End For JJ?

[RAYvenFan20]

with the depth we have at LB, especially with our first pick, sergio kindle does this mark the final season for Johnson? hes been one of my favorite/ under the radar players in the league. i heard rumors after the draft the the ravens were thinkin of moving jj to ilb. but thats just a rumor and with the young talent we already have there i dont see the move making sense. the ravens could move him to DE but why have kruger bulk up to play there if they are just goin to turn around and put the same stater ahead of him. anyway hope they can find a spot for him. any thoughts? opinions?

[Alexir]

I think JJ will be fine. I think moving him to MLB would be wise post Ray Lewis retirement. I think he is very versatile and I think moving him to DE in the 3-4 would be so darn smart ONLY if Kindle comes along pretty quickly but I think that would be something next year when we lose guys like Pryce and Redding (if we don't resign them or don't cut them).

I like Doulbe J, he is a huge team player and the coaches know that and he will be on this team for a while. I really like idea of him as DE though especially since he was a DT in college. Like I said, very versatile.

[Shammy]

He lines up with his hand in the ground from time to time i dont see why not ... hes too great a player to loose

[Ravenmore74]

I think any of the following can move inside:
1) Barnes
2) JJ
3) Kindle
4) McClain
5) Gooden
6) Ellerbee
7) Krugar

[RAYvenFan20]

[quote name='Shammy' date='19 June 2010 - 06:56 PM' timestamp='1276991818' post='423754']
He lines up with his hand in the ground from time to time i dont see why not ... [b]hes too great a player to loose[/b]
[/quote]


couldnt have said it better... i think he would have no problem at any front 7 postion (probably not NT) and with that kind of versitality, i hope the ravens find a way to continue to use him

[Milton145]

JJ is fine now. Kindle is still a rookie and is learning so unless he makes an immediate impact in the playing time he has this year (bigger than the impact Kruger made) JJ will be the starter.

[Alexir]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='19 June 2010 - 07:59 PM' timestamp='1276991965' post='423755']
I think any of the following can move inside:
[b]1) Barnes[/b]
[b]2) JJ[/b]
3) Kindle
[b]4) McClain
5) Gooden
6) Ellerbee[/b]
7) Krugar
[/quote]


I agree with the ones in bold. Barnes is a great inside rusher.

I'm not big on Kruger, he's leaning to be a bust and needs to prove himself before I'll say where he can play on this defense.

[ed.s52]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='19 June 2010 - 03:59 PM' timestamp='1276991965' post='423755']
I think any of the following can move inside:
1) Barnes
2) JJ
3) Kindle
4) McClain
5) Gooden
6) Ellerbee
7) Krugar
[/quote]

McClain, Gooden, and Ellerbe already play inside.

Kindle wouldnt be good on the inside, he is primarily an outside rusher.

JJ and Barnes maybe, I'd agree with JJ after Ray retires assuming we dont draft a beast of an ILB.

Kruger is bulking up to play DE, what would be the purpose of that if he would move to the ILB position.

[Ravensfan23]

this will not be JJ's final season with the Ravens. As great as Ray is, Ed is, Suggs, Ngata, Mason, Boldin, Flacco, Rice, you need the under the radar guys like JJ who do the dirty work to get you over the hump in the playoff and get you to the Superbowl, and your stars are supposed to win it.

Guys like JJ, Buddy Lee, Chris Chester etc, are the guys that people outside of baltimore won't name, but they mean so much to our team, because the line up in some many different positions

It's like Je. Lewis during our SuperBowl run. He was probably the MVP of our team, but not many people outside of Baltimore give him his just due. You always hear about Ray, Shannon, Rod, Goose, Dilfer, and even Jamal Lewis, but never really hear about Jermine.

JJ has being doing so much for this Ravens defense and just last season he finally got the chance to start showing he can be more then just a dirty role player.

IMO Kindle and any other OLB on this team has a long way to go before they fully just knock JJ off this team or force him to chance a position. Guys like Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain and Paul Kruger were forced to change positions for a reason. JJ is not just some guy that you can be easily out worked or replace.

