ESPN Article about "Sample Size All Stars" ...

[Gordo52]

Interesting read about Jimmy Smith and Paul Kruger...

First on the list was Jimmy Smith...

[quote] In the "Football Outsiders Almanac 2012," we rank cornerbacks in our charting stats if they have at least 40 pass targets or eight games started. As a rookie, Smith had just 31 targets and two games started. If he had qualified for our rankings, he would have come out with the best success rate in the NFL, 68 percent, and his 6.1 yards allowed per pass would rank in the top 20. He is a work in progress -- particularly having trouble against Malcom Floyd in Week 15 -- but the talent is obvious. He'll be a starter for Baltimore on opening day. [/quote]

Second was Paul Kruger...

[quote]
Smith is going to need to come up big in 2012 if the Ravens defense is going to overcome the injury to Terrell Suggs That's even truer for Kruger, who will replace Suggs in the starting lineup. Last season's performance suggests that Kruger is dangerous. He appeared in the defensive play-by-play only 17 times, but 13 of those plays were what we categorize as "defeats" -- a loss of yardage, a turnover or a stop on third down. That includes 5.5 sacks, two plays where he tackled a receiver a yard short on third down and a couple tackles that prevented conversions on third-down draws. Kruger also had six quarterback hits and 15.5 hurries. He is listed as the No. 1 right outside linebacker, so he should get more playing time. [/quote]

[The Raven]

Love hearing this kinda stuff about our unknown or under appreciated players. I'm ecstatic to see Kruger in an every down role.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1343266367' post='1103245']
Love hearing this kinda stuff about our unknown or under appreciated players. I'm ecstatic to see Kruger in an every down role.
[/quote]
Plus they were first and second on the list! Surprising since it's ESPN.

[H8R]

I KNOW Paul will be a hell of a player this year... Eveyone has been giving JJ hand relief... People forget... He was a DE coming into the league and even then, he didn't get any starting time until AD left for NE. Kruger is more athletic then JJ ever was. I think he's got more talent overall, honestly. People say that JJ set the edge soo well, but I think he was a product of the under rated C. Redd for the last 2 years IMO. Very few times JJ had to fight double teams.... yet, he had troubles getting to the QB. JJ got paid a kings ransom.... He got overpaid, watch... If Paul stays healthy, he'll have 8-10 sacks and a pick and a few forced fumbles... Who wants to take this bet?

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1343267268' post='1103252']
I KNOW Paul will be a hell of a player this year... Eveyone has been giving JJ hand relief... People forget... He was a DE coming into the league and even then, he didn't get any starting time until AD left for NE. Kruger is more athletic then JJ ever was. I think he's got more talent overall, honestly. People say that JJ set the edge soo well, but I think he was a product of the under rated C. Redd for the last 2 years IMO. Very few times JJ had to fight double teams.... yet, he had troubles getting to the QB. JJ got paid a kings ransom.... He got overpaid, watch... If Paul stays healthy, he'll have 8-10 sacks and a pick and a few forced fumbles... Who wants to take this bet?
[/quote]

I'm a Double J fan, but I have a question. If the NFL is becoming such a QB driven pass happy league, why is it so important that we are missing the edge setting abilities of JJ?

Now on to Kruger. I was sooo happy to see Kruger do his thang last season. He didn't have many stats, but you saw Kruger in the backfield constantly. On some of Suggs sacks, the QB was trying to avoid Kruger. 5.5 sacks and 15.5 QB hurries, that's really good. If he can turn some of those, just missed sacks into sacks, then he'll get 10+ sacks easily imo.

Kruger should have been sharing time with JJ, but Mattison didn't like taking his starters off the field, which is why everyone was tried in that Texans game in 2010. Kruger will be a terror this season.

[Ed_Reed20]

I can definitely see Kruger hitting double digit sacks in the coming season. But even if he doesn't, should create a ton of pressure.

[Yatagarasu]

If Paul Kruger reaches double digit sacks, then it might be hard to resign him because passing league and teams are desperate for pass rushers.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Corvus Amplus' timestamp='1343278941' post='1103299']
If Paul Kruger reaches double digit sacks, then it might be hard to resign him because passing league and teams are desperate for pass rushers.
[/quote]

Joe is going to get 15+ a year, theres little chance we get to retain Kruger and Ed Reed.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1343281813' post='1103307']


Joe is going to get 15+ a year, theres little chance we get to retain Kruger and Ed Reed.
[/quote]
Plus Oher and Cary will be free agents.

