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3 reasons the Baltimore Ravens will have the best defense in football

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #22 of the Baltimore Ravens runs onto the field before the start of a game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #22 of the Baltimore Ravens runs onto the field before the start of a game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 6: Running back Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball against defensive end Brent Urban #96 of the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 6: Running back Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball against defensive end Brent Urban #96 of the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

2. The Ravens will make teams one dimensional:

Running the football against the Ravens defense will be a futile effort. The Ravens will force teams to be one dimensional. Last season the Ravens stuffed the run but their inability to get to the quarterback set up some big days for elite quarterbacks. This won’t be a problem for the Ravens in 2017. The purple and black will generate a ton of pass rush, because the offensive line cannot double team every elite player the Ravens will throw at them.

Dean Pees doesn’t even need to call a bunch of aggressive blitzes. Brent Urban will create havoc for offensive tackles. Michael Pierce will get quick pressure up the middle. Even if Brandon Williams doesn’t excite as a pass rusher, he still takes up a blocker or two on ever play. This creates chances for linebackers to get their sack numbers up. Terrell Suggs is still an elite player in the NFL, and he won’t let anybody forget this season. Judon, Bowser, Smith and Williams are all capable of being destructive players in the backfield, and they all do it a bit differently. That’s a lot for the Ravens weekly opponents to plan for.

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A Secondary ready for the challenge:

The fact that the Ravens have two veteran corners who can man up with anybody on the outside is huge. The Ravens have typically been a soft zone coverage loving team under Pees. Now, Pees has the ability to change that. Look for Jefferson and Weddle being over the top to make the Ravens more confident in their cornerbacks. Whether it’s Webb, Hill or even Anthony Levine in the nickel cornerback position, the Ravens defense will have a play-maker over the slot receiver.

Make no mistake about it, the Ravens defense is a complete unit. This isn’t a defense like they had last season. Last season they had serious pieces to the puzzle. Brandon Williams, Michael Pierce, Eric Weddle and Terrell Suggs made a pretty good start to the defense coming back into prominence. This season there are no missing pieces, no wink links and therefore no excuses.

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