When Ed Reed left the Baltimore Ravens three years ago, the fear of throwing deep against this defense also departed.
In Reed's final three seasons with the Ravens, Baltimore allowed six completions on passes of 40 yards or longer. Only four teams gave up fewer.
In three seasons without Reed, the Ravens allowed 17 completions on those deep passes. That's two more than any other team in the league.
Baltimore, which opens training camp Thursday, addressed the need to limit big pass plays by making changes at the safety position this offseason, when it signed Eric Weddle in free agency and moved Lardarius Webb from cornerback.