[News] Newcomer Kendrick Lewis Already Making Strong Impression

[757RavensFan]

Everyone looks fast during OTA's, once they get the pads on when its 90 degrees the truth will be told for a lot of these players...What i love about Lewis already is he is putting time in the weight room, film room, and going through the playbook like a mad man, he understands how important communication is on the field, and he is taking it on himself to get guys in the right position....This is something both RL52, and Reed did, they put the work in behind the scenes in....

From the article posted last week, Will Hill is putting in just as much, if not more OT to get ready to dominate.

[ryananth]

Our secondary will be a strength this season just like our O-line was last season after looking like a problem area at the start of last offseason.

[RavenManiac#7]

I feel so much better about our secondary going into this season than I did when we ended last season. Of course, that's only natural considering we're hoping to have our injured guys back and healthy, and Ozzie did pick up a couple of guys who should really be able to help us back there. I'm certainly not envisioning the second coming of Ed Reed, I mean let's stay real here, but I do think that Lewis was a really good pickup. I believe he and Will Hill will be our starting safeties and with Jimmy, Webby, and Arrington in the nickel package, well, that sounds pretty good to me. Whoever is left standing as our backups will have had a year (last season) of good experience which should help them. Reports are coming out raving about vast improvements being made by Elam, so much so that some are actually starting to think he could challenge Hill for the starting strong safety spot. Don't count me among them, but any improvement is Very welcome because a Great deal is needed on his part. His lack of coverage skills he has so far shown is bad enough, but if he wants to get on the field at all, he just has to learn, or relearn, whatever the case might be, to tackle. He just Has to be able to tackle. Rashad Melvin showed promise. Asa showed flashes of good play. So Melvin still needs to develop and Asa needs to play more consistently well. But, barring the horrible injury word, if they can just Please stay healthy, that terrible weakness last year could potentially become a strength, kind of like the OL experienced in one off season. If that would happen again, with our secondary, Ozzie just might enter a new stratosphere in with his reputation. Anyway, I really do think that the signing of Kendrick Lewis was huge. We shall see.

[RavenManiac#7]

This is looking like a veteran secondary with a lot of talent and a lot of depth. Hill and Lewis will be great safeties. Webb, Melvin, Vaughn and Jackson will compete for the other corner opposite Smith. Arrington will be a good slot corner. If Tray Walker fits in then great. Brooks is going to have to fight for PT when he gets off the PUP list. With a dominant front 7 like we have the secondary should be even that much better. Having a really good offense should help the defense stay fresh. This could be quite a year for the Ravens. A nice blowout of Denver in week one would be a great way to start!!!

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Great post. Your last point, though, about a blowout being a great way to start. Although I agree 100%, that thought touches on the one thing that still concerns me and that we don't know about yet. In fact, we Can't know about it until we start playing for real. That is, the Dreaded Slow Starts by our offense. I'm sure we all remember entire first halves last season where our offense was inept and seemed to be sleep walking. I hope and pray that gets fixed this off-season too. Come on, Trestman, find a way to cure us of that and we could truly be a dangerous team.

[Krabcake]

He's a 7 year veteran but he's only 26? Is that right??

[757RavensFan]

This is looking like a veteran secondary with a lot of talent and a lot of depth. Hill and Lewis will be great safeties. Webb, Melvin, Vaughn and Jackson will compete for the other corner opposite Smith. Arrington will be a good slot corner. If Tray Walker fits in then great. Brooks is going to have to fight for PT when he gets off the PUP list. With a dominant front 7 like we have the secondary should be even that much better. Having a really good offense should help the defense stay fresh. This could be quite a year for the Ravens. A nice blowout of Denver in week one would be a great way to start!!!

 

 

What makes you think that Webb has to compete for his starting position?

[757RavensFan]

He's a 7 year veteran but he's only 26? Is that right??

 

I'm guessing he turns 27 later this year and entered the draft after his sophomore year. 

[ravensrock007]

Let's shut teams down!

[burnbigben]

He's a 7 year veteran but he's only 26? Is that right??

 

He's a 5 year veteran who turns 27 on June 16th

[January J]

this is one of the guys i am most excited about. truly underrated signing. we really needed somebody who can come in and make some splash plays on D, we didnt have nearly enough of those last year. when your defensive line leads the team in interceptions then somethin needs to change.

[Raven_Don]

As long as he tackles and covers... I am happy... Stewart was ok...better in coverage than he was given credit for.. but would miss tackles from time to time.. and he was much better in the box than he was roaming the back end

[BlackRaven5220]

I have to respectfully disagree.  Stewart was absolutely horrible in coverage.  Consistently out of position and beaten regularly.  He was always a step or two late.  As the free safety, he will be the guy to make sure that nothing gets over his head or that a receiver does not get behind him.  Hopefully he and Hill at SS can stop the big-play bleeding from last year.

[PersianRaven]

Steve deserves a ring.  He was never going to get it in Raleigh

You mean in Charlotte.....lol

[Amesr52]

This guy seems like he will fit in nice but I don't see him taking on much of a leadership role. We need a leader in the group of safeties to emerge. We have been missing that control back there since reed left. I really like what I saw from Melvin last season. I think him and Jimmy would be great outside corners with size and speed to match up with anyone and webb actually stick to the slot guys cause I think that's where he fits best bUT I don't see these guys play everyday. Can't wait for the season to get started already.

[Ravens4Liife]

Hoping he makes as big of an impact as he appears capable of. The secondary looks to be much improved this year. Still worried about corner. Can't wait to see preseason games and see the young guys in actual games.

[757RavensFan]

Hoping he makes as big of an impact as he appears capable of. The secondary looks to be much improved this year. Still worried about corner. Can't wait to see preseason games and see the young guys in actual games.

 

I'm not too concerned about CB any longer. Webb and Smith are healthy, the addition of Arrington, Melvin's surprising play last season along w/ others for quality depth I think we'll be ok.

Edited June 8, 2015 by 757RavensFan

[DomMcRaven]

I'm not too concerned about CB any longer. Webb and Smith are healthy, the addition of Arrington, Melvin's surprising play last season along w/ others for quality depth I think we'll be ok.

Oh they're healthy....for now. I need to see them stay healthy and durable before my concerns over our secondary will go away.

[RavenManiac#7]

HUGE upgrade over Darian Syewart!