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Despite their current standing as the eight-ranked defensive unit in the NFL, the Ravens' defense hasn't turned in the same dominant performance that we're used to seeing out of this group.
Baltimore is allowing 101.8 rushing yards per game, which if it holds up would be the most this defense has allowed since 2004, and they've seen Peyton Hillis and Mike Goodson, of all people, top the century mark on the ground against them this season.
The Ravens have also given up over 300 passing yards in three of their last six games, and they allowed the second-longest touchdown pass in team history last week when Panthers wide receiver David Gettis caught an 88-yard bomb from Brian St. Pierre.
Some players brush off those statistics, saying that all that matters is wins and losses. But while linebacker Jarret Johnson agrees with that sentiment to an extent, he still admits that he's frustrated with the way a traditionally-stingy Ravens defense has played this season.
"You could say we're 7-3 and we've got some good wins under our belt. We've gone into some tough places and played well," Johnson said. "But, no defense wants to have the ball run on them. No defense wants to have the ball thrown over their heads.
"So, you could say it doesn't matter, but deep down it does. It bothers you. You want to be that dominant defense."
Coming off so many years where we saw an elite defense here in Baltimore, there has been a lot of criticism of this unit over the last handful of weeks.
While Johnson can admit that the Ravens haven't been playing to a dominant level so far, he still thinks they have the talent and ability to get there. Until then, he plans on ignoring any criticism that he happens to stumble across.
"Obviously, you'd like to hear people talk good about you," Johnson said. "We've got a lot of pride about our defense. It's been good for a long time. So, when people start to bash us and run us down, I take it to heart a little bit. But, I try not to worry about it because they're not helping you.
"We've got a saying: 'If you don't have a solution, shut up.' If you're not trying to help us get better, I've got nothing for you. So, we're trying. We want to be as dominant as we've ever been. We've got a lot of pride in this group, and we want to be No. 1 in everything."
