Cornerback Nate Wiggins welcomed the challenge of shadowing a likely future Hall of Famer on Sunday.
In the week before facing the Rams, Wiggins asked Ravens Sr. Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach Chuck Pagano and the Ravens' coaching staff to follow wide receiver Davante Adams.
Pagano was impressed with that confidence from the former first-round pick.
"What we saw was this unbelievable sense of urgency, focus, detail – everything – because he wanted that challenge, and accepted that challenge because he's a prideful guy," Pagano said. "He cares what he puts on tape."
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Wiggins held Adams to just one catch for eight yards on four targets. Overall, Adams had four catches for 39 yards, his lowest single-game production of the season.
Pagano thought Wiggins wanted some plays back, but overall, "held his own" against Adams. Wiggins was flagged for a 30-yard pass interference penalty while guarding Adams.
Among all NFL cornerbacks who have played at least 80% of their team's defensive snaps, Wiggins has the 10th-highest grade on PFF. He's ahead of some other top cornerbacks such as the Jets' Sauce Gardner and Broncos' Pat Surtain II, who was the Defensive Player of the Year last season.
"Everybody is looking to have a guy like Nate, a true No. 1 corner that when you face guys like Adams or whoever – we're going to face some great ones coming up – the guy is willing, No. 1, and No. 2, he's got the capability, the athleticism and the skillset to go do it," Pagano said.
Alohi Gilman Made 'Seamless Transition' in First Game
Alohi Gilman wasted no time making an impression on the Ravens' coaching staff.
Five days removed from being traded from a team across the country, Gilman played 83% of the defensive snaps against the Rams and finished with seven tackles.
Pagano said it was a "seamless transition" for Gilman, and it looked like he had been in Baltimore for years instead of just days.
Gilman had the team's highest tackling grade (83.3) and second-highest run defense grade (75.8), according to PFF, and helped hold Matthew Stafford to a season-low 181 passing yards.
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr knew from the jump that Gilman was the right fit to help elevate the Ravens' defense.
"He was directing traffic his first day in practice, so I knew that it was going to be a good addition in the lineup with him, and he went out there and played well," Orr said. "The more comfortable he gets with the guys and our terminology, the better he's going to be."
Adding Gilman allowed Orr to put three safeties on the field and move Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage. That tweak helped the Ravens have their best defensive showing since Week 2 against the Browns. It also gave Baltimore positive momentum heading into the bye.
"It was a step in the right direction," Orr said. "I told the guys that I thought that was the most intensity that we played with, and we started fast; that's what we were looking for. We have to get back to playing pissed off and with an edge."
Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele 'Get Better Every Week'
The Ravens are seeing progress from their offensive guards.
Offensive Line Coach George Warhop said Tuesday he's generally liked what he's seen from right guard Daniel Faalele and left guard Andrew Vorhees.
Outside of the Houston game, in which the Ravens rushed for just 44 yards, Warhop said he hasn't had a lot of negative things to say about Vorhees or Faalele.
"I mean, every week if you watch them play, they get better," Warhop said. "There's been some challenging fronts that we've had to deal with."
Vorhees scored the Ravens' highest offensive grade PFF grade against the Rams at 77.3 – his highest marks of the season.
Warhop's comments came after Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that the team is "absolutely" considering changes to the offensive line.
Veteran guard Ben Cleveland and second-year lineman Corey Bullock are two candidates to step in if the coaching staff decides to make changes.
Trenton Simpson Will 'Be Part of the Plan Going Forward'
The injury to Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith left a void next to fourth-round rookie Teddye Buchanan.
After seeing his snap counts decrease early in the season, Trenton Simpson has filled in nicely.
The third-year linebacker played 94% of the defensive snaps against the Rams and had the Ravens' second-highest defensive PFF grade with a 72.7 after notching a team-high nine tackles. Simpson and Buchanan teamed up for a fourth-down sack of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford after Simpson's leap took away his passing lane.
Orr said Simpson has earned that uptick in snap count and will remain a contributor on defense, even once Smith returns from injury. Simpson could also help out some at outside linebacker in some packages following Tavius Robinson's broken foot.
"I think that he's grown so much," Orr said. "He's played two of his best games the past two weeks and he's really making an impact. He can still get a lot better, but I do think that he's earned the right to definitely be part of the plan going forward."
