The Baltimore Ravens are 5-1, but it doesn't feel like 5-1. Their defense is banged up and has been pushed around on the ground. The Ravens keep winning close games, but they don't look like the Ravens.
The team's new defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, feels your pain, Ravens fans.
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"It's makes me sick is the best way I can put it. It really does," Pees said, via the Ravens' official website. "I'm happy as can be to be 5-1. But I also feel fortunate to be 5-1 the way we're playing on defense. Hey, let's be honest; we're not playing well enough. To say it any other way would sound like a political debate.
"We gotta have an answer. We gotta do it. Cut the crap and let's get this thing done."
Pees knows what it's like to take over a legendary program and see it struggle. He was the de facto New England Patriots defensive coordinator in 2005 when the two-time defending champions' defense fell apart. (Pees officially had the job from 2006 to 2009.) Now he's taking over a Ravens defense that routinely sends its coordinators to head-coaching jobs elsewhere.
The Ravens rank 11th in points allowed, 26th in yards allowed and 17th in FootballOutsiders' numbers heading into Sunday's contest against the Houston Texans. Compared to previous standards, those numbers are enough to make Ravens fans sick.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
