[News] Dean Pees: Secondary's Improvement Will Surprise People

[BR News]

The addition of Eric Weddle, move of Lardarius Webb, growth of young safeties and emergence of some new cornerbacks has elevated Baltimore’s secondary. Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees was ‘very, very pleased’ with what he saw in minicamp.

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[huntrgathrr]

I won't be surprised at all. At the end of last year the secondary was playing very well. But the improvement by adding Weddle and Powers is HUGE. Plus Webb should be very effective playing next to Weddle at safety. Wright, Powers and Smith are a really good group of corners. I don't see Elam or Levine making the team since they are gonna keep Brooks for sure. PLEASE....I'm begging here, let the secondary stay healthy this year. If they do we will have a pretty good defense.

[Nick04263]

If they aren't standing around looking at each other wondering what just happened then yes, it will be an improvement. I know they were working a little better together at the end last year but anything will be better than what we saw for the majority of the year. I also didn't really watch much of the last few games anyway. I barely knew who was playing.

[trevorsteadman]

I was saying this even before Powers was lighting it up in mini camps... Barring any injury, the Ravens have a top 5 cornerback core in the NFL. You have a top 7 (if not top 5) cornerback in Jimmy Smith who has proven to shut down everybody when he is healthy, you have a guy like Shareece Wright who played strong last season and is a great compliment player, and now add in Jeraud Powers who I didn't even think was still available when we signed him. I scratched my head when I first saw the notification that we signed him because I knew he is that good. Sure he was bad last season and you can look at stats or what not, but he was injured and the Cardinals' pass rush was non-existent. That is without Sheldon Price, Maurice Canaday, and Tavon Young who have all impressed so far in OTA's and mini camps. Also a guy in Will Davis who started strong before getting injured.

Add in an all-pro in Eric Weddle, a solid cornerback going back to his old position in Webb, and a Kendrick Lewis who is wherever you ask him to be and a solid tackler. You have a great group going. I've been saying it all along that this is the strength of the team. If the Ravens can get anywhere near the 49 sacks they did in 2014... The Ravens will have the top defense in the league.

[trevorsteadman]

4 minutes ago, Nick04263 said:

If they aren't standing around looking at each other wondering what just happened then yes, it will be an improvement. I know they were working a little better together at the end last year but anything will be better than what we saw for the majority of the year. I also didn't really watch much of the last few games anyway. I barely knew who was playing.

The Ravens had the best secondary in the league the final 8 games of the season. That was with little to no pass rush. 

[ravenwildman]

Last year I cringed in the first half of the season when the opposing QB dropped back, midway through the season I covered my eyes, by the three quarter mark I just sat there numbly and watched. I know they got better at the end last year, but man.....it was a mess. So, this year I am hoping that I get excited for the right reasons when those QBs drop back against our D! GO RAVENS! 25

[trevorsteadman]

1 minute ago, ravenwildman said:

Last year I cringed in the first half of the season when the opposing QB dropped back, midway through the season I covered my eyes, by the three quarter mark I just sat there numbly and watched. I know they got better at the end last year, but man.....it was a mess. So, this year I am hoping that I get excited for the right reasons when those QBs drop back against our D! GO RAVENS! 25

To be fair though the Ravens defense played well in Denver until Suggs went out. I really believe it took the Ravens those 8 games to figure out how to stop defenses without Suggs. He is a huge asset to our team providing pass rush along with setting the edge which it is almost impossible to find a guy like Suggs who posts up 12-13 sacks a season and sets the edge. If Dumervil went out I think the Ravens would have been fine to find a pass rush guy, but losing Suggs meant the Ravens lost two roles in a player. 

[757RavensFan]

Weddle, Powers and Coach Frazier will be responsible for the secondary's turn around. 

[trevorsteadman]

6 minutes ago, 757RavensFan said:

Weddle, Powers and Coach Frazier will be responsible for the secondary's turn around. 

And by the end of the season you may be adding in Canaday, Young, and Davis. The Ravens invested a lot of money and draft picks to get these guys here. 

[Underdogsontop!]

Honestly with all the additions we got for our defense as mentioned in this article I don't expect anything less then a top 10 defense! Some may say that's high, but like mentioned above we were a top defense in the last 8 games... I hope our pass rush surprises us this year!

[trevorsteadman]

1 minute ago, Underdogsontop! said:

Honestly with all the additions we got for our defense as mentioned in this article I don't expect anything less then a top 10 defense! Some may say that's high, but like mentioned above we were a top defense in the last 8 games... I hope our pass rush surprises us this year!

That is what scares me still. As much as I worry about an inside linebacker next to Mosley it seems like undrafted guys whoever we put there work... i.e. Josh Bynes and Dannell Ellerbe. What the Ravens need to really worry about is the health of Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs and how well young pass rushers produce along side of them like Za'Darius Smith, Kamalei Correa, and company.

[KidNme]

The Ravens have obviously spent their money as wisely as I think they could this year. We've got a few studs on D and a few on O and a bunch of young guys who show great potential. If not this year, we're definitely on the road to building a young, talented, dynasty style team. We have also done the best we could to address the depth of high injury positions this year so I'm happy with the progress so far. We'll see what happens when the pads go on.

[757RavensFan]

We can call our safeties the WWE, Webb, Weddle and Elam.  That's if Elam actually starts producing back there. 

Edited June 20, 2016 by 757RavensFan

[RRRRRavens]

"DEAN PEES SECONDARY'S IMPROVEMENT WILL SURPRISE PEOPLE"


Hopefully in a good way.

[RavensBaltimore]

How is the health of Jimmy Smith not listed in the top reasons the secondary should be better? After shutting down everyone he faced in 2014, he was absolutely horrible in the first half of the season last year, and mediocre in the 2nd. If he can return to anything close to his pre-injury form, that alone will make this secondary a lot better.

