OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Broderick Washington is aware of the Ravens’ defensive position cannot be thought-about elite till they determine simpler methods to get the quarterback.
Baltimore’s inside cross rush solely managed 4.5 sacks final season with Calais Campbell main the way in which with two.
The purpose is to be far more productive this season.
“Probably not, if we don’t – as a result of we do extra than simply cease the run,” stated Washington, who managed one sack as a defensive deal with. “Stopping the run comes first, after which we’ve obtained to get to the quarterback to assist our guys out on the backend. So, for us to be thought-about elite, we’ve obtained to place all of it collectively as a complete. And with the ability to cease the run and get to the quarterback, I feel that may make us elite.”
Washington just like the potential of the defensive position. The staff added nostril deal with Michael Pierce by way of free company and drafted Travis Jones within the third spherical.
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Jones, nonetheless, may not be out there for the Sept. 11 opener towards the Jets due to. knee harm. Nonetheless, Washington is assured the staff has sufficient depth to soak up the short-term loss.
“To be trustworthy, I feel all people … I feel even earlier than ‘Trav’ [Travis Jones] getting harm … Even earlier than him getting harm, I feel all of us had a chip on our shoulder – to essentially simply exit and present that we’re probably the greatest defensive strains within the nation,” Washington stated. “So, I don’t actually know if it motivated us extra, as a result of that chip is fairly huge already. So, I don’t know if it motivated us extra, however it perhaps made us lock in a little bit bit extra, I feel.”
The Ravens have been adept at stopping the run, ending No. 1 within the NFL final season.
The purpose now could be to get the cross rush as much as the identical commonplace.
“I feel we may be the perfect defensive position within the league, actually,” Washington stated. “Final yr, we have been No. 1 [against] stopping the run. I feel cross speeding, as a complete – as a complete group – all people has gotten means higher than final yr, and it’s actually beginning to come collectively for us.”