He's much more valuable then people give him credit for

[PuRock]

First our young guys need to show that they can outplay JJ. Some of the guys show flashes, but all of them are far from being as consistent as JJ.

JJ has nothing to worry about as he has shown the coaching staff that he's consistent and makes some important game changing plays. He's earn the right to be considered a coaches favorite. He'll continue to see significant playing time until the point in time that 3 of the young guys become real players. That's pretty tough odds.

[Kevin Mullins]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='19 June 2010 - 07:59 PM' timestamp='1276991965' post='423755']
I think any of the following can move inside:
1) Barnes
2) JJ
3) Kindle
4) McClain
5) Gooden
6) Ellerbee
7) Krugar
[/quote]

McClain, Gooden, and Ellerbe are already ILBs.

Kruger is too big and bulky (even before DE conversion) to play ILB, as you need lateral quickness and agility to navigate traffic and chase sideline to sideline.

Kindle and Barnes have been outside rushers their entire defensive careers and have shown no skill in drop back situations (one of the most common jobs of an MLB is to drop 3-5 steps and spy/zone).

Far too many people think that pass rushing is there is to LBing. I can see Barnes and McClain being cut this offseason because they are very one dimensional. We can't have 12 linebackers, even if we wanted to.

[Purple Nurple]

How great is it that we are so stacked that we can have these threads?

[ed.s52]

It is spectacular, we knoe all of our players are good and could start on many teams, now we just need to get the least beastly (because they are all beastly) and put them on the bench. It is almost sad how much talent is on our benches but Im sure they wont complain once they get a ring for their fingers, or maybe 2, or maybe 5, its whatever.

[BloodRaven]

He's one of our most consistent defensive players and that's the reason he starts in front of others who are more athletic, however... theres something to be said about taking a freak pass rusher with our first pick. But like Purple Nurple said, this is a good dilemma to have.

[Twoo]

[quote name='Alexir' date='19 June 2010 - 08:06 PM' timestamp='1276992418' post='423758']
I agree with the ones in bold. Barnes is a great inside rusher.

I'm not big on Kruger, he's leaning to be a bust and needs to prove himself before I'll say where he can play on this defense.
[/quote]

Kruger is a player we had no business drafting in the first place.

My opinion on JJ is this year will be the determining factor on whether or not we keep him post 2010. If we start seeing a lot of SK on the outside then I suspect we won't keep him. We drafted SK as his successor.

[eandb17]

Incase you guys don't know JOhnson had an injury all of last season. He toughed it out though and went all 16 games. He then went on to lead the team in sacks. This season he does not have an injury you can only wonder how many sacks he will get , either way JJ will be fine he has 3-5 great years left in him.

[WinnipegRaven]

[quote name='Twoo' date='20 June 2010 - 08:02 AM' timestamp='1277042574' post='423981']

My opinion on JJ is this year will be the determining factor on whether or not we keep him post 2010.
[/quote]

Everytime he gets a chance he performs very well... I think he'll see a lot more playing time this year

[justifythegame]

JJ keeps improving every season, and next year JJ will most likely have his best season yet, he was already better than suggs last year. When he hits FA, he will probably get some offer from a team that the Ravens won't be willing to match. We have had most of our LBs leave via FA when their contracts are up because we always have someone next in line so its not worth it to try and outbid other teams. In all honesty though, if it were up to me, i would re-sign JJ and trade Suggs for a 1st and a 3rd. JJ has a motor, and brings it every single play. He is a guy who worked really hard for us to move from DT to DE to LB, the man gives it his all every offseason. Unlike Suggs who skips workouts, gains like 20 lbs every offseason, signs a 63 million dollar deal and just decides to take a break in the middle of games.

[XxSizzleXx]

He's coming off his best career year I don't see how this is the end for JJ?

[Ed_Reed20]

He turns 29 in August, knows the system and is a versatile player. Kindle is the only guy I see realistically challenging him for playing time but there is a lot Sergio has to learn. J.J.'s play would have to fall off a cliff for him to lose playing time.

