Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and safety Dawan Landry have a running joke: the team is going to trade him for his brother ? Redskins safety LaRon.
The joke may be on the Redskins.
Both brothers are starters, but the Ravens certainly have gotten more out of their investment. LaRon Landry was the sixth pick overall out of LSU after an All-American season in 2007, with Dawan Landry entering the league as an unknown fifth-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2006.
But the Ravens are pretty sure they have the right Landry on their roster, as Dawan, 25, has emerged as a leader by not missing any of the team?s voluntary mini camps.
“He has been tremendous this spring,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He?s made every single workout, hasn?t missed a lift, hasn?t missed a run, and when you watch him play out here, you see that he?s game. He?s playing fast, he?s all over the field, he?s taking charge of that secondary back there and he deserves special mention.”
Landry has appeared in all 32 games since joining the Ravens. Last season, the former high school quarterback had 82 tackles and six pass deflections while starting all 16 games. In 2006, he had 69 tackles to go along with five interceptions and three sacks.
Landry?s work was recognized through the NFL?s performance-based system as he earned $284,568 in bonuses on top of his $360,000 salary.
By comparison, LaRon, who signed a five-year, $41.5 million contract, had 95 tackles and 1.5 sacks as a rookie while starting 16 games with Washington.
Dawan Landry?s role is expected to increase as the team has just three safeties on the depth chart other than Ed Reed: rookies Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, and fourth-year player Jim Leonhard, a former Buffalo Bill.
“You always have something to prove,” Landry said. “It?s just going out there and showing you belong and being a part of this Ravens defense. With a lot of young guys around, I have to put that responsibility on my shoulders.”
The Ravens will need major contributions from the 6-foot, 200-pound Landry as they attempt to improve a secondary that allowed a league-worst 15 passing plays of at least 40 yards, were third-worst by allowing 53 plays of at least 20 yards, and ranked 20th out of 32 teams in passing defense, surrendering 222.3 yards per game.
Landry?s improvement has not gone unnoticed. Since Reed, Chris McAlister and Ray Lewis have missed many of the team?s voluntary mini camps, the coaching staff has Landry on the second team so he can call the defensive signals.
“Now, he?s like an old pro out there, and we expect great things from him,” Ryan said. “He?s going to be a [great player]. I could see him playing 10, 12 years. He?s one of those kind of guys. Really, physically, from a physical standpoint, he looks much faster to me than he?s ever been.”
