Who Is Starting Next To Ray?

[Mahatma_Sloth]

Just wondering if anyone knows if its Ellerby or McClain?

[AwakenTheDemon]

We cloned Ray Lewis instead, and also made him 24 again. So Ray Lewis will be starting next to Ray Lewis.

In all seriousness, we still don't know who's won the starting position next to Ray.

[Ed_Reed20]

It's going to be Jameel McClain but I see him sitting in certain situations for Ellerbe or Gooden. He didn't suit up along with the rest of starters against the Rams signifies he "won" the Jack job.

[AwakenTheDemon]

Last I read, McClain won't say that he won the starting job. Lemme see if I can find the link again.

[theFRANCHISE]

Jameel McClain refuses to say he's won the starting job, but it's been pretty obvious, especially since he sat out Week 4 of the preseason with the rest of the starters. We won't officially find out until kickoff of Week 1, but it's all but settled that McClain will start alongside Ray Lewis.

[berad]

Going into the preseason, I thought it would have been Ellerbe - he was very solid when starting, last season. But the coaches have, apparently, sided with McClain. And I don't really care who's there, as long as they perform.

[Milton145]

I hope they don't bench Ellerbe just because of character issues though. I hope McClain won the job for simply being better at linebacker than them.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Milton145' timestamp='1283731723' post='465986']
I hope they don't bench Ellerbe just because of character issues though. I hope McClain won the job for simply being better at linebacker than them.
[/quote]

Jameel has shined all off-season but part of Ellerbe's demotion was because he got a big head after last season(according to Mike Preston).

[-Truth-]

[quote name='Milton145' timestamp='1283731723' post='465986']
I hope they don't bench Ellerbe just because of character issues though. I hope McClain won the job for simply being better at linebacker than them.
[/quote]
I wouldn't call it a character issue just yet. It was his first TD as a professional football player, and his celebration was a bit excessive. When Harbaugh was asked about how the situation in St. Louis affects Ellerbe's status with the team, he said it didn't, and it just served as a learning opportunity. He then went to say that, "Dannell's a class guy." Seems to me that it was just a one time blunder, not a continuation of disruptive behavior.

[lgcs27288]

Flacco in shotgun formation?

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='-Truth-' timestamp='1283732570' post='466001']
I wouldn't call it a character issue just yet. It was his first TD as a professional football player, and his celebration was a bit excessive. When Harbaugh was asked about how the situation in St. Louis affects Ellerbe's status with the team, he said it didn't, and it just served as a learning opportunity. He then went to say that, "Dannell's a class guy." Seems to me that it was just a one time blunder, not a continuation of disruptive behavior.
[/quote]
That's the way I'm looking at it as well. I don't think that one excessive TD celebration was the make-or-break moment for Ellerbe; I think McClain just plain outperformed both Ellerbe and Gooden.

Speaking specifically to the celebration, I can't say I blame Ellerbe for having done it for his first career TD (even if it was only preseason), but at the same time, I admit that it was a borderline taunt and that's where it was viewed as excessive.

[scrock]

Ellerbe should have known that holding out the ball and stopping right before the goal line was going to 'cause some drama. It's not a good thing to do for various reason but most importantly you don't want to get your boss mad at you, he might be in Harbaugh's doghouse now.

Ellerbe did play good football at the end of last season but McClain has taken his spot for now.

[Bltravens]

I read on one of the Ravens Insiders that Harbaugh and some of the coaches were disappointed in the way Ellerbe handles practice. That he doesn't go all out and doesnt handle it very professionally...Ill look for the link again but dont doo doo on me if i dont find it cuz i swear i read it lol.

[scrock]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1283734725' post='466024']
I read on one of the Ravens Insiders that Harbaugh and some of the coaches were disappointed in the way Ellerbe handles practice. That he doesn't go all out and doesnt handle it very professionally...Ill look for the link again but dont doo doo on me if i dont find it cuz i swear i read it lol.
[/quote]

It that's true and if he ever wants to be more than a backup, he'll change his attitude towards practice. He has to show that he can handle success and that he can show humility.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1283734725' post='466024']
I read on one of the Ravens Insiders that Harbaugh and some of the coaches were disappointed in the way Ellerbe handles practice. That he doesn't go all out and doesnt handle it very professionally...Ill look for the link again but dont doo doo on me if i dont find it cuz i swear i read it lol.
[/quote]
You'd think an undrafted free agent would have more motivation to work harder than the next guy. Assuming that the reports of Ellerbe's work ethic are true, then perhaps it's appropriate that a fellow undrafted free agent in McClain would take his place.

[RavensAllTheWay]

I must say Jameel really stepped it up with the chances he got. But I'm not really sure what happened to Ellerbe, he didn't show the same drive and passion he showed last year, regardless of the limited opportunities he had here in the PS.

But it doesn't matter to me which one starts because we've always been good at not just training LBs to become much better but using them in different situations.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' timestamp='1283735326' post='466027']
I must say Jameel really stepped it up with the chances he got. But I'm not really sure what happened to Ellerbe, he didn't show the same drive and passion he showed last year, regardless of the limited opportunities he had here in the PS.

But it doesn't matter to me which one starts because we've always been good at not just training LBs to become much better but using them in different situations.
[/quote]
Yeah, the designated starters on this defense don't really matter much since the majority of positions on the field are rotated situationally anyway. The defense makes liberal use of its packages and substitutions, so most guys on the bench will see time on the field in some capacity. The starting designation just determines who'll get more snaps than the next guy, and also helps some players trigger escalators and incentives in their contracts.

[Jabara]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1283734725' post='466024']
I read on one of the Ravens Insiders that Harbaugh and some of the coaches were disappointed in the way Ellerbe handles practice. That he doesn't go all out and doesnt handle it very professionally...Ill look for the link again but dont doo doo on me if i dont find it cuz i swear i read it lol.
[/quote]
That's pretty much what I was going to mention, it's very possible that J. McClain is just in better football shape.
Harbaugh talks about that a lot, conditioning, work ethic, etc.
It's just one of those, "situational situations" that he also talks about.

[ROH522155]

[quote name='lgcs27288' timestamp='1283732951' post='466004']
Flacco in shotgun formation?
[/quote]

Thats very funny.

[Mick0311]

The fact that we are even debating this is awesome to me. We have some serious depth on this team at some key positions.

[Milton145]

I know it's not Raven-like for him to not go all out in practice, but if McClain doesn't perform as well as Ellerbe did last year (note I'm not counting out or doubting McClain's abilities) then I think we'd have to start Ellerbe, give him more PT than the other LBs, etc. if we want to win a Superbowl this year.

With that said, I feel for Gooden since he isn't even in the conversation of starting next to Ray right now it seems. Hopefully he performs well on ST.

[scrock]

[quote name='Milton145' timestamp='1283740647' post='466056']
I know it's not Raven-like for him to not go all out in practice, but if McClain doesn't perform as well as Ellerbe did last year (note I'm not counting out or doubting McClain's abilities) then I think we'd have to start Ellerbe, give him more PT than the other LBs, etc. if we want to win a Superbowl this year.

With that said, I feel for Gooden since he isn't even in the conversation of starting next to Ray right now it seems. Hopefully he performs well on ST.
[/quote]

Gooden never seemed to own the position when he got his chance to start last year. They say he's good in coverage but every time I see him he's getting beat. He's also not very strong against the run, the one thing he does have going for him is he's very fast and athletic. He must remain healthy though, he's known to be injury prone.

[Mahatma_Sloth]

Thanx everyone!!! i just need to grab 1 more LB for my fantasy league and figured that, guys that line up next to ray seem to be pretty successful