[JPerkVA]

JJ isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The FO knows how important he is to our defense. I personally think that JJ will slide inside full time whenever 52 decides to hang it up. JJ is just one of those "lunch pail" guys who just give it their all when they're on the field. I could also see JJ playing DE as well if we were to switch it up and become a base 43 team. He and Suggs on the outside with Ngata and Cody in the middle of a 4 man line?...that's what dreams are made out of. Kindle will play in due time but there is no way he pushes JJ for a big amount of PT unless injuries happen. Great LB depth is a wonderful thing to have with the defense we run. Versatility is part of being a Baltimore Raven.

[Ravensfan23]

Everyone keeps talking about JJ moving inside fulltime once Ray retires. One of the biggest problems with that is JJ is already 29 and Ray shows no signs of retiring soon. I can see Ray playing atleast 2-3 more years, which would make JJ 31-32. Now that's not to say JJ would be too old to move inside, but you'd be asking him to learn a new position 10-11 years deep into his career. That's a tough position to put JJ in.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='19 June 2010 - 07:59 PM' timestamp='1276991965' post='423755']
I think any of the following can move inside:
1) Barnes
2) JJ
3) Kindle
4) McClain
5) Gooden
6) Ellerbee
7) Krugar
[/quote]
I disagree with Barnes Kindle and Krueger. Barnes and Kindle are explosive speed rushers off the edge, and now that Krueger has gained weight and is still trying to gain more, he fits 3-4 DE pretty well, but not ILB.

[JPerkVA]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' date='20 June 2010 - 05:23 PM' timestamp='1277072615' post='424110']
Everyone keeps talking about JJ moving inside fulltime once Ray retires. One of the biggest problems with that is JJ is already 29 and Ray shows no signs of retiring soon. I can see Ray playing atleast 2-3 more years, which would make JJ 31-32. Now that's not to say JJ would be too old to move inside, but you'd be asking him to learn a new position 10-11 years deep into his career. That's a tough position to put JJ in.
[/quote]

Me saying JJ playing inside is based off of us staying as 34 base defensive team. But the more I read about how Matty likes to get pressure with a front 4 also makes me think JJ could play DE on a four man front. Again the key is versatility and if there is one player on our roster that can handle learning a new spot, it'd be JJ. Just my opinion...doesn't mean it's right.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='JPerkVA' date='20 June 2010 - 04:35 PM' timestamp='1277073357' post='424116']
Me saying JJ playing inside is based off of us staying as 34 base defensive team. But the more I read about how Matty likes to get pressure with a front 4 also makes me think JJ could play DE on a four man front. Again the key is versatility and if there is one player on our roster that can handle learning a new spot, it'd be JJ. Just my opinion...doesn't mean it's right.
[/quote]
JJ doesnt beat Tackles in the pass rush, he gets very little pressure which is why we took Kindle this year. To relieve pressure on the other side of Suggs, so Suggs isnt double teamed on every snap.

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='20 June 2010 - 05:22 PM' timestamp='1277076148' post='424124']
JJ doesnt beat Tackles in the pass rush, he gets very little pressure which is why we took Kindle this year. To relieve pressure on the other side of Suggs, so Suggs isnt double teamed on every snap.
[/quote]

Basically what we will probably see this year is JJ in when we are playing the run and Kindle will come in to play the pass to relieve pressure for Suggs. It will take some extreme play to take JJ out of running situations.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

JJ is our second best linebacker. There are better guys at certain things, like Suggs is a better pass rusher and so may Kindle be, but JJ like has been said is very versatile. He's not the best pass rusher but gets the job done. He can drop into coverage, stuff the run, tackles well, gets from side to side swiftly, wraps up.... There isn't too much that really pops out about him, but that's because he does everything pretty well. There's no glaring weakness in his game. He is also too valuable an asset to let go at this point, because if theres injury problems he can fill in at some many spots and we wouldn't see a drop off in production at that position.

