Fansided

Power ranking the NFL defenses for 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 09: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale follows the action on September 9, 2018, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Buffalo Bills, 47-3. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 09: Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale follows the action on September 9, 2018, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Buffalo Bills, 47-3. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

12. Baltimore Ravens

2018 Review: In 2017, the Ravens finished 12th in the league in total defense, 15th vs. the run and 10th vs. the pass. But John Harbaugh’s club also led the NFL with 34 turnovers, including a league-best 22 interceptions. It was a team that relied on those takeaways. But ’18 was a different story as a stauncher group allowed the fewest yards per game in the NFL and was Top 5 against the run (4th) and pass (5th). But the Ravens saw that takeaway total cut in half (17). All told, it was Don Martindale’s unit who keyed the team’s first playoff appearance since 2014.

2019 Key Additions: This offseason was more about who left the team rather than who general manager Eric DeCosta added. The club did sign veteran free safety Earl Thomas, arguably the best player at his position in the league. In order to offset the losses on the front seven, the Ravens added outside linebackers Shane Ray and Pernell McPhee, the latter in his second stint with the club. Cornerback Justin Bethel is a special teams ace as well.

Analysis: The departures of outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith, safety Eric Weddle and tackling machine C.J. Mosley are a lot to overcome. And the Ravens lost cornerback Tavon Young during the preseason. That’s not to say that the Ravens aren’t still capable of big things on this side of the ball. But this is a unit whose strength now resides on the back end. And somehow Martindale must find a way to develop a pass rush.

Next: No. 11

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