Is Ed Reed Becoming A Defensive Liability?
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 3, 2012 1:00 PM EST
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PrintThis may be considered an official act of blasphemy among Baltimore Ravens fans and while I am not stating that this is the case, it is a topic that should be open for debate. Ed Reed is a certain Hall of Fame inductee in the future and as recently as last year, when he had eight interceptions in only ten games, was in the running for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
However, perhaps due to a lingering neck and shoulder injury, his tackling skills this season have been visibly inadequate. Furthermore, other than his two-interception game on the season opening beatdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Reed has had only one other pick the entire season. If Ed was having tackling issues but picking off passes at his usual pace, no one would be complaining and this story would never enter my mind or be on sports-talk airwaves.
Unfortunately, the picks are not there and the poor tackling was front-and-center obvious in yesterday's 24-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, when Reed was shrugged off of Bengals RB Bernard Scott's 25-yard TD run in the third quarter.
Although Reed has actually had more tackles this year than any season since 2006, he is nowhere nearly productive in pass defense as he usually is. In addition to having only three picks, only one since week one and nothing since the week 11 first win over Cincinnati, he was only credited with having half as many passes defended as compared to 2010.
Perhaps there is the excuse that opposing quarterbacks are so keenly aware of Reed's positioning that they do not dare throw anywhere near his territory. However, Ed has seemed to provide deep help a step late on more than one occasion and has been beaten more often in 2011 than ever before in his illustrious career.
In today's press conference, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh defended his All-Pro free safety, saying on BaltimoreRavenscom, "I've got a lot of confidence in Ed Reed and I'm sure everybody else does."
Harbaugh went on to say:
"Ed covered up a couple things that happened on some of those play-action downfield routes. e covered some of those guys down the field one-on-one. That's a pretty tough task for a safety to do that. Believe me, Ed Reed is carrying more than his weight."
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I don't like the options in the poll.
I oppose pulling Reed, but I do think his play has been off this year.
best tackling team in the NFL, most physical and just dominates people. When we walk out of the tunnel and out of that locker room, we expect to shut people out and play great defense - Ravens DC Chuck Pagano
His play has been a bit down this year, but his mere presence and communication skills are still instilling fear in opponents.
He’s been a liability in tackling, but pass coverage has been fine. Let’s hope this bye week rests him up and gives him some confidence to play a bit more reckless (remember, neck injuries are no joke folks. See Peyton Manning)
I was reading the post game from sunday and he was saying he took a bad angle and it was his shoulder actually that was the issue. He needs to up his game and give us a spark back there. QB’s are beginning to attack him down the middle with him in the area.
by Raven_all_day on Jan 3, 2012 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
Is he a liability tackling? Yes. Is he a liability on defense? No. He still puts fear into QB’s and is a leader in the secondary for the young guys.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
Ridiculous
To even consider benching Reed is moronic. Sure he hasn’t had a DPoY caliber season, but the intangibles he brings to the secondary can not be replaced by Zibby or Ruki. Sure his tackling needs to be addressed, but I can’t believe I’m even hearing talk about benching him, when under 6 months ago we were all debating about how he’s the best safety in the game.
by StuckInUtah on Jan 3, 2012 1:12 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Benching isnt an answer unless he gets a lot worst but i cant see him getting worst.
by Raven_all_day on Jan 3, 2012 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
Ed is still the smartest safety/secondary man in the league. I feel like Pollard was brought in to take care of the run support duties and allow Ed to do his thing in the back. A couple of our guys up front are banged up and it seems like running backs have been getting into our secondary a bit much. Hopefully this extra rest time will sure things up. Ed didnt do a lot of tackling in the 2010 season either, but when it mattered most in the playoffs he didnt hold anything back. Like the time he destroyed Dexter McLuster or in the divisional round when he went head up with Mendenhall on the goal line and kept him out of the endzone. Un less we had Eric Berry backing him up theres no way we’d even consider it. If Ed gets his ring this year and retires with Ray, there should be a beatdown trip planned for Canton in 4 years.
Scott Hines
by shines on Jan 3, 2012 1:26 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Rec’d.
On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu
my man!
being the extremely biased worshipper of Ed Reed I just came up with a theory:
Ed has been putting on a front and he has everyone fooled. He’s just enticing these sucker QB’s coming up into thinking he isnt back there anymore. Festivus is going to be beautiful!
Scott Hines
+1
The idea that this guy should be benched is laughable.
I love it knowing that there are a handful of Ravens fans in this area who despise the fact that Joe will be our QB for the next 10 years. --Mr. MaLoR
fuuuuuuck no
he’s just saving himself for this run, now you’re gonna see the old ed reed out there, he wants that title, to go out with a bang, just wait.
that tackle wasnt his fault, where else did he mess up? over reacting a bit much?
Honestly...
Ray should have made the tackle before Ed even got there. Lewis got juked out of his shoes again. Before Scott tried to go outside he tried to go up field straight up the numbers but Ray Lewis was there waiting. Scott then ran right around Lewis and Reed to the end zone…
Don't let my defense dictate your offense..
by lastcallbmore on Jan 3, 2012 8:04 PM EST up reply actions
Bench him? No! Has he been a liability of late? Yes!
