New Raven Rock Ya-Sin: 'We're Primed to Win Now'
Upon this Rock, the Baltimore Ravens will apparently build their passing defense.
Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin was named the newest member of the Ravens on Wednesday, inked to a one-year deal worth $6 million. Both sides are looking for fresh starts: Baltimore is looking to improve a somewhat anemic pass defense effort (ranking 26th in yardage allowed last season) while Ya-Sin is trying to work off an injury-riddled campaign, his last on the rookie contract originally bestowed to him upon his second-round call from the Indianapolis Colts at the 2019 draft.
With the last year of that deal playing out in Las Vegas after a trade, Ya-Sin is working on a de facto "prove it" deal after missing six games due to knee issues. Now healthy and poised to start next to Marlon Humphrey, Ya-Sin believes his trademark aggressiveness will be welcome in Baltimore, which has a rich history of hard-hitting defense antics.
"(I'll bring) an aggressive mentality, (a) tough, physical, competitive style of play, just a dominant competitive style of play," Ya-Sin promised to team reporter Garrett Downing when asked what he'll bring to the defense. "I wanted to be a part of this great (defensive) legacy. That's, I think, any defensive player's dream."
Ya-Sin, who has yet to partake in an NFL playoff game, was drawn to Baltimore's apparently championship-worthy set-up, one derailed with a Wild Card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last January. Baltimore is ready to partake in an AFC North that features the high-octane offense of Cincinnati as well as the developing groups in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
The chance to compete in championship-ready surroundings ... and to prove such designation against elite competition ... was primarily what drew Ya-Sin to Charm City.
"(There are) great players on offense and on defense," Ya-Sin noted. "I think they're primed to win, we're primed to win now. (It was) the right kind of culture, the right kind of fit for me, I think, the right play-style, aggression, the kind of division I want to play in, the kind of football I want to play. This is a great fit for me."
Ya-Sin will have a chance to do battle against his original employers at some point next season as the Colts are slated to visit M&T Bank Stadium this coming fall.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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