Profiling the Baltimore Ravens Defense: Part One
by Matt Conner on Sep 7, 2009 9:16 AM CDT
33 comments
What a welcome to the 2009 NFL season if you're the Kansas City Chiefs. The Baltimore Ravens were fantastic last year, getting within a game of the Super Bowl. In last season's magical run, the Ravens went 11-5 in the regular season and knocked off both the surprising Dolphins and mighty Titans in back to back weeks before succumbing to Mike Tomlin's Steelers. And now they look even better.
On the outside, it might not seem that way. You hear about their losses and feel a bit optimistic. The exit of defensive genius Rex Ryan to the Jets also cost the team high-caliber linebacker Bart Scott and promising safety Jim Leonhard. Three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister was released and, surprisingly, is still a free agent. Dominant young center Jason Brown was a prize in this year's free agent crop and he quickly left for the Rams.
But the Ravens were ready for this. The best teams always are. Each year, the winners are looted by the losers, grabbing their coordinators on both sides and their impending free agents with much more money than the mother ship ever planned on offering. The Ravens knew they couldn't keep Ryan on their sidelines forever and that they had to choose between Ray Lewis and Bart Scott. And in their plans, they've been grooming the back-ups.
More analysis after the jump:
Yet even the back-ups don't matter nearly as much as the familiar face coming back to anchor the entire defense: DT Kelly Gregg. The longtime starter for most of this decade missed all of last season due to knee surgery, but his size (315 lbs.) and unrelenting motor make him one of this decades best interior defensive linemen and the unsung hero of this defense. He teams with Haloti Ngata, Justin Bannan and Brandon McKinney (360 lbs!) to absolutely stuff the middle.
And that doesn't even touch the linebacking corps - the unit that's served as the heart and soul of this team. Ray Lewis obviously steals the stage - and rightfully so - but Terrell Suggs changes a game with his ability to rush the passer and play some coverage. Jarret Johnson quietly had five sacks on a loud team around him and should enjoy more of this year's spotlight without Scott in his way. The hopes are also for Tavares Gooden to step up, yet if not, there's that rookie pass rusher named Paul Kruger - this year's second rounder - waiting in the wings to become the next great Raven defender.
Looking for the good news if you're a Chiefs fan? That would be the secondary. Of course, there's all-world Ed Reed ever-looming and that's no small feat to overcome. But it's not like I said this was a talentless bunch. It's just that there are more question marks in the secondary than anywhere else.
Need proof? After releasing McAlister, the Ravens are turning to (mostly) career back-up Domonique Foxworth to man the position. He's always had the tools, but has never quite put it all together to be a top cover corner. Safety Dawan Landry comes back from an injury plagued 2008. The other corner, Fabian Washington, won't make anyone adjust their game plan much around him.
Thus, it's Greg Mattison's turn to take over and see what he can do with such a strong core of players, both young and old. The ole' defensive coach served in the best trenches in college for over 35 years - from Michigan to Notre Dame to Florida's 2006 championship team before head coach John Harbaugh tapped him on the shoulder to lead their linebacking corps a year ago. That silver platter position now gives him his first NFL coordinator job at the age of 60.
My guess? He'll be just fine with on-field leaders like Lewis, Reed, Trevor Pryce and Suggs. The Chiefs will learn first-hand what it's like to face such a stout group and the Chiefs defense and front office personnel would do well to learn from a group like this and see what it's like to build such a talent base. With youngsters like Brandon Flowers and Glenn Dorsey and new linemen like Alex Magee and Tyson Jackson, the Chiefs seem on their way to doing just that.
In Part Two, coming tomorrow, we'll take a closer look at how the Ravens defense matched up last year against their opponents and how the Chiefs could best utilize their talent against them.
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Nice Preview
Too bad…the Chiefs weak point is getting the QB enough time to drop back and pass…and the Ravens weak point (if we can call it that) is the secondary.
I think we’re in trouble…early on, I think the Chiefs need some semblance of a running game and I really don’t expect that to happen against the Ravens.
by Joel Thorman on Sep 7, 2009 9:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree.
