The Cleveland Browns are talking trash, and the Baltimore Ravens are answering back, but All-Pro Kyle Hamilton isn’t sending warnings. Instead, the highest-paid safety in NFL history is unmoved by Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and his unflattering assessment of the Ravens’ secondary.
Jeudy used just two words to dismiss the defensive backfield he’ll face in Week 2 at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, September 14. Hamilton was asked about being treated like he’s no challenge at all, but the 24-year-old didn’t take the bait.
The most versatile and athletic member of the Ravens’ defense told reporters, including ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, “I really don’t care. That’s the thing with bulletin board material that I never understood. Was I not going to play hard before he said that? If you need bulletin board material to go play … that’s a problem with you.”
Hamilton’s no-frills and all business answer is in sharp contrast to the heated rebuttal provided by Derrick Henry. The four-time Pro Bowl running back sent an ominous warning to the Browns after some overly confident talk from safety Grant Delpit.
They are reacting in different ways, but key players on the Ravens are keeping one thing fixed in their minds. Namely, the need to beat AFC North rivals the Browns and get their season on track.
That process must start with a better effort on defense, led by Hamilton improving shaky pass coverage.
Ravens Need Bounce Back Game Defensively
Recovering from surrendering 41 points to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 won’t be easy, but the Ravens have to start somewhere. Fixing a porous pass defense is the obvious priority after Bills quarterback and NFL MVP Josh Allen shredded Hamilton and Co. for 394 yards through the air.
The Ravens crumbled in coverage in the second half, when Allen went 21 of 29 for 308 yards, per Pro Football Focus.
For the game, Buffalo’s QB1 moved the chains for 18 first downs passing, according to Pro Football Reference. The numbers add up to a sobering reality for the Ravens. It’s simply too easy for teams to win putting the ball in the air.
That has to change against the Browns, Jeudy and former Ravens Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco. It means the Ravens need a big game from the defensive back they handed $100.4 million to this offseason.
Kyle Hamilton Must Lead by Example
The Ravens paid Hamilton like he’s their best player on defense. It’s time for the ex-Notre Dame standout to justify the $82 million in guaranteed cash by being a difference-maker every week.
Hamilton certainly has the skills as a do-all playmaker who can impact every phase of an offense. He showed off his range and instincts on this exceptional play in coverage last week, highlighted by Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, who noted “Josh Allen tries to pump fake Kyle Hamilton but he doesn’t bite and almost picks off the pass.”
More plays like this are needed, but Hamilton can’t be a one-man band. He needs help, but Hamilton doesn’t agree with the blunt assessment of the overall defense offered by All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
Hamilton thinks he and his teammates were “more so lackadaisical than immature,” per Ravens.com (h/t Raven Vault co-host Bobby Trosset).
The Ravens didn’t need an excuse to have greater focus this week, but Jeudy has provided enough reason for Hamilton, Humphrey and other members of the secondary to get every detail right in every moment.
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