At this time last year, safety Earl Thomas was still trying to learn the Baltimore Ravens’ defense while rehabbing from a broken leg that ended his 2018 season early. A full year later and Thomas is not only healthy and has the playbook locked down, he looks to be in better shape too.
Defensive coordinator Don Martindale has liked what he’s seen from Thomas throughout the ramp-up period of training camp. Though the pads haven’t come on yet, Martindale offered Thomas some big praise, saying he’s “getting ready to add another year to his Hall of Fame career.”
“He’s coming in in great shape,” Martindale continued. “Last year, he was coming off of the leg injury, if you all remember, and it took him a little while to get going. Now, he’s going 100 miles per hour and he looks like he’s ready to go, to me.”
Thomas had a respectable first season in Baltimore, earning a Pro Bowl nod and the No. 75 spot on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list. He got the first sacks of his career, came down with two interceptions, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. While Thomas didn’t put up the gaudy stats from previous years, it was largely because quarterbacks stayed away from him. Thomas allowed just 11 receptions all season, with a passer rating of 24.2 when targeted.
But as we saw at the beginning of last season, the Ravens’ secondary wasn’t quite on the same page early on. It took Thomas and the rest of the defense a few weeks to gel together and for him to gain confidence in his surgically-repaired leg. With Thomas healthy and a full year into Martindale’s scheme, there should be no acclimation period. Instead, Thomas should be able to be more instinctive with the speed and strength to make big plays.
For a defense that finished third in points allowed, fourth in total yards allowed, and second in passing touchdowns allowed; a rejuvenated and prepared Thomas is the key to something special.
