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| T-Sizzle, out for the season? |
1. Suggs is a much better player. This almost goes without saying, but we'll give some numbers to back it up. Suggs' Pro Football Reference AV last year was a 17 vs. a 6 for Vilma, and his career AV is an 82 vs. a 56 for Vilma. Suggs had 14 sacks to Vilma's 0 (admittedly, Vilma played MLB and so his sack opportunities were fewer than Suggs', who came from the outside in the 3-4).
2. The Ravens have now lost both of their starting OLBs from last year. Not only does Suggs appear to be out, the Ravens lost LB Jarrett Johnson, who has started the past 80 games for Baltimore, to the Chargers in free agency. Together, the 2 have started all but 3 games fro Baltimore since 2007. That kind of continuity would be hard to replace even if they weren't top-notch players.
3. Ray Lewis isn't getting any younger. The 13-time Pro Bowler and Ravens ILB will turn 37 this month, and statistically, last season was his worst since his injury-plagued 2005. Lewis has played 222 games in his career and it seems very possible that he could continue to wear down this year.
4. They have few replacement options. The Saints seemed prepared for the Vilma suspension, signing 3 LBs in free agency. The Ravens obviously couldn't plan on losing Suggs in a freak accident. Thus far, they've made no additions at LB via free agency, although they've re-signed a few players from last year. (Note: the Ravens did pick up Curtis Painter in free agency. Maybe he can play linebacker.) The Ravens did draft DE Courtney Upshaw in the 2nd round and planned to convert him to LB, intending to make him Johnson's replacement. They took no other LBs or DEs in the draft.
They could look to free agency, but who's out there? ESPN's Free Agent Tracker (requires insider) doesn't list many options -- the best options appear to be former ILBs, and both Johnson and Suggs played outside. Former Colt Ernie Sims and former Steeler and Cardinal Clark Haggans are possibilities. But the Ravens may be best off promoting from within, looking to Paul Kruger or to Brandon Ayanbadejo and Dannell Ellerbe, both of whom they re-signed in the offseason.
Imagine you're Andy Dalton, Ben Roethlisberger, or Paul Bla . . . er, Brandon Weeden and you look across the line of scrimmage and see Kruger, Ayanbadejo, and Ellerbe instead of Johnson and Suggs? The other AFC North QBs are probably licking their chops already.
The Ravens were the best defensive team in football last year and came within a shanked FG of overtime in the AFC Title Game. If they're to repeat or improve upon that, it will have to be on the strength of some new faces at LB, some improved offense, or both.
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| The Ravens might be asking poor Curtis to suit up at LB |
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