Jarret Johnson

[berad]

He's one of our starting OLBs, I know, but I don't think he should be. Not on a Defense with the expectations we have.

In my opinion, he's too slow, he lacks pass-rush ability, he doesn't produce in the stats (16 starts with less than 60 tackles, only 2 sacks), he's dreadful in pass coverage, he has no upside (potential), and he lacks the talent to be a full-time starter on our D. He has his good side, though, don't get me wrong. He excels in tackling and run-stopping, he knows pursuit angles and such, he knows the system but that's not enough. He should be relegated to part-time OLB/DE maybe even some DT. He just can't live up to the standards of this Ravens Defense, in my mind.

I'd love to hear some of your guys thoughts on it.

[geo]

I think he did a good job early last season, it was like when Pryce, C-Mac, Rolle was out, he simply produced less.

And it is early last season he has most of his QB-hits, his two sacks and two force fumbles. After the bye, like so many others he has a hard time.

Anyhow I like the idear that he should be used more as a DE. Btw who should replace him? Greisen and then it migth give more room for Suggs and Scott to do their passrush. Well for now I would take Barnes over JJ.

[Bleeding Purple]

I definitely understand the point that he is not up to par with our other staring linebackers, and the fact that he had to replace Adalius Thomas didn't do him any favors. He does deserve to be on the field, however. I remember watching games last year and being impressed with how quickly he got off the line after the snap. He did great any time he played on the line. Maybe that would be a better place for him. As for whether or not he deserves to be a starter, that depends on who we have to replace him. I haven't seen enough of our backups to make that call.

[heapitup247]

You have some solid points. I still think he should start, but on third downs and more than a few yards i agree, his pass defense isnt as good as youd like it to be. His pass rush skills arent as good either. However, he is a beast at stopping the run, and he did a good job of it. I think Barnes particularly would be better on third downs, but half the time on third we'd be in a nickel so we wouldnt need him anyways. I still think he should be a starter, but id start throwing some other guys in there for him on obvious passing downs. Bart and Ray would be our guys in the nickel, so i dont see too much of him(or anyone for that matter not ray or bart) on obvious passing downs anyways.

[neepo13]

I think your being a little harsh on JJ. Suggs didnt produce like he normally does for the same reasons that JJ, didnt seem extra special. The injuries killed us. Our linebackers are a product of the system, Thomas was no exception and neither will JJ. I think once we get healthy, he'll be fine. You also have to factor in the fact that last year was the first time he was called to play more then 50% of the snaps on defense and the first year he did most of it at LB. Remember he's a project LB that was originally a DE. Maybe I am over optimistic but I think last season was an adjustment period.

[ragnorok99]

I think your being a little harsh on JJ. Suggs didnt produce like he normally does for the same reasons that JJ, didnt seem extra special. The injuries killed us. Our linebackers are a product of the system, Thomas was no exception and neither will JJ. I think once we get healthy, he'll be fine. You also have to factor in the fact that last year was the first time he was called to play more then 50% of the snaps on defense and the first year he did most of it at LB. Remember he's a project LB that was originally a DE. Maybe I am over optimistic but I think last season was an adjustment period.

I agree. I think his strength against the run and overall toughness make up for his faults. In my opinion, he should remain a starter.

With that said, it would be great to see Barnes get some more snaps on obvious passing downs.

[neepo13]

I agree. I think his strength against the run and overall toughness make up for his faults. In my opinion, he should remain a starter.

With that said, it would be great to see Barnes get some more snaps on obvious passing downs.

I want to see more of Barnes as well. I think Barnes may be eased in to phase out one of our LB's. Remember we have 3 guys up for free agency next year and they are all starters. We cant keep all 3. Barnes may be taking the place of one of them, hopefully Scott but only because I couldnt bare seeing Ray or Terrell go.

[SupaBwandin]

ANTWAN BARNES!