He could slide to DE if need be, and have one of our other capable pass rushing LBs like Kindle take his spot. I think he could move inside and be very effective as well. Not only is he a great starter in his regular position, he provides insurance against injury so that no position is a weakness. Being so versatile, he has a great understanding of the overall defense which as we've seen with Ray Lewis is an invaluable asset. Other than Lewis, I think Johnson understands the defensive scheme and sees the field better than anyone. If something were to happen to Lewis for a game or two, JJ can fill in as the eyes and voice of the D. Granted not effectively as Lewis, but then again who is?

Sometimes utility guys who can do it all well are more valuable than a guy who is a stud at one position or at one skill. Kindle may be a better pass rusher, and may steal some time in obvious passing situations, but has a TON of learning to do before he can even think about taking over for JJ. He's probably the most underrated LB in the NFL.

Even if one of the young guys can take his starting OLB spot, because he can fill in at 3 positions effectively, he retains his value as a backup. He could be 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart at OLB, ILB, and DE. Rotating in at 3 different positions he could accumulate nearly as much playing time as he gets as a starter, and it greatly improves the overall defense because we would then have a starting caliber player rotating in at all 3 positions.

[Radinho84]

[quote name='BOLDnPurPnBlacK' date='21 June 2010 - 03:44 AM' timestamp='1277106264' post='424207']
JJ is our second best linebacker. There are better guys at certain things, like Suggs is a better pass rusher and so may Kindle be, but JJ like has been said is very versatile. He's not the best pass rusher but gets the job done. He can drop into coverage, stuff the run, tackles well, gets from side to side swiftly, wraps up.... There isn't too much that really pops out about him, but that's because he does everything pretty well. There's no glaring weakness in his game. He is also too valuable an asset to let go at this point, because if theres injury problems he can fill in at some many spots and we wouldn't see a drop off in production at that position.

He could slide to DE if need be, and have one of our other capable pass rushing LBs like Kindle take his spot. I think he could move inside and be very effective as well. Not only is he a great starter in his regular position, he provides insurance against injury so that no position is a weakness. Being so versatile, he has a great understanding of the overall defense which as we've seen with Ray Lewis is an invaluable asset. Other than Lewis, I think Johnson understands the defensive scheme and sees the field better than anyone. If something were to happen to Lewis for a game or two, JJ can fill in as the eyes and voice of the D. Granted not effectively as Lewis, but then again who is?

Sometimes utility guys who can do it all well are more valuable than a guy who is a stud at one position or at one skill. Kindle may be a better pass rusher, and may steal some time in obvious passing situations, but has a TON of learning to do before he can even think about taking over for JJ. He's probably the most underrated LB in the NFL.

Even if one of the young guys can take his starting OLB spot, because he can fill in at 3 positions effectively, he retains his value as a backup. He could be 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart at OLB, ILB, and DE. Rotating in at 3 different positions he could accumulate nearly as much playing time as he gets as a starter, and it greatly improves the overall defense because we would then have a starting caliber player rotating in at all 3 positions.
[/quote]
you hit it right on the top!!!!
i think the coaches and the team and all the guys of our organisation know exactly what we have in JJ. he would start on every other team and every other team would be glad to have him on the roster!!! like ray says all the time: "we can do all the things!!!" well i gues JJ really can do ALL the things!!!!

he is for sure the most underrated player in the league!!

[Rav'n Maniac]

"Dbl J" is a [b]beast[/b]! Although he is underrated, you don't allow a hard working player with his team 1st spirit, abilities and versatility to slip through your fingers. The team knows this and would never allow it to happen.

As far as our young guns, I would like to see them perform to their [i]expected[/i] abilities on the field, in pads, at game speed during intense situations, before I'll discuss them sliding into a starting role such as JJ's.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' date='20 June 2010 - 06:31 PM' timestamp='1277080263' post='424138']
Basically what we will probably see this year is JJ in when we are playing the run and Kindle will come in to play the pass to relieve pressure for Suggs. It will take some extreme play to take JJ out of running situations.
[/quote]
That and coverage abilities with JJ are off the chart.