Ravens trying not to drop "moneyballs" and instead make a splash

The Ravens's defense is looking to change it's ways from the 2014 season and go back to being as dominant as fans can remember. It all starts by making splash plays on every level. From stripping the football away to grabbing interceptions and making plays after the ball is in your hands.

Kendrick Lewis said it best:

You dropping that money on the field. We feel like there is money in those balls, they're moneyballs, that's what we call them. You drop one, you owe us 10 pushups and you left money out on the grass.

The Ravens have already made a huge emphasis on takeaways after a disappointing 2014 season that saw only 11 interceptions with a two-way tie between linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive lineman Haloti Ngata with each grabbing two interceptions a piece. The Ravens only managed to get 11 fumble recoveries as well, which brings their takeaways to a paltry 22 on the season. That 22 total ranked Baltimore as the 22nd best team on that statistic and when combined with the 20 giveaways that the Ravens had in 2014, it leaves a very bleak picture to be painted of how the Ravens did on splash plays.

Keep in mind that the top two teams in the differential were the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots with Seattle taking up fourth. It is not a coincidence that the best teams in the NFL give the ball up infrequently while taking it away a lot. If the Ravens could have gotten that type of performance in the playoffs, we'd be talking about if they could repeat this season as champions and dynasty talk would follow.

The emphasis was apparent on Wednesday at practice as safety Will Hill batted three passes away to loud cheers from the crowd in attendance. Only then to be followed up by a frustrated defensive coordinator Dean Pees shout "Hey Hill, can you catch the next one?" It's not enough for this team to knock down the ball and make a good play, when the ball is up in the air and you have a chance, you have to make the most of that opportunity and secure a big play for your team.

These splash plays make all the difference and is a large part of the reason that players like Ed Reed get into the Hall of Fame. They can turn the tide of a game or can even decide the final outcome if they come at the right time. Imagine the Ravens securing an interception with two minutes left on the clock and down by two points in the playoffs? We've seen those types of splash plays make the 2000 Ravens into champions, so why not the 2015 Ravens?