With training camp beginning this week, we’ll take a look at a position group for the 2017 Ravens every day as they aim to return to the postseason for the first time since 2014.
Quarterbacks
Defensive line
Running backs
Cornerbacks
Wide receivers
LINEBACKERS
Projected depth chart:
RUSH – Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith, Tim Williams, Randy Allen
MIKE – C.J. Mosley, Albert McClellan, Boseko Lokombo, Bam Bradley
WILL – Kamalei Correa, Patrick Onwuasor, Lamar Louis, Donald Payne
SAM – Matt Judon, Tyus Bowser, Brennen Beyer
Why to be impressed: Suggs remains the heart of the Baltimore defense, but Mosley made two Pro Bowls in his first three years and is positioned to become the long-term leader of the unit. Aiming to revamp the pass rush this offseason, Ozzie Newsome drafted Bowser and Williams to give the Ravens a total of four edge candidates under age 25 — Judon and Smith being the others — to work with Suggs.
Why to be concerned: The Ravens have not added a veteran inside linebacker to help fill the void left behind by Zach Orr and will be counting on Correa, who played a total of 48 defensive snaps as a rookie. So much youth looks great on paper, but Baltimore edge defenders not named Terrell Suggs have combined for 13 1/2 career sacks with the versatile McClellan accounting for three of those takedowns.
2017 outlook: There is plenty of intriguing upside in this group, but the Ravens need Suggs to continue fighting off Father Time in his 15th season and Judon and Smith to be productive while the likes of Bowser and Williams get their NFL feet wet. The presence of new strong safety Tony Jefferson could factor into the equation if Correa isn’t up to the challenge of being a three-down inside linebacker.
Prediction: The Ravens won’t have a single player with double-digit sacks for the third straight season, but four linebackers will record five or more in 2017.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
8
Paid Advertisement
Podcast Audio Vault
88Paid Advertisement
Share the Post:
8Paid Advertisement
Right Now in Baltimore
Podcasts, Pearl Jam passion and the present tense with The Mayne Event
They met on the backstretch at Pimlico three decades ago and The Mayne Event always returns and never disappoints for sports, comedy, charity and why Eddie Vedder shouldn't trust Nestor. Longtime ESPNer Kenny Mayne checks in for another round of tales of wiffle ball with Ken Griffey, podcasts with the other Manning and still being pissed off about the Sonics (and Pilots) departure from Seattle.
Running back Tampa 25 years later with Ravens RB coach Matt Simon
These milestones continue to add up as the 25th anniversary of the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV win is coming later this month and Nestor is catching up with many of the Purple Reign legacies about life – on and off the field – as we celebrate the night we all felt the civic pride of that first miracle in Tampa. Reflections here with the man who coached Jamal Lewis, Priest Holmes, Sam Gash and Femi Ayanbadejo a quarter of a century ago.
The Ravens weren't good enough on the field
Firing the head coach and changing leadership will certainly create an interesting offseason in Owings Mills. No one covers the Xs and Os of the NFL like Mike Tanier of Too Deep Zone. The one-time geometry teacher of Joe Flacco joins Nestor to discuss the depth and salary cap numbers of the Baltimore Ravens roster and the structural changes Eric DeCosta will need even after Steve Bisciotti finds a new captain to lead Lamar Jackson.
888Paid Advertisement
