ExtremeRavens Posted August 19 Posted August 19 During a live drill session near the end of Tuesday’s practice, Aeneas “Fub” Peebles broke through the middle of the Ravens’ starting offensive line with little to no trouble. The sixth-round rookie emerged face-to-face with Lamar Jackson before slamming on the brakes, avoiding any contact with the prized quarterback on a play that would have otherwise been a surefire sack. Even Jackson felt obligated to high-five Peebles for the effort. Peebles downplayed what was his best rep of the afternoon, saying, “I guess it’s what I feel like I’m supposed to be doing.” In truth, the 289-pound interior defensive linemen standing a touch over 6 feet has outperformed the expectations placed on him as an unconventional, undersized Ravens interior defensive lineman. It has all but earned him the fifth roster spot in that room. “I think he’s a really good player. We all do,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s gonna be out there, so he’s gonna have to do it.” Through two preseason games, Pro Football Focus ranked Peebles as the 13th-best interior defensive lineman. That list, of course, excludes most stars and starters. Among the reserves fighting for relevance in games that matter less, Peebles jumped off the page. He’s earned a B- grade, per PFF, on 60 total snaps, the most of any Ravens at his position between games against the Colts and Cowboys. “Fub is one of the most explosive defensive linemen I’ve ever coached or evaluated on tape,” defensive line coach Dennis Johnson said. Defensive lineman Broderick Washington threw out another superlative: “Baller energy.” Pass rush coach Chuck Smith recently called Peebles, “lightning quick.” Peebles has said he didn’t realize until the predraft process that advanced scouts’ biggest knock was that, coming out of Virginia Tech, he could rush the passer but that he didn’t have the size to plug the middle in run defense. Baltimore takes pride in its run defense. That group ranked first in the NFL last year, allowing 1,361 yards on the ground. So when the Ravens lost in the AFC divisional round, cut up by Buffalo’s ground game, “It sucked,” the veteran Washington said. “It was bad.” Some were surprised when the Ravens — a team with a reputation of prioritizing big bodies on the defensive line — went after an undersized player on Day 3 of the draft. Not being the “typical Ravens D-lineman” built a chip on Peebles’ shoulder. “Me and him will be off talking,” Washington said, “and he’ll be like, ‘I can’t wait to show folks I can play the run. I’m more than just a pass rusher.’ And he’s chasing it. He’s in the weight room with me, [Travis Jones] and other guys trying to get stronger.” That whole group wants to arrive at Week 1 with a similar mentality. Jones spent most of 2024 hampered by a high ankle sprain that reeled him in from one of the best stretches of his career. Washington thinks “he’s gonna put it all together this year and, if he stays healthy, he’s gonna be the best nose tackle in the game.” Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike are the most competitive duo in that room. Leaning into the trenches analogy, Johnson said they’re like “brothers in arms.” He called C.J. Okoye one of the biggest surprises in camp. Jayson Jones has turned some heads, too. And Peebles is the standout who played his way onto the roster. “[Aeneas Peebles] is one of the most explosive defensive linemen I’ve ever coached or evaluated on tape,” Ravens defensive line coach Dennis Johnson said. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)“I think we got a lot of guys that are hungry,” Washington said, “whether it’s for a job or a championship. I think we got a group that’s hungry.” Much of this stems outward from the head of the snake, which is Johnson, now entering Year 2 in Baltimore. Harbaugh described him as someone who brings high energy to the practice field, lunch, dinner, every meeting room and probably when he’s by himself, too. There’s a good mix of yelling and maniacal study to best prepare his players. Harbaugh said that on the defensive line particularly, players will reflect the personality of their coach. It’s chaotic in the trenches, and Johnson sets the tone. “I heard Fub say this the other day,” Washington said. “He was like, in the back of his head, he could hear Dennis yelling at him, telling him to run to the ball. [Johnson] is a technician, and he’s on every little detail.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article Quote
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