Baltimore Ravens: OLB By Committee
The Baltimore Ravens have answers to the questions at the outside linebacker positions:
The Baltimore Ravens have two superstars at the outside linebacker position. Terrell Suggs has been wearing the purple and black since 2003. He has 106.5 career sacks and is one of the greatest Ravens ever. Elvis Dumervil signed with the Ravens in 2013. Dumervil has 96 career sacks, including 17 from 2014. The Ravens have two of the best players this generation has seen.
However there is a catch. Suggs is a 33-year-old outside linebacker coming off a season ending injury. Dumervil is recovering from a foot procedure and is 32. The Ravens are hoping their stars have more in the tank, but they know they are in the final chapters of their careers.
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The Ravens have been proactive. They drafted Za’Darius Smith, Bronson Kaufusi, and Matt Judon in the last two drafts. The Ravens now have a surplus of talent at these positions. The top two outside linebackers are getting up there (at least in their football age). Player rotation is the key to getting the most out of Suggs and Dumervil.
The Ravens need their starters to take slightly less snaps. By doing this Suggs and Dumervil can go all out on every play. You will get more impact on fewer plays. Meanwhile, your young players will get on the job training.
Smith seemed to have everything come together last season. He had 5.5 sacks last season, 3.5 of which came at the end of the year. Smith showed that he has explosive talent. He will only get better with every down of football that he plays.
Kaufusi was a great player for the BYU Cougars. He is a high motor player. He loves getting after the quarterback, but he is also disciplined against the run. We’re talking about a player who had 25.5 sacks and 45.5 tackles for a loss in his collegiate career.
The Ravens may have found their pass rushers of the future in the NFL Draft. I have not even talked about the other talents at this position. Judon is a raw player who could bloom into a great pro. Victor Ochi is perhaps the most buzz worthy undrafted free agent in some time. The Ravens are completely loaded at outside linebacker.
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Suggs and Dumervil still project to be the stars (and the leaders). The take home message is that rotational players will play a big role as well. This OLB by committee also serves as an insurance policy for aging pass rushers.