Ill love him always for the "punter incident"

[ragnorok99]

He's one of our starting OLBs, I know, but I don't think he should be. Not on a Defense with the expectations we have.

In my opinion, he's too slow, he lacks pass-rush ability, he doesn't produce in the stats (16 starts with less than 60 tackles, only 2 sacks), he's dreadful in pass coverage, he has no upside (potential), and he lacks the talent to be a full-time starter on our D. He has his good side, though, don't get me wrong. He excels in tackling and run-stopping, he knows pursuit angles and such, he knows the system but that's not enough. He should be relegated to part-time OLB/DE maybe even some DT. He just can't live up to the standards of this Ravens Defense, in my mind.

I'd love to hear some of your guys thoughts on it.

I'd like to point out something about his stats: it's hard for an outside linebacker in this system to really rack up tackles. Ryan's 3-4 is designed to funnel runners to Ray and Bart on the inside, provided the ball carrier actually gets past Gregg and Ngata.

Gregg and Ngata had 83 and 63 tackles, respectively, making them the league's #1 and #4 tackling DTs. Throw in Ray and you have a lot of competition for stats. Heck, Ed Reed only had 39 tackles last season, simply because ball carriers got gobbled up by the aforementioned 3 players.

It doesn't help Jarret's tackle total that plays have a relatively small chance of going his way--JJ plays on the outside, so if the ball carrier goes up the middle or to the other side, JJ will be out of position before the play even begins. That's not his fault. As you pointed out, JJ is an excellent tackler--when he has the oppurtunity.

And finally, Terrell Suggs had 78 tackles. That's only 1.25 more tackles per game than Johnson. Suggs had 3 more sacks, yes, but he rushes more often since it's his specialty. Not saying JJ would put up the same sack stats given the oppurtunity, just saying it isn't JJ's job.

Edit--Yeah, Ngata's technically an "end," but he acts like a tackle in practice. Here's where I got my DT stats: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/bypositi...p;timeframe=All

[#1 D]

[whatever stated above this post]

yeah, you're right, but Jarrett isn't really a "superstar" player like the other ravens. Our defense is so good, that even a solid player like Jarrett Johnson would be sort of a "weak link" to our defense, as rolle was 2 seasons ago (given how good of a CB he is anyways).

[berad]

[whatever stated above this post]

yeah, you're right, but Jarrett isn't really a "superstar" player like the other ravens. Our defense is so good, that even a solid player like Jarrett Johnson would be sort of a "weak link" to our defense, as rolle was 2 seasons ago (given how good of a CB he is anyways).

True but he's not like the LBs we're used to, guys who can do it all. He has numerous glaring weakness and he starts at, traditionally, the strongest position on our D.

I admit, his lack of stats have something to do with injury and scheming but it's got more to do with talent. He only had 2 sacks and 2 passes defensed. That's unacceptable, our Defense demands the best, and I'm sorry to say, but JJ is not the best.

Replacing him is more difficult. We have a plethora of young, talented LBs but they're all very inexperienced. Tavares Gooden looks good, Antwan Barnes is an incredible pass-rusher with unrivaled speed off the edge, he reminds me of Terrell Suggs, he just needs to develop his game in the other aspects of being a OLB/DE. Prescott Burgess looked decent on special teams last year along with Edgar Jones, when they were lucky enough to suit up. Jones might be more suited for the DL or ILB but Burgess is the true mold of an LB. I'd like to see their potential rather than Johnson. I frankly don't feel he can be a full-time starter on this Defense.

[SupaBwandin]

yeah i change the whole D in madden games.

I switch Barnes to Lolb

Scott to Rolb

Suggs to RE

Ngata to 1st DT

Gregg to 2nd DT

and play 4-3

[MKdave]

yeah i change the whole D in madden games.

