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The Baltimore Ravens secondary has been sluggish though the first six games of the season. Matt Elam was supposed to be the next best safety in the NFL, but he has not looked that way so far.
Darian Stewart has not contributed in the coverage game, Chykie Brown and Asa Jackson are still trying to learn an NFL system, and Lardarius Webb has yet to receive significant playing time due to his back injury.
The Ravens' defense has a whole has recorded four interceptions, but only one came from a defensive back. That one pick was in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it came from Jimmy Smith.
The Ravens' being ranked 21st in the league in overall defense is not thanks to the defensive line. The reason I say that is because the Ravens have only allowed 544 total yards on the ground, which is seventh-best in the league.
The sole reason for that upsetting ranking is due to the performance of the secondary. They have allowed 1,623 yards through the air and 1,702 receiving yards, both are 27th-best in the league. Of course the D-line does not cover receivers, the defensive backs do.
It's not like the Ravens don't have the talent to turn things around back there, because they do. Lardarius Webb has recorded three or more interceptions two times in his four-year career and Jimmy Smith has emerged to be a key piece in this defense. Then there is strong safety Matt Elam, who has all the talent in the world, but he has yet to get into his own.
That's exactly why Will Hill can't possibly hurt the Ravens secondary, because it can only go up from here. Forget about the fact that Hill accumulated 77 tackles and two interceptions last season and has a lot of talent himself, he will be an upgrade no matter what.