thought Lewis was underrated. Honestly though I didn't even know he was a free agent because no one had said anything really about him in free agency and I guess I assumed the Texans had him locked up a while

[JoeyFlex5]

where is this common idea coming from that will hill is purely a FS? 

 

he is versatile and plays both spots, but on the giants they had a stud SS in antrel rolle, and the ravens have nothing at FS forcing him to play there, but safety was a revolving door for us and hill showed that he is a decent FS but a dominant SS, one of the best in the league. most FS's dont play man up on feature TE's and attack the slot and the flats, that is where will hill showed absolute dominance. 

 

kendrick lewis on the other hand is a natural FS who can play some good run support. if lewis is the starter day 1, he will be FS and hill will be the SS. 

 

if anything it gives us  a reliable presence and ballhawking potential at FS and most importantly it gives us stability to allow our other players to step into their best roles.