The makeover of the Ravens' secondary continued with vigor in the offseason, two years after the unit had become a sinkhole for a proud defense.
With clockwork precision, the Ravens signed cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr in March, then drafted Lardarius Webb in April with the expectation that he could make the transition from college safety to NFL corner.
Combine those changes with roster turnover from 2008 and the Ravens' secondary has gone from a blinking yellow light to a four-way stop sign. At least that was the hope when the team awarded Foxworth, who attended Western Tech and Maryland, a four-year contract with $16.5 million in guaranteed money early in free agency.
The quality of the changes at cornerback is still working out; the Ravens need someone to become a shut-down corner. But the quantity is already impressive. It will allow the Ravens to better handle injury issues, something they couldn't do in 2007, when the team ranked 20th in pass defense, and last season, when it ranked No. 2. Gone from last year's secondary are Chris McAlister, one of the best players in Ravens history, and Corey Ivy, one of the shortest.
"I think we have five or six corners that could easily play on this team," said cornerback Fabian Washington, acquired in a 2008 draft-day trade. "That's one thing I like because it keeps you from being complacent and thinking that a position is yours. There's no position other than [safety] Ed Reed's in the secondary that's a lock right now."
Still, it would be a surprise if Foxworth and Washington aren't starting opening day. They are two of the fastest cornerbacks in the league, five-year veterans who came out of the same draft. Washington was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the first round in 2005 after running the 40-yard dash in an official 4.29 seconds. Foxworth ran a 4.34 and went to the Denver Broncos in the third round.
The similarities run deeper. Both are listed at 5 feet 11 and 180 pounds, both are 26, both have good cover skills, and both are intelligent and competitive.
"I've never been around a smarter group of guys, guys with a higher football IQ," Foxworth said of the Ravens' defense. "It's just great to be around so many guys that are so smart. It reduces the errors, and it makes you lift your game."
Washington started 12 regular-season games with the Ravens a year ago and led the team in passes defended with 19. He had one interception in the regular season and another in the playoffs. He played his best football down the stretch and into the postseason.