Run right at Ray Lewis. Repeat.
Cantaloupe? More like wontaloupe. Lazy ass melons.
by cucuybird on Sep 7, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Waste of time
Trust me, LJ is not going to get much room and besides, if you’re behind, you’ll have to air it out anyway.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 7, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, re: the loss of Leonherd and return of Landry
Landry was previously the starter so, according to the Baltimore Beatdown, that will be an upgrade over last year.
by Joel Thorman on Sep 7, 2009 9:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's like saying "According to Arrowhead Pride"
Brodie Croyle is an upgrade over Matt Cassel because he used to be a starter, LOL
Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full...
by cpa913 on Sep 7, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What I meant was...
That Landry was the starter the two previous years. He got hurt last year, Leonherd filled in, now the starter (Lanrdy) is back.
by Joel Thorman on Sep 7, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No comparison between Leonhard & Landry
Leonhard was a decent replacement due to Landry’s injury, but Leonhard was opportunistic as anyone could be playing next to Ed Reed. Landry is a safety with a linebacker’s body and is a true thumper. We are MUCH better w/ Landry.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 7, 2009 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
more like saying
Tom Brady is better than Matt Cassel because he’s the person who was the starter before he got injured.
Dawan Landry was always going to be getting his starting job back, and the Ravens kept him off IR for 6 weeks where he couldn’t practice simply because he was a huge upgrade over Leonard. He’s bigger, faster, and better in coverage. He had 5 interceptions his rookie season.
by math_geek on Sep 7, 2009 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What's the over/under for this game?
3?
I can’t see either team scoring much. Should come down to field position.
Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full...
by cpa913 on Sep 7, 2009 9:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The line is 10.5
Over/under is 37…I’d take the under.
by Joel Thorman on Sep 7, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep!
16 – 13, Chiefs win, is only 29 :)
by ttownmikey on Sep 7, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Take the over
The Ravens average over 10 more points at home than they do on the road. While you won’t like this, this issue is not how many points the Ravens will score, it’s how few the Chiefs will to keep the game under the total.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 7, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can profile the Ravens defense..... Bad Ass.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
by BigRedChief on Sep 7, 2009 10:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank you… Well said. I literally laughed out loud.
Obviously, we love, love, love our defense in Baltimore.
by BAL_Hawk on Sep 8, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
From the Chiefs offense
look for a lot of counters, delays & misdirections along with screens & quick slants trying to slow the Ravens D down & hold them in place. If our O-line had more time together, I would look for a lot of roll-outs & moving pockets but I don’t know if that would be an option no longer than they will have been together. Lots of shotgun & a heavy dose of LJ! Hopefully Succop will confirm why we kept him!
Whoops, now the Ravens will know what to expect ;0)
by ttownmikey on Sep 7, 2009 10:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
at that point why don't we line up in
a triple tight end set with LJ and Cox in the eye and dare them to stop us running the ball?
by TDubb on Sep 7, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our TE don't block well enough!
We’d have to bring in Vrable as the slotback & make 2 of our back-up OL tackle eligible & maybe that would work. Ya may be onto something here. Mano y mano it is:)
by ttownmikey on Sep 7, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
because that entitles the ravens to take out their secondary and put in their defensive tackles, the deepest position on the Ravens defense.
If our secondary is a weakness, then you want to play WRs to exploit that weakness
by math_geek on Sep 7, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The first part is what I'd do to beat the Ravens defense
with the counter and mis-directions. But the heavy dose of LJ will be a huge mistake. No one runs on the Ravens defense, especially at home.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 7, 2009 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it worked for Nebraska for a number of years
Sorry MU/KU/KSU fans
by TDubb on Sep 7, 2009 11:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
offense
if our offense plays atleast like it did last year when thiggy was there, u know we actually scored points, then we might have a chance. defense looks improved atleast in preseason it did. they practicaly got as much sacks in the 4 games then they did all last season lol.
oh and i’m extremly surprised at tamba, completely changing positions and stayed a starter, that shows his work ethic. imo sux that pollard got released i think he’s better then mike brown. i think pioli released him because he probably caused the pats a superbowl by injuring brady, so it was a personal grudge.
