The Ravens have had incredible struggles in the secondary, and that group only got worse as Jimmy Smith was officially moved to the IR. With their rival Steelers bringing legends James Harrison and Brett Keisel back into the fold to sure up their defense, Ravens fans have been left wondering if Ed Reed could be an option for a unit that could use some help.
There is no chance the team brings Reed back in any capacity other than on a one day contract to retire as a Raven, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. He writes that Reed showed nothing on the field last year, either with the Texans or the Jets, and that he would no longer inspire fear roaming center field at free safety.
He adds that bringing him back as a coach or a motivator would be a bad idea, as Reed had become a headache for the team towards the end of his tenure in Baltimore.
Here are some other links from around the Ravens’ organization:
- In his mailbag, Hensley also addresses how the recent purge in the secondary will shape up for the team, how linebacker Arthur Brown is progressing within the defense, and the positions of interest the team should focus on in free agency and the 2015 NFL Draft.
- Offensive tackle Jah Reid underwent surgery on his broken hand, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Whether or not Reid will return at some point this season has not been decided as of yet.
- With Jimmy Smith done for the season, there are questions as to whether the Ravens will be able to stop any legitimate quarterbacks the rest of the season. Brett Foote of EbonyBird.com examines what the team can do to survive the season so thin in the defensive backfield.
- The team only has five interceptions on the season, and Smith is the only member of the secondary contributing to that figure. However, the team believes it could have the answer to improve that, and expects safety Will Hill to be the team’s top ballhawk now that is returning to the field, writes Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com.
- Justin Forsett was cut by the Jaguars in March, but got the opportunity to compete for carries with the Ravens this offseason, with the added bonus of knowing incumbent starter Ray Rice would have to miss two games with a suspension. However, with Rice‘s eventual release from the team gave Forsett the best opportunity of his career, according to offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, as reported by the Associated Press on SFGate.com. “This is probably his biggest opportunity as a player,” Kubiak said. “And he’s really taking advantage of it.”
- The entire Ravens’ backfield should get credit for the improved running game, write Bryan Stauffer of NumberFire.com. Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, and Lorenzo Taliaferro are piecing together a formidable unit that has been more productive than last year’s combination of Pierce and Rice.