Who replaces Suggs?

[ClintLB8]

I personally believe that Upshaw fits more at SAM and Kruger fits more at Rush. Upshaw has a chance to come in a be an upgrade to Jarrett Johnson at SAM. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Upshaw play rush and be effective but I think the SAM position in our defense was made for Upshaw and his athleticism. A lot of people question his pass coverage, I however, do not think it will be a problem. With Kruger's pass rush ability, I think he could be a solid fill in for Suggs while he heals. Either way, I believe it is Upshaw and Kruger both starting. I do not think they will bring in anyone or have someone else start.

DE - Art Jones/Pernell McPhee
NT - Terrance Cody, Ma'ake Kemoeatu
DT - Haloti Ngata, Ryan McBean
SAM - Courtney Upshaw, Sergio Kindle
LILB - Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe
RILB - Jameel McClain, Brendon A.
Rush - Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle

[sameoldbull]

[quote name='ClintLB8' timestamp='1336466736' post='1073842']
I personally believe that Upshaw fits more at SAM and Kruger fits more at Rush. Upshaw has a chance to come in a be an upgrade to Jarrett Johnson at SAM. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Upshaw play rush and be effective but I think the SAM position in our defense was made for Upshaw and his athleticism. A lot of people question his pass coverage, I however, do not think it will be a problem. With Kruger's pass rush ability, I think he could be a solid fill in for Suggs while he heals. Either way, I believe it is Upshaw and Kruger both starting. I do not think they will bring in anyone or have someone else start.

DE - Art Jones/Pernell McPhee
NT - Terrance Cody, Ma'ake Kemoeatu
DT - Haloti Ngata, Ryan McBean
SAM - Courtney Upshaw, Sergio Kindle
LILB - Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe
RILB - Jameel McClain, Brendon A.
Rush - Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle
[/quote]

I agree that Upshaw might best fit as a SAM linebacker, but then again he is a rookie and not used to the complex schemes of especially the Ravens. Paul Kruger is the veteran and hopefully has figured out our playbook as of now. I think he will play the SAM linebacker at the beginning of the season and when Upshaw picks up the playbook they might switch sides. And yes I agree. OLB don't come cheap and we are so close to the cap that it hurts.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='ClintLB8' timestamp='1336466736' post='1073842']
I personally believe that Upshaw fits more at SAM and Kruger fits more at Rush. Upshaw has a chance to come in a be an upgrade to Jarrett Johnson at SAM. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Upshaw play rush and be effective but I think the SAM position in our defense was made for Upshaw and his athleticism. A lot of people question his pass coverage, I however, do not think it will be a problem. With Kruger's pass rush ability, I think he could be a solid fill in for Suggs while he heals. Either way, I believe it is Upshaw and Kruger both starting. I do not think they will bring in anyone or have someone else start.

DE - Art Jones/Pernell McPhee
NT - Terrance Cody, Ma'ake Kemoeatu
DT - Haloti Ngata, Ryan McBean
SAM - Courtney Upshaw, Sergio Kindle
LILB - Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe
RILB - Jameel McClain, Brendon A.
Rush - Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle
[/quote]
For the most part, I completely agree with your post. I can see Upshaw play either side really, but the most probable outcome to me is Upshaw at the SAM.

With that said, the place where we disagree is the RUSH linebacker and its depth. Unless we are playing a left-handed QB, I don't see Kindle in that spot due to his hearing loss. Other than that, we agree.

[redrum52]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1336345091' post='1072977']
Amazing how much credit people are giving Sizzle now after his DPOY season. After the 2009 season 75% of you were saying he wasn't worth his contract, hahaha too funny.
[/quote]

People forget real quick, many were giving him the Foxworth treatment. They acted like none of his prior stats mattered cause of one off year after he went into an offseason with a bum shoulder. I hope we start Mcphee, though I keep seeing people having Jones due to a bigger body. Mcphee isn't that bad against the run and I see where it makes sense, but I say try and get him acclimated with being an every down player.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='jagster' timestamp='1336417112' post='1073466']
[u]no one[/u]
[/quote] so do we play with 10 on defense?

