All through their historical past, the Baltimore Ravens have maintained a status as a hard-nosed, defense-first staff, and anybody who watched them all through the 2000s and early 2010s is aware of that status is well-earned.
Throughout that point, the Ravens persistently had among the best defenses within the league. Their dominance was largely thanks to 3 gamers: outdoors linebacker Terrell Suggs, inside linebacker Ray Lewis and security Ed Reed. All three are Corridor of Fame gamers in their very own proper, however Reed could have been the toughest to organize for due to his nearly-unmatched protection abilities and soccer IQ.
The Ravens have been additionally in Tremendous Bowl rivalry most years throughout his stretch, and that meant they crossed paths with the juggernaut New England Patriots very often. At any time when they did meet the Patriots, Invoice Belichick’s staff needed to put together for something.
On his “Video games With Names” podcast, former Patriots huge receiver Julian Edelman sat down with longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and each discuessed the challenges Reed and the Ravens’ protection offered.
“I simply keep in mind any time we might play Ed Reed or Ray Lewis, Invoice Belichick would present like a 20-play cutup of only a spotlight of those two, ‘These two will f***ing blow you up,'” Edelman stated. “Like simply that type of s***. Cowl 3, that is what you thought. After which like Ed Reed could be within the second, you understand what I imply?”
McDaniels was primarily Belichick’s right-hand man for a lot of the legendary coach’s run in New England, so he is aware of higher than anybody how Belichick ready for Baltimore.
“His favourite factor to say to us was that they needn’t play break up security protection. They simply play submit security and Ed covers each side of the sector,” McDaniels stated. “And it like obtained in your head as a coach, you are like ‘Oh man, can we throw it again there or no, ever?’
“That is a tribute to the greatness of the participant. Like while you speak about a defensive coordinator attempting to prepare for [Peyton] Manning, that is what that felt like while you have been on the point of play Reed, Lewis, Suggs to me.”
The Ravens and Patriots met 4 occasions within the postseason between 2009 and 2014, with every staff taking two video games. On the peak of the rivalry, the Ravens could have hated the Patriots greater than every other staff not named the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though the rivalry has cooled off a bit lately, these clashes will dwell on ceaselessly.
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