:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/4VGE34EUUBGT3A2Z3DSSX3L3SE.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IDMIYQH4GJFIRDJ3MPAZG3OYUI.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/RXSYDHF23ZHXBKKCZELPNFONYM.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/SQLH27CVZNH5FDVFC5MAZV3ABY.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/V7YRQFG2HJEADMNXEM565RBIKM.jpg)
By substituting young cornerback Rashaan Melvin into their nickel package as the third cornerback last week after just two games with veteran Kyle Arrington in that role, the Ravens showed they were willing to make a quick change if it means an improvement in the slumping secondary.
With Melvin pulled for Arrington after barely over a quarter Sunday, a new option could be in play should the Ravens decide not to re-install Arrington prominently in the game plan.
Cornerback Will Davis, a third-year player acquired last week for a seventh-round draft pick from the Miami Dolphins, believes he's caught on to the Ravens scheme quickly enough to contribute soon.
He said any role in Thursday's AFC North matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers is "up to the people upstairs" — the Ravens coaching staff has offices on the second floor at the Under Armour Performance Center — but believes he's been a quick study so far in Baltimore.
"I definitely do, I feel like I picked it up," Davis said. "I feel like I know it well, more so the gameplan going into this week, so yeah, I'm confident in the defense we're running. I think I know it."
Baltimore Ravens Insider
Davis was buried on the depth chart with the Dolphins, who drafted him out of Utah State in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played in 15 games in his first two seasons with Miami, recording 10 tackles and two pass defenses. Despite having two interceptions in the Dolphins' final preseason game, he was inactive the first two games before the Ravens acquired him this year.
He's had scant opportunities to prove himself in full practices — the Ravens had their full complement of practices last week ahead of the 28-24 loss to Cincinnati, but had a walk-through Monday and were in sweats again Tuesday ahead of Thursday's game.
"It's been pretty chill, but [I'm] mainly just executing, knowing my assignment, knowing technique," Davis said. "Everything went good."
Though he's the newest face in the secondary, Davis would only be the latest in a position that's been a revolving door for the Ravens over the last year through injuries and inconsistent play.
Jimmy Smith, Lardarius Webb, Melvin, Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson, Danny Gorrer, Dominique Franks, and Anthony Levine all played significant snaps at one point or another at cornerback for the Ravens last year. Levine is back at his natural position of safety, and Jackson is on the practice squad, while the rest outside of Smith, Webb, and Melvin are no longer in the organization.