Baltimore fans that tuned in for the Big Game on Sunday got a chance to see several former Ravens take the field on the biggest stage in the world.
No other former Raven provided as much of a spark for their respective team in Super Bowl 50 than did Broncos safety Darian Stewart.
Stewart, who played for the Ravens in 2014, has been a solid addition for Wade Phillips’ stout defense. Throughout Denver’s championship season, Stewart provided solid coverage and showed his play-making ability, something the Ravens secondary lacked throughout 2015.
While Stewart’s first game as a Raven didn’t go as the former South Carolina University standout had wanted, he went on to have an up and down 2014 season, starting 14 games while recording 53 total tackles, three passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble. Nothing too special.
The Ravens opted not to bring back Stewart who departed in free agency, feeling secure with their secondary. Stewart was quickly nabbed by Gary Kubiak and company and put on a solid display against his former team in Week 1 of 2015, recording four tackles and one interception.
While watching the big game my mind played the “what if?” game, which led to a tweet regarding whether or not if the Ravens brass were watching, and if so, if they were wincing after Stewart provided a game-changing forced fumble.
https://twitter.com/sportguyRSR/status/696498615745966080
Fellow Russell Street Report writer and salary cap guru Brian McFarland quickly responded, making a tremendous point.
Go figure. Stewart played 70% of snaps last yr & pretty much made zero big plays. Looks like totally different guy. https://t.co/57OPGuYPEs
— Brian McFarland (@RavensSalaryCap) February 8, 2016
His point begs the question: where have the big plays gone for the Ravens secondary, particularly the safety group? It wasn’t just Stewart who didn’t make any big plays from the safety position. Since Ed Reed’s departure, the back end of the secondary has been a wasteland in Baltimore, with highlights very few and very far between.
Free agent acquisition Kendrick Lewis struggled week in and week out. Second-year safety Terrence Brooks seemed lost when he saw the field. Will Hill, the best of the safety corps, had his moments, and it wasn’t until Lardarius Webb saw his time at safety increase did the secondary improve slightly.
Is the issue personnel? If so, why does Stewart look like a different player just a year later?
Is it coaching? Is, as some have suggested, defensive coordinator Dean Pees’ system too complex for players to grasp?
Some will argue that the secret to Stewart’s 2015 success ultimately had to do with teammates Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr. and T.J. Ward and that certainly could be true; however, a chain is only as strong as their weakest link and the Broncos secondary was outstanding.
One thing for sure is that the Ravens have been quick to give up on some players while holding onto others for too long. Here’s hoping 2016 will be different.
Follow me on Twitter @sportguyRSR
