Lardarius Webb Is Injured, But Still Working Hard

Lardarius Webb has made his presence felt throughout Ravens training camp thus far, in a way you may not expect. Webb may not be participating in any on-field activites, but he has been dressed in his jersey, taking every opportunity to soak up knowledge and experience from his teammates and coaches. It’s something that has really stood out to me as I’ve seen Webb around many a time at McDaniel College.

Webb, entering his 2nd year in the NFL after playing his college ball at Nicholls State, is maturing before our eyes. In all the years I have been attending training camp, I have never seen such a young player learning the “ins” and “outs” of his position such as Webb. It’s a real treat to see someone as young as Webb not relying on pure, raw athletic talent, but like many older players (which Webb certainly is not), the mental aspect of the game. Watching veterans in the secondary such as Fabian Washington and Ken Hamlin will not only benefit Webb’s on-field play this year but will help Webb further down the line in his career as I look for Webb to become the Ravens’ top cornerback for the next 5-10 years.

Webb is quickly turning himself into a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback for the Ravens at a very young age, evidenced by his rookie campaign.With the loss of Domonique Foxworth for the entire 2010 season due to a torn ACL suffered last week, it is essential that Webb’s torn ACL heals as quickly as possible for the Ravens and it is imparative for Webb to get back to the level we all saw him play at down the stretch last year. After a very productive offseason and a training camp that has been hectic, to say the least, Webb’s “student of the game” approach is a breath of fresh air to a team that sure needs it right now. While the Flaccos, Boldins and Reeds of the world will be the most talked about for the Ravens this year, it’s the guys like Lardarius Webb, the guys who just “get it”, that will be the key factor if the team is to have success this season.