I switch Barnes to Lolb

Scott to Rolb

Suggs to RE

Ngata to 1st DT

Gregg to 2nd DT

and play 4-3

In madden that's all well and good because you generally blitz atleast 2 linebackers even in a 4-3, but in real life 4-3 OLBs rarely blitz, so that doesn't maximze Barnes' pass rushing skills, and Tavares Gooden and Jarret Johnson are better at being the orthodox linebacker that 4-3 OLBs need to be.

[FerrariFan87]

If he earns it then why not?

[Borris]

He's one of our starting OLBs, I know, but I don't think he should be. Not on a Defense with the expectations we have.

In my opinion, he's too slow, he lacks pass-rush ability, he doesn't produce in the stats (16 starts with less than 60 tackles, only 2 sacks), he's dreadful in pass coverage, he has no upside (potential), and he lacks the talent to be a full-time starter on our D. He has his good side, though, don't get me wrong. He excels in tackling and run-stopping, he knows pursuit angles and such, he knows the system but that's not enough. He should be relegated to part-time OLB/DE maybe even some DT. He just can't live up to the standards of this Ravens Defense, in my mind.

I'd love to hear some of your guys thoughts on it.

Well if you really look at it, JJ is already kind of a part time starter. When we go into a nickle formation, he is the linebacker that gets pulled off the field to bring in the nickleback.

On another note, I thought this was interesting last year on 3rd and long. When it was an obvious passing down on third down, I notice that they actually brought in Barnes and put him in at the nose tackle position. Now I know Rex likes to do some crazy things with the defense, (For instance in the 06 home game verus the Bengals, Kelly Greg was actually covering Ocho Cinco on a pass pattern *Don't believe me, look it up, 2nd Quarter CJ runs a fly pattern and burns Greg, but Palmer is sacked*) but it actually seemed pretty effective and I would like to see it used more this year, as it seemed to give Barnes a one on one with the Center which allowed Barnes to force the qb out of the pocket.

[T-Sizzle55]

I think he should definately be a back up. in 2006 he did well when Rex subbed him in for someone to get rest. You know how our offense used to go 3 and out and put the defense right back on the field. He is similar to AD in height and weight but does not have the skills and knowledge of the game AD had. At the end of the play I used to always see his standing. Used to drive me crazy. No one was standing! Even Rex somehow was in the middle of the pile. I would rather put him in as DE for Suggs. Take Suggs off the line and put him back into the position asOLB where he averaged over 11 sacks a season, had 10 FF, and 3 INTs.

Let JJ and Dwan Edwards take that spot at DE or leave Suggs alone and put my man Barnes into JJ's spot. This kid is rediculous. Extremely quick first step, huge burst off the edge, and great nonstop motor. He holds the Florida International career sack record with 23. Finished his career as only the 6th player in Golden Panthers history to amass more that 200 tackles (224). Returned his 1st career INT for a 51-yard TD in 2004. Intercepted 2 others, returning both for TDs. Blocked 3 kicks, posted 6 [profanity deleted], and 2 FRs, and holds the Golden Panthers all-time record with 57 Tackle for a loss, shattering the previous mark of 29. He had very limited play last season, but still managed to sack Tom Brady getting past probably the best O-Line in the NFL.

Please! Let this kid play!!

[smashmouth]

Its been reported that JJ has been working hard in OTA's, and Improving alot.

[Bullrush]

He's best suited for a backup role on our defense. He's a solid pass rushing DE in obvious passing situations but i don't think he should play linebacker. He basically lacks everything. Tackling skills, speed, cover skills. Let Antwan Barnes take over, he's more dangerous and has a lot more upside.

[stan]

J. J. is a tough, emotional player but lacks mobility & upper body strength. You can take a talented guy and mke him strong but you can't take a strong guy and make him talented. He's replacing A. Thomas who had a lot of talent but lacked experience. J. J. just doesn't have that kind of talent.

I like Edgar Jones for that position.

[raven43]

I always wondered who we were going to replace Adalius Thomas with. I knew we wouldn't settle for JJ. So of course I thought Tavares Gooden would take over. But apperently not according to the depth chart....