Baltimore Ravens: 3 Weaknesses Entering the 2015 Season

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<img class="size-full wp-image-42094" src="https://thebaltimorewire.com/files/2015/08/cassius-vaughn-tim-hightower-brynden-trawick-nfl-preseason-new-orleans-saints-baltimore-ravens.jpg" alt="Aug 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New Orleans Saints running back

Tim Hightower

(34) carries the ball past Baltimore Ravens defensive back

Brynden Trawick

(28) and defensive back

Cassius Vaughn

(40) during the third quarter in a preseason NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports” width=”850″ height=”566″ /> Aug 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightowr (34) carries the ball past Baltimore Ravens defensive back Brnden Trawick (28) and defensive back Casius Vaughn (40) during the third quarter in a preseason NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Safety

Baltimore did not want to enter the season with Matt Elam as the starter after his tumultuous 2014 year. Bringing in Kendrick Lewis is a significant upgrade to the rotation the team had at safety last season. The decision to keep Will Hill looks genius now that Elam is likely out for the season due to an injury. The Ravens should be confident entering the season with the starters.

The problem is those guys can’t play every single down. Someone has to take a few snaps away from those guys, and that was supposed to be Elam. The question now is who replaces him?

The back end of the defense was suspect at times in the preseason opener, particularly after the starters left the game. Brynden Trawick and Anthony Levine were far from stellar and I would be shocked if the Ravens entered the season with either playing a key role in the defense.

The encouraging news is that Terrence Brooks was lifted off the physically unable to perform list and returned to practice today. It’s a remarkable comeback for Brooks who tore his ACL and MCL on Dec. 14 during a Week 15 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Expectations should be limited on the second-year player coming back from a major injury, but the team did draft him in the third round so they expect a quality player to return to the lineup. It will be interesting to see if he’s acclimated into the practices and game with the Eagles this week.

The Ravens will need that third player to step up to spell Hill and Lewis. Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees is hoping that Brooks can be that guy, but that might be too much of a burden for a guy coming off knee surgery.

Next: No More INTs, Please

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