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336479523' post='1073873']
so do we play with 10 on defense?
[/quote]
Yeah, man. What's the point of replacing someone if we can't get the same production from them? Might as well not even try. I mean it's not like Kruger, Kindle, and Upshaw have any talent.

[baltravens]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1336478038' post='1073865']
For the most part, I completely agree with your post. I can see Upshaw play either side really, but the most probable outcome to me is Upshaw at the SAM.

With that said, the place where we disagree is the RUSH linebacker and its depth. Unless we are playing a left-handed QB, I don't see Kindle in that spot due to his hearing loss. Other than that, we agree.
[/quote]
Don't forget about McAdoo, he still may play a part.

[codizzle]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1336506748' post='1074111']

Yeah, man. What's the point of replacing someone if we can't get the same production from them? Might as well not even try. I mean it's not like Kruger, Kindle, and Upshaw have any talent.
[/quote]
Our defense will be really shorthanded in a few years then ha

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1336507799' post='1074121']
Our defense will be really shorthanded in a few years then ha
[/quote]be running round without an olb/de, FS, ILB, DE/Nt when Ngata goes... better improve the offense because we wont keep anyone out

[admartian]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336508674' post='1074129']
be running round without an olb/de, FS, ILB, DE/Nt when Ngata goes... better improve the offense because we wont keep anyone out
[/quote]I still think we have a top 10 defense with7 men on the field!

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1336345277' post='1072979']
I can see that, due to the fact that Kruger is probably better in coverage. On the other hand, Upshaw is likely a better run stopper, so I'd like him to be on the strong side. We can move em both around though. We moved Suggs, Kruger, and JJ around a bit last season so I think there's a possibility of the same thing happening.
[/quote]

Out of the two Kruger is currently the only proven pass rusher at this level but he doesn't have the same power and leverage Upshaw has to set the edge, although I've read projections on Upshaw taking Suggs spot because he's quicker.

[Blex64]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1336532815' post='1074727']
Out of the two Kruger is currently the only proven pass rusher at this level but he doesn't have the same power and leverage Upshaw has to set the edge, although I've read projections on Upshaw taking Suggs spot because he's quicker.
[/quote]

I think whoever would have gotten the start in JJ's spot sticks to that side to start acclimating to it. Whoever the #3 is will take Suggs' spot.

[The Raven]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1336532815' post='1074727']
Out of the two Kruger is currently the only proven pass rusher at this level but he doesn't have the same power and leverage Upshaw has to set the edge, although I've read projections on Upshaw taking Suggs spot because he's quicker.
[/quote]

I think it would be beneficial to keep Kruger on Ngata's side. Kruger could benefit from Ngata's run stopping ability. Upshaw will be a solid run stopper, so wouldn't need extra help.

[Markus92]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1336345091' post='1072977']
Amazing how much credit people are giving Sizzle now after his DPOY season. After the 2009 season 75% of you were saying he wasn't worth his contract, hahaha too funny.
[/quote] lol I was thinking the same thing.....

[Yatagarasu]

[url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/05/04/terrell-suggs-covering-the-loss/"]http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/05/04/terrell-suggs-covering-the-loss/[/url]

This does help give some clues of how the team will prepare with Suggs out for at least half the season.

Suggs according to PFF was the highest rated LB as he can do everything well by rushing the passer, stopping the run, and dropping back in coverage.

There's some high hopes that Paul Kruger can provide pressure as a pass rusher because he did perform well as a situational pass rusher last season. Also, to help bring some pressure, Pernell McPhee could have a big boost with more stats as he was one of the more effective interior pass rushers.

As for run defense, Courtney Upshaw will have to take over Jarret Johnson role as a Strong Side LB. Upshaw's strength is setting the edge and stopping anything going through him.

For dropping back into coverage, this might be uncertain because Paul Kruger hasn't shown much dropping back as a situational pass rusher and Courtney Upshaw hasn't done much of it in college either.

Sergio Kindle and Michael McAdoo are wild cards as they have shown potential, but haven't gotten on the field consistently yet.

Suggs was a complete package and replacing him will be tough because we don't have a OLB that can do what he did. Therefore, our team has to use what players we got and use them according to their strength.