Proud Supporter of Tyler Thigpen.
by nfamous209 on Sep 7, 2009 11:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't remember
but did the Patriots cut the player who blocked Pollard but let him crawl away into Brady’s leg? It was more his fault for letting up once Pollard went to the ground than it was a “hit” by Pollard.
The release of Pollard had nothing to do with Brady or any other Patriot, it had to do with attitude & lack of skills. Most notably, the lack of coverage skills which he was given adequate opportunity to improve this training camp but was unable to do so.
by ttownmikey on Sep 7, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
See
my Fanpost about Pollard. http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2009/9/6/1018891/a-quick-question-but-not-quick
Pollard not only was a loudmouth and had a bad attitude, he simply doesnt fit the system. more detail in the post.
In response to nfamous209, I agree about Tamba. I would bet Tamba works harder than ANY other player on the team. If not the team, then definately the hardest worker on Defense. I’d say Him and Cassel are the hardest workers we have, each in their own respective ways. But to say Pollard being cut was a grudge..I’d have to disagree there. Pollard was miscast in the Cover 2 and the SS in a 3-4 D is similar to a SS in the Cover 2. He’s not a cover guy..both SS we have can cover better than Pollard.
by Petey14 on Sep 7, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Read it earlier
& I agreed with you both here & there, which is exactly what I said but not in so many words!
:)
by ttownmikey on Sep 7, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haley said he knew by the lake of sweat on the weight machine that Hali'd been there earlier.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
by hmills110 on Sep 7, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah..
I didnt even check to see if you commented there. I know you were agreeing and now I’m scratching my head trying to figure out why I even replyed to you and not to nfamous.
Ohwell. Its a monday..its allowed. haha!
by Petey14 on Sep 7, 2009 3:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Overall, very accurate synopsis
Like the article and the stats speak for themselves. We see every week what most teams and their fans just don’t seem to get. This defense is so good, tough and fast plus well prepared that you just can’t practice for it.
After being at the Ravens Training Camp all summer, I see a team that is focused on getting at least one game further than they did last year, and for KC with a new QB and OC, much less coming off a down year, to go into Baltimore, where the Ravens have the 3rd best home record in the NFL since 2000 (behind NE & Indy), is just a real tall task.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Sep 7, 2009 5:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I have to point out that the secondary is widely considered to be a much improved unit for the Ravens. The Ravens severely overhauled the unit, not resigning and or cutting many of their backup corners looking for better talent.
Samari Rolle was our best corner last year, and he’s injured, but the Ravens signed Dominique Foxworth because he played very well in Atlanta last year. Foxworth may not be super-flashy, he rarely makes interceptions, but that’s not actually what the Ravens want from their corners. They want corners who are quick to recover, tight in coverage, that don’t give up the big play. That’s exactly what Foxworth is, just as Fabian Washington and Samari Rolle are at this point in their careers.
The way to exploit these smaller corners is to use big physical receivers. Dwayne Bowe certainly qualifies, but the Ravens will probably stick a safety on him until the Chiefs can prove they have other receiving options that need to be accounted for.
In the running game … the Ravens DL rotation is simply not going to be fun for opposing offensive lines. Unless Kelly Gregg hasn’t fully recovered from surgery, the Ravens DL is absolutely devastating.
by math_geek on Sep 7, 2009 10:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If anyone wants to know how important Kelly Gregg is to this defense, check this out...
Do any of you know who the 2nd all time leader in tackles for the Ravens is behind Ray Lewis? Yup, Kelly Gregg.
This is the best Defensive Line in football along with the best depth. We will continue our streak of 40+ games already of holding a player under 100 yards rushing.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Sep 8, 2009 12:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
All streaks come to an end...
I’m a homer, so I’ll leave out LJ, but you’ve got LT and Adrian Peterson on your schedule.
I think the Vikings would seriously disagree about your best defensive line in football comment.
Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full...
by cpa913 on Sep 8, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They have 2 good guys
While we have 4 who could start in this league and are way more athletic then those fatties are.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Sep 8, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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