Two Ravens defensive players come up against each other in this matchup of our Legends Bracket
Two very important Ravens defenders match up here in the second round of our Ravens Legends Bracket. It is inside linebacker C.J. Mosley vs. defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. In just three seasons, Mosley has developed into one of the best young linebackers in the league. He is poised to lead the Ravens defense for years to come. Ngata was a staple on the defensive line, plugging holes and terrorizing offensive lineman.
Let’s take a look at the matchup.
Related Story: Ravens Legends Bracket: Torrey Smith Vs. Jarret Johnson
Why Mosley made it to round 2:
After the retirement of Ray Lewis, the Ravens were missing a huge hole in the middle of the defense. It is hard to replace the best middle linebacker of all time, but Ozzie Newsome found a way to do it. He went to his Alabama roots and found a great young linebacker in C.J. Mosley.
In just three seasons Mosley has only missed two games. He’s racked up 232 total tackles and six interceptions. His ability to play the run and pass game makes him a major threat on the defense. He has used his tremendous athleticism to rob quarterbacks with some impressive interceptions.
It’s clear that Mosley is developing into a fantastic linebacker and is mature beyond his years. Being one of the leaders of the defense at such a young age shows how much trust the coaching staff has in Mosley. With Zach Orr forced into retirement, Mosley is going to have a much bigger role this upcoming season. He is coming off offseason shoulder surgery, but should be ready by the start of the season. Look for him to be making plays all over the field in 2017.
Why Ngata made it to round 2:
If you’re an offensive lineman, the last thing you want is to come up against Haloti Ngata. The 331 pound nose was drafted in 2006 by the Ravens and spent nine years on the team. During that time, he was a very solid player. Ngata’s size and stature allowed him to be a rock on the defensive line. The five time Pro-Bowler was a fan favorite in Baltimore. If you go to Ravens games today, you will still see people wearing #92 jerseys.
If you look at the stats, nothing about Ngata is out of this world. But what the stats don’t show is all of the double teams that he demanded and all the dirty work he did. This opened up holes for Ray Lewis and the rest of the Ravens defense. Not to mention, it’s always fun watching the big man run down the field when he intercepted a pass.
It is a shame the Ravens traded Ngata away to the Detroit Lions, but that is how football goes. Hopefully when his career is over he will come back to Baltimore and retire as a Raven. I know for a fact the city would welcome him back with open arms. That is how much we love Haloti Ngata.
Winner: Ngata
Ngata won by a unanimous vote by our Ebony Bird staff. While this may seem a little controversial, we are doing this bracket by what the players have done for the Ravens, not by what they will do. It wouldn’t make any sense to try to predict the future.
Next: Baltimore Ravens: 5 Post NFL Draft Position Battles
C.J. Mosley is a tremendous talent, but as of right now, Haloti Ngata is the better Ravens legend. Ngata has put in the time and done more for the organization. That is not saying that Mosley will eventually surpass him. By the way he has played in his young career, I have no doubt that it could happen. But for now, the edge goes to Ngata and he will advance on to the next round.