Mosley becomes first Ravens rookie to make Pro Bowl

After drawing comparisons to Ray Lewis in his short time with the Ravens, inside linebacker C.J. Mosley has accomplished something the future Hall of Famer didn’t in his rookie season.
The 17th overall pick of this year’s draft was selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, joining outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil and right guard Marshal Yanda as the Ravens’ selections in 2014.
Mosley is the first rookie in franchise history to be named to the Pro Bowl, which is an impressive accomplishment considering the long list of standout defensive players to play for the Ravens over the last 19 years. The Alabama product is the only player in the NFL with at least 115 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions this season. His 122 tackles ranks seven in the league and is first among rookies.
He was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for October and is considered a top candidate to become the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“First of all, I thank God for the position I am in,” Mosley said in a statement released by the team. “I also give many thanks to the Ravens organization, especially Mr. Ozzie Newsome and Mr. [Steve] Bisciotti for trusting me and bringing me here to play for such a great team. I wouldn’t be in this position without [inside linebackers coach Don Martindale], Daryl [Smith], Albert [McClellan] and Arthur [Brown], who have all taken me under their wing and helped me get where I am. With Daryl specifically, it’s meant so much having a person and player of his caliber next to me throughout my first NFL season.
“Also, a huge ‘thank you’ goes out to Ravens nation for welcoming me. I am honored and humbled.”
After setting the single-season franchise record with 17 sacks in his second year with Baltimore, Dumervil will go to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time but his first with the Ravens. The nine-year veteran has 90 career sacks, putting him third among active players since 2006. His seven multi-sack performances in 2014 bring his career total to 29 games, which is tied for second in the league since 2006.
Dumervil and fellow outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who was named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl, have formed the best pass-rush duo in the NFL this season as they’ve combined for 28 sacks.
“I also credit Terrell Suggs for helping me this season,” said Dumervil, who thanked his coaches, other teammates, and Ravens fans. “A lot of what I’ve been able to do is a result of the attention he garners on the opposite side. He’s an incredible player who is having another outstanding year, and it’s an honor to play with him.”
Often overlooked because he doesn’t play a glamorous position, Yanda is quietly becoming one of the most decorated players in franchise history after being selected to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. The eighth-year veteran graded out as the best guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Yanda has led the way for the league’s seventh-ranked rushing attack and has allowed only one sack all season.
Running back Justin Forsett is probably the Ravens’ toughest snub as he leads all running backs with a 5.3 yards per carry average in a surprising season that began with him at the bottom of the depth chart. The 29-year-old has rushed for a career-high 1,147 yards, ranking sixth in the NFL.
As it currently stands now, this is the first time since 2005 that Baltimore failed to earn at least four selections, but Suggs, Forsett, punter Sam Koch, return specialist Jacoby Jones, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk were all named first alternates and could receive the call as replacements due to injury or other Pro Bowl selections appearing in Super Bowl XLIX.
Koch was the only Ravens player to win the fan vote, which accounts for one-third of the voting with votes from coaches and players accounting for the rest.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata saw his streak of five consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl come to an end. Of course, Ngata’s four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy played a role in the veteran defensive lineman not receiving an invitation.
For the second straight year, participants were chosen without conference affiliation. Selected players will be assigned to two teams picked by Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin in a Pro Bowl draft that will take place on Jan. 21, 2015.
The game will be played on Jan. 25 in Glendale, Ariz.