Offseason Analysis: LB

Whenever you think of the Baltimore Ravens, you’re mind naturally thinks of their once standout defense, most notably their linebacking group. With their classic 3-4 D, the Ravens have had success, and talent, at the four-linebacker set.

As any football fan knows, in order to run the 304, you need talented players, and the Ravens sure as hell have plenty of those, especially linebackers. Perennial Pro Bowlers, guys like Bart Scott, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs come to mind as guys who for some reason allowed this team to slip to 5-11 last season after launching them to 13-3 the year before. These are the players that need to play like we all want them to play, and maybe, just maybe, like the Chicago Bears of a few years ago, the Ravens can win games with defense and not a high powered offense. And, as everyone knows, defense wins championships, and these LB’s could be the defense to bring the title to Baltimore.

The Ravens have guys who play beyond the big three, including their biggest off-season signing, former Chicago Bear, Brendon Ayanbadejo. It remains to be seen just how the Ravens utilize this guy, but rest assured he is a good one. Not only is he a quick LB, he is also one of, if not, the very best special team players in the league.

The team also went out and got a steal in the third round on the draft in Miami Hurricane Tavares Gooden. Mike Smith, Robert McCune, Nick Greisen, Gary Stills, Dan Cody, Edgar Jones, Prescott Burgess, Antwan Barnes, and rookie Jameel McClain round out the current roster at the position.

As of late this group has looked tired, they have looked slow, but most of all they have looked old. This isn’t a young group by any means, but age is merely a number. They need to play young. Yes, that is harder than it sounds but it is something that can be done. They have the skills to play quick, and need to use them in order to help bail their often-anemic offense out at times. Mot of all, Lewis needs to return to the dominant force he once was. He is the anchor of this entire team, and if he plays slow, or impassionate, the rest of the team is going to take notice, and more often than not play the same way. He needs to get better than being tied for 12th in the NFL in tackles (120), with Kirk Morrison of the Oakland Raiders.

The Baltimore Ravens defense used to be feared. If they can get back even a little bit of that fire, that intensity that took them so far in this league, the rest of the NFL better take notice.