I noticed a lack of hustle in Ed Reed about mid-season. I say, see what he does in the playoffs, and address the issue during the off season. I personally think that his heart is not as much in the game as it used to be. Seems like he is teaching the kids, and waiting for them to make the plays on the field. Just Sayin!
ftafree-California Raven's Fan
I still would say that him merely being on the field affects the game. As much as Reed may be slipping, no QB feels safe throwing his way. Nor should he.
I love it knowing that there are a handful of Ravens fans in this area who despise the fact that Joe will be our QB for the next 10 years. --Mr. MaLoR
i like this
because Webbie has turned into a complete football player and one of the best at his position under the guidance of Ed.
Scott Hines
IMO he's geting close to being replaced
Definitely Reed is having a down year And definitey it isn’t a given that he will bounce back what with his chronic neck———>shoulder problems.
That said, we have no one who can fill his shoes on the roster. So he should still play.
But this offseason the team MUST look at what is happening in the middle of our defense and how poorly the pass defense in the middle of the field is performing. Like the safety position, there is no one in the LB corps who is much of a pass defender now that Ray Ray is also declining. I would say improving the middle of the field pass defense by either free agency and/or draft is probably Priority #1 this off-season.
I think offensive line is priority.
by Raven_all_day on Jan 3, 2012 8:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Fron the five or six Ravens games i have watched this year
I would say that Reed has been a liability. I think its safe to say that the debate between wbo is the better safety between Reed and Polamalu is over, although the debate for who had the better career could go on forever
draftdatabase.wordpress.com
Follow @steelersrule124
by seton hall and steelers on Jan 3, 2012 6:00 PM EST via Android app reply actions
Troy has sucked this year also
Getting too fat on that new contract. I’ll take an injured ed reed over a healthy troy any day
Who told you he’s sucked? What are you going off of here?
This is the problem with the Flacco hate, people don’t really know who he is as a person. - Mr. Malor. Crazy Raven fan/possible stalker.
It smells like seven layers....that beaver eats Taco Bell.
The few games I saw he has not been much of a threat that he use to be.
Maybe it is the lingering affect of the spear he took from Vick in the preseason. He got taken out by a QB how good could he be :-)
Well, you are right and wrong. Yes..he hasn’t been up to his normal greatness, but no, he hasn’t sucked. He’s had plenty of “Troy” plays. If anything messed him up, it would be MJD’s knee, or that fatass eligible o-lineman he tried to torpedo…but no..he hasn’t sucked.
This is the problem with the Flacco hate, people don’t really know who he is as a person. - Mr. Malor. Crazy Raven fan/possible stalker.
It smells like seven layers....that beaver eats Taco Bell.
Final Year?
I honestly believe we are watching the final year for both Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Ed is obviously hurting more than he is letting on. He is not the intimidator he was to receivers catching the ball over the middle and his reaction time is off and therefore seems a step slow on the deep ball. Physical pain can cause mental lapses, and I don’t see Ed playing through another season of what must be tremendous pain – which must be ripping at his heart. Likewise I think Ray knows this is his last year. Yes he could will himself through another season, but my gut says he wants to go out on top and he realizes that this year is his last real shot.
Given that – there is no way you sit either of them during the playoffs. The team is too emotionally invested in them, and to do so now would have repercussions well beyond the playoffs. It is inconceivable.
"the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge."
Hamlet, William Shakespeare
not to mention
the knowledge and leadership they both bring to the table. We would be much worse off without either one of them at this point.
I love it knowing that there are a handful of Ravens fans in this area who despise the fact that Joe will be our QB for the next 10 years. --Mr. MaLoR
Watch
We win the Super Bowl and both go out together on top as winners of the ultimate goal. What a Super Bowl parade, huh?
aka 'Rexx'
I'm hoping that QBs try to attack Ed in the playoffs
Unfortunately, NFL QBs aren’t nearly as dumb as some hack sports writer. If any QB takes this fabrication seriously, they’ll be just another highlight in Ed Reed’s HOF career.
Go Away
Are you nuts? Delete this lame excuse for a repuable blog. You have no qualifications to start this kind of conversation. There is no credability behind your poorly picked wording.
go away
what qualifications would satisfy your criteria for writing for a blog? Pound salt buddy, the vast majority of the people on this blog, and ALL of the writers, don’t want or expect Reed to be benched.
I love it knowing that there are a handful of Ravens fans in this area who despise the fact that Joe will be our QB for the next 10 years. --Mr. MaLoR
by jackmca on Jan 4, 2012 7:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
It was put up for debate
and is a legit concern, although I personally would not bench him at this point but still see his obvious deficits. Don’t you? Perhaps even Ray should be sat on third and long plays as well.
aka 'Rexx'
Suggesting Lewis or Reed sit feels like trolling
Earlier I wrote this post where I argued that suggesting either one sit or even saying they’re a liability is trolling. I also talked about how Reed’s altered playing style is GOOD for guys like LaDarius Web who by the way has 5 INTs (while everyone is talking about how many INT’s Reed doesn’t have).
One thing I didn’t address is the fact that the Ravens D is #1 against the pass (according to football outsiders). So griping about Lewis’ play on passing downs is kind of nit picky.
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