[FloridalovesRavens]

"DEAN PEES SECONDARY'S IMPROVEMENT WILL SURPRISE PEOPLE"


Hopefully in a good way.

O yee of little faith lol! Of course it will be better. Think positive my friend. I am.

[trevorsteadman]

13 minutes ago, RavensBaltimore said:

How is the health of Jimmy Smith not listed in the top reasons the secondary should be better? After shutting down everyone he faced in 2014, he was absolutely horrible in the first half of the season last year, and mediocre in the 2nd. If he can return to anything close to his pre-injury form, that alone will make this secondary a lot better.

Getting his screw removed I think improves him even more. He may struggle in training camp because of it still being tender and hurt and I wouldn't be surprised if they barely worked him during training camps. 

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

You know, with the way CB'S drop like flies on this team, I would not be opposed to spending that extra cap money on Leon Hall

[trevorsteadman]

31 minutes ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

You know, with the way CB'S drop like flies on this team, I would not be opposed to spending that extra cap money on Leon Hall

Ravens only lost two cornerbacks on IR last season. One played one game for us (Will Davis) and the other is a guy that was likely not going to make the 53 man roster (Julian Wilson)

[Ravenous_Ravens]

IF the early success translates to the season, you count on pash rush being more effective. Too many situations last season where opponents could throw whatever route they wanted. CB's were constantly worried about getting beat deep and were beat too often and led to soft coverage underneath too often. All that dinking and dunkin pass game is very difficult for any pass rusher to get home, even when healthy. Mostly early in the season, but still. It sounds like the secondary will be locked down again, letting the CB's just play whats in front of them mostly. More sacks will be had.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

How is the health of Jimmy Smith not listed in the top reasons the secondary should be better? After shutting down everyone he faced in 2014, he was absolutely horrible in the first half of the season last year, and mediocre in the 2nd. If he can return to anything close to his pre-injury form, that alone will make this secondary a lot better.

How is the health of Jimmy Smith not listed in the top reasons the secondary should be better? After shutting down everyone he faced in 2014, he was absolutely horrible in the first half of the season last year, and mediocre in the 2nd. If he can return to anything close to his pre-injury form, that alone will make this secondary a lot better.

Jimmy Smith played better than what you describe, even with the injury to his foot, which face it does not really fully heal or get that much better when your constantly on it competing. Mediocre in the first half and consistent in the second half is closer to the truth. Yes j Smith will be back to his old form this year, shutting down his man. Smith and Wright should also make for a solid tandem as they already have great chemistry.

[stixfix69]

Our secondary will be better if Suggs comes back to form, and Doom can go back to being a situational pass rushing OLBer.....if our front 7 puts pressure on the QB, the secondary will be a lot better across the board....Watched to many games last year, especially the Seahawks game, when Wilson had forever to throw the ball....You can't ask the CB's to cover guys when QB's have all day to find a open WR's....

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

  2 hours ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

You know, with the way CB'S drop like flies on this team, I would not be opposed to spending that extra cap money on Leon Hall

Ravens only lost two cornerbacks on IR last season. One played one game for us (Will Davis) and the other is a guy that was likely not going to make the 53 man roster (Julian Wilson)

And Smith and Webbys injuries the past few years, they count?

[ellicottraven]

If the pass rush is even marginally better that it was last year ( and its going to be vastly better), then the secondary will be better by a greater degree. Not just with the new additions and maturation of the young players, but because the pass rush is going to be better.

[dirtybird66]

if you add that to last year,we win 4 more games,yes i'm excited,it's really gonna be special,i mean another BALL HAWKING SWARMING defense,DEAN PEES has been limited the last couple years,but no more,ERIC WEDDLE bring's a 5 am work ethic,it's gonna be great! unleash the hounds!

[Ravensfansince03]

I hope he's right

[Ravensfansince03]

forgot we got coach frazier back there coaching them young boys. Hopefully he can set Elam straight

[Halshayeji]

12 hours ago, trevorsteadman said:

I was saying this even before Powers was lighting it up in mini camps... Barring any injury, the Ravens have a top 5 cornerback core in the NFL. You have a top 7 (if not top 5) cornerback in Jimmy Smith who has proven to shut down everybody when he is healthy, you have a guy like Shareece Wright who played strong last season and is a great compliment player, and now add in Jeraud Powers who I didn't even think was still available when we signed him. I scratched my head when I first saw the notification that we signed him because I knew he is that good. Sure he was bad last season and you can look at stats or what not, but he was injured and the Cardinals' pass rush was non-existent. That is without Sheldon Price, Maurice Canaday, and Tavon Young who have all impressed so far in OTA's and mini camps. Also a guy in Will Davis who started strong before getting injured.

Add in an all-pro in Eric Weddle, a solid cornerback going back to his old position in Webb, and a Kendrick Lewis who is wherever you ask him to be and a solid tackler. You have a great group going. I've been saying it all along that this is the strength of the team. If the Ravens can get anywhere near the 49 sacks they did in 2014... The Ravens will have the top defense in the league.

You forgot about Brooks. I agree tho Elam isn't even worth mentioning at the moment. And your absolutely right. On paper we have one of the most talented secondaries. It pisses me off when Pees pulls off nonsense like that.

dear Pees,

"it won't surprise anyone but you genius!" That's why your behind is fired if this group fails to perform from the start of the season!

[GENE2407]

Big difference between "surprised" and "impressed". They sucked so badly last year, I'm still having nightmares about them this coming year.

[Drinkmore Beer]

What I'd like to see most is our corners press the WR's and not give up 8-yard completions like they don't matter.