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New Cornerback Marcus Peters Adds Some Punch To Baltimore Ravens’ Defense

This article is more than 4 years old.

The Baltimore Ravens needed help on defense a few weeks ago, and GM Eric DeCosta made some smaller moves before trading for shut-down cornerback Marcus Peters. He came to Baltimore from the Los Angeles Rams with a bit of a reputation for behavior issues but more than that, Peters was known as a play-maker.

He showed that in Sunday’s 30-16 victory in Seattle. Peters picked off quarterback Russell Wilson’s short pass to the right and returned it for a 67-yard touchdown. The Ravens, if they want to repeat as AFC North champions, desperately needed cornerbacks who could shut down opposing receivers and even make some plays.

Peters gives them both and now has 25 interceptions in his five-year career.

“That’s the type of player he is,” Baltimore linebacker Matthew Judon told the media. “He has been getting picks his whole career. That’s literally all he does is make plays. When he had that open field and no one was in front of him, he knew exactly what to do with it.”

The Ravens (5-2) were having big problems in the first five games as quarterbacks were gashing them with long passes, especially down the middle and up the sidelines. Top cornerback Jimmy Smith has been out since the first game (knee sprain) but is expected to return after this week’s bye when the Ravens take on the New England Patriots at home.

That will give them Peters, Smith, the fast-improving Marlon Humphrey plus Brandon Carr at cornerback, a group coach John Harbaugh can keep rotating and not lose a thing. Plus, there’s Earl Thomas III at safety along with Chuck Clark, who’s really been coming on in recent weeks.

A few weeks ago, the secondary was one of the team’s weak spots, but the trade for Peters really changed things. He showed why with the pick in the Seattle game. Wilson had yet to throw an interception this season before Peters got his.

“I just try to live life as it comes,” Peters told the media. “I try not to complain and just work hard and keep moving forward. I’m not here to complain, I’m here to do my job and be an excellent teammate.”

Peters won’t make an interception and return it for a touchdown every week. But acquiring him will give the Ravens tough cornerbacks in almost every situation, and quarterbacks won’t be able to throw as easily any more. Of course, improving the pass rush won’t hurt – and that’s the next issue for the defense.

It will be much tougher to throw against the Ravens with this type of secondary. They’ve still got work to do, getting used to each other, but the talent is there, and Peters might turn out to be the kind of pick-up that helps turn a defense around.

“He is a great addition and is just what we need,” Harbaugh said to the media. “He is a hard worker.”

Peters tried to make that point after Sunday’s game. He made it clear he doesn’t want to cause trouble but just do his job. The Ravens will be very happy if that’s how it all works out.

“I’m just here to do my part,” Peters said. “My part is whatever they tell me to do. If they tell me to go run into a wall, then I’ll go run into a wall. I’m not here to complain about anything, I’m just going to keep doing my job and move forward.”