Known for his pass-rushing ability, Aeneas Peebles wants the league to know he's more than capable as a run defender.
On one play during Tuesday's practice, Peebles wasn't just capable. He excelled.
Going against the first-team offensive line, the sixth-round pick burst into the backfield and wrapped up Justice Hill for a loss. As he went back to the defensive huddle, Peebles even received a high-five from Lamar Jackson, who had a front-row seat to watch Peebles dart behind the line of scrimmage.
Those are the plays the 6-foot, 289-pound Peebles expects from himself as he looks to make a name for himself as an every-down lineman. In his first training camp, his expectations are becoming reality.
"I feel like I've definitely improved as a run defender," Peebles said. "That's definitely something that's a part of my game that I feel I needed to improve, and I feel like over these last couple of weeks I've definitely done that."
Defensive Line Coach Dennis Johnson has also taken notice of Peebles, known by his teammates and the coaching staff as "Fub."
"Fub is one of the most explosive defensive linemen I've ever coached or evaluated on tape," Johnson said. "He uses his explosiveness in the run and in the pass [game], and he gets his hands on people quicker than they get their hands on him. In the run game, that helps him a lot."
While Peebles has improved as a run defender, his immediate role in the Ravens defense could be more as a third-down pass rusher.
"He gives us a little bit of a change-of-speed pitch. I don't know, maybe it's a fastball, maybe it's with movement," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "He's quick in there. We've always had the big, powerful defensive linemen, but when we saw him on tape, we liked him."
Here are more notes from Tuesday's practice:
- Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green has received plenty of recognition as a pass rusher, but he's also adept at dropping into coverage. The second-round pick had what could've been a pick-six on Cooper Rush during 11-on-11 work. After Rush floated the ball to the flat, Green cut underneath wide receiver Malik Cunningham for the takeaway. Green also had a sack on Rush and impressed during 1-on-1 pass rush drills, beating Joseph Noteboom while showcasing his bend and quickness.
- Jackson found Mark Andrews for a few chunk plays, one of which was a wide-open touchdown on a deep pass near the end of practice. Jackson also found Rashod Bateman on a crossing route downfield, fitting the ball over the head of undrafted rookie inside linebacker Jay Higgins IV.
- Bateman had a long touchdown run on an end-around, following Andrews on the lead block and taking off down the sideline for the score.
- Nose tackle CJ Okoye put his 6-foot-6, 370-pound frame to use in 1-on-1 drills, pushing back Reid Holskey several yards to win a rep. Johnson said Okoye has been his biggest surprise of camp.
- Rasheen Ali did a nice job following his blockers and cutting through traffic on a long run, eventually juking safety Desmond Igbinosun to reach the end zone.
- Nate Wiggins tackled Keaton Mitchell in the backfield for a loss, staying on-balance as Mitchell tried to shake him to get loose.
- Tyler Loop was 6-for-8 on kicks, missing from 33 and 58 yards.
- DeAndre Hopkins returned to practice in a limited capacity after missing Monday's session to manage his knee. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis also returned after missing Monday's practice with an illness.
- Cornerback Jaire Alexander, fullback Patrick Ricard, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, linebacker William Kwenkeu, and wide receiver Dayton Wade didn't practice.
