Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green feels poised for a breakout year. Green showed flashes of his upside as a game-wrecking pass rusher, recording 3.5 sacks and 19 pressures in his rookie season. Still, it was clear Green has another level to reach. Furthermore, he was held back by poor schemes and a lack of talent around him. The Ravens' improved situation and Green having a year of development under his belt should be a game-changer for him, though.
Another factor is his drive to get better. Recently, general manager Eric DeCosta discussed how Green's relentless drive makes him stand out.
"He's a sponge, great mentality; always asking me for feedback, which doesn't matter all the time," DeCosta said. "A lot of guys don't want to ask the general manager how they are playing. They don't always know if they're going to like the answer, but Mike doesn't really seem to care. He works extremely hard... I think he's really gonna benefit from Trey in a lot of respects. I think he's gonna benefit from Jesse. And he's gonna benefit from Weave. And he's gonna benefit from Marlon... So really excited about Mike and where he is, and I do feel like he's gonna make a jump this year."
Mike Green's relentless mindset will help him maximize his upside
For as important as talent is (which, by the way, Green has plenty of), sometimes the difference between a good and a great player is intangibles. How driven are you? Are you open to feedback? Can you get along with your teammates? All of these seemingly little things go a long way, and based on DeCosta's comments, Green is checking every box.
As a younger player, this type of stuff is especially important. It's clear that this, paired with his impressive skill set, makes the Ravens confident about Green having a breakout season, and it's easy to see why.
The talent factor also has to be accounted for; Green led the FBS in sacks as a senior at Marshall. Green is a freaky athlete with an ideal blend of speed and physicality. He was also widely considered to be a first-round talent and was a tremendous value pick for the Ravens at pick 59.
Green's mentality to constantly improve can help him maximize his physical tools and should set the stage for a massive second season.
In his second season, it always felt likely that Green would make some strides. But now it seems like everything is coming together that makes a Green breakout season feel inevitable.
To DeCosta's point, Jesse Minter is a defensive guru who will help maximize Green. Furthermore, playing alongside one of the league's best pass rushers, Trey Hendrickson, will open up more opportunities for Green, as Hendrickson will frequently draw double teams.
Of course, Green isn't perfect. Most notably, he still has room to grow as a run stopper and is process when rushing the passer could get crisper. Thankfully, he showed refined technique when rushing the passer in preseason, including on this sack against the Minnesota Vikings, and as established, he has the right mindset.
After a lackluster year in generating pressure and sacks, the Ravens' defense is set to improve immensely, mainly thanks to Minter and Hendrickson. And without a doubt, Green making a year two jump is another reason to believe in the Ravens' new-look defense.
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