The Ravens have officially signed free-agent safety Bernard Pollard to a two-year deal, General Manager Ozzie Newsome announced.

In doing so, Baltimore has added experience and some hard hitting to its secondary.

Pollard, 26, spent last season with the Houston Texans, racking up a team-leading 111 tackles, four forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. In 2009, he logged 102 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four interceptions.

The former second-round draft pick has been a full-time starter for the Texans and Kansas City Chiefs the past four years.

“I think I fit right in with my style of play,” Pollard told the Carroll County Times. “I’m going to hit you, line back up and hit you again.”

Baltimore has Ed Reed at safety and Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura were expected to contend for the starting strong safety spot since Dawan Landry signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Pollard, who is entering his sixth season, will also figure into that competition and provide experienced depth.

Zbikowski was recently reportedly placed on the non-football illness list because of a skin condition that isn’t considered serious.