[arnie_uk]

Oher isn't a free agent he signed a five year deal

[Gordo52]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1343286785' post='1103319']
Oher isn't a free agent he signed a five year deal
[/quote]
Could've sworn I read somewhere that he's in a contract year.

[Played]

[b]2013 Free Agents[/b]
Joe Flacco
Ed Reed
Cary Williams
Paul Kruger
Bryant McKinnie
Sean Considine
Dannell Ellerbe
Ryan McBean
Maake Kemoeatu
Tony Wragge
Curtis Painter
[b]Restricted Free Agents[/b]
Ed Dickson
Dennis Pitta
LaQuan Williams
Arthur Jones
Danny Gorrer
Ramon Harewood
Emanuel Cook
Morgan Cox
David Reed
[b]Exclusive Rights Free Agent[/b]
Albert McClellan
Sergio Kindle
Josh Bynes

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1343287322' post='1103321']
Could've sworn I read somewhere that he's in a contract year.
[/quote]Yea on here, everyone keeps saying it, and i keep correcting them but no one seems to take it in. Drafted in 09, first round draft pick, 5 years, FA after the 2013 season, ie in 2014

[flynismo]

I remember people calling Kruger a bust. Glad those people are quiet now. All Kruger has ever needed was an opportunity.

The Jimmy and Kruger are two of my favorite young guys and will play huge roles on this defense. I think Jimmy will be more "important" this year

[berad]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1343310830' post='1103371']
I remember people calling Kruger a bust. Glad those people are quiet now. All Kruger has ever needed was an opportunity.

The Jimmy and Kruger are two of my favorite young guys and will play huge roles on this defense. I think Jimmy will be more "important" this year
[/quote]

I remember I said he [i]'wasn't a 3-down player yet'[/i] a few years ago and you went berserk

[H8R]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1343310830' post='1103371']
I remember people calling Kruger a bust. Glad those people are quiet now. All Kruger has ever needed was an opportunity.

The Jimmy and Kruger are two of my favorite young guys and will play huge roles on this defense. I think Jimmy will be more "important" this year
[/quote]

I too have been a PK supporter! I feel PK made JJ expendable, and I also feel he'll prove it this year.

[Bltravens]

It remains to be seen if he can be a 3 down player from a conditioning stand point and if his pass rush ability takes a hit. Its easy to pass rush when you come off the bench for 3rd downs and you can just go balls to the wall, its a lot more difficult when you're on snap 55.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1343323624' post='1103528']
It remains to be seen if he can be a 3 down player from a conditioning stand point and if his pass rush ability takes a hit. Its easy to pass rush when you come off the bench for 3rd downs and you can just go balls to the wall, its a lot more difficult when you're on snap 55.
[/quote]
Agreed. Hopefully Kindle can contribute any way this season so Kruger and Upshaw could get some breaks... We did just sign 2 OLBs but still, we kind of need him too.

[flynismo]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1343311137' post='1103375']


I remember I said he [i]'wasn't a 3-down player yet'[/i] a few years ago and you went berserk
[/quote]

Oh wow, haha...didnt we argue for like two days over him? Funny thing was we basically agreed

[ellicottraven]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1343265785' post='1103242']
Interesting read about Jimmy Smith and Paul Kruger...

First on the list was Jimmy Smith...



Second was Paul Kruger...
[/quote]Thanks man! Your post made me swell with anticipation and pride!

[Gordo52]

[quote name='ellicottraven' timestamp='1343365384' post='1103932']
Thanks man! Your post made me swell with anticipation and pride!
[/quote]
Haha no problem. Me too.

It's almost cruel that we have to wait another 40 some days, I know it will drive me crazy watching everyone play on Sunday and then having to wait another day for us to play on monday night!

[BloodRaven]

I'm keen to see what kind of player Kruger really is, can he stop the run like JJ? can he play 1200 snaps without wearing down? does he have flexibility of the elite rushers? is he a single or double digit sack artist?

[cursona pirate]

[quote name='Played' timestamp='1343305192' post='1103338']
[b]2013 Free Agents[/b]
Joe Flacco
Ed Reed
Cary Williams
Paul Kruger
Bryant McKinnie
Sean Considine
Dannell Ellerbe
Ryan McBean
Maake Kemoeatu
Tony Wragge
Curtis Painter
[b]Restricted Free Agents[/b]
Ed Dickson
Dennis Pitta
LaQuan Williams
Arthur Jones
Danny Gorrer
Ramon Harewood
Emanuel Cook
Morgan Cox
David Reed
[b]Exclusive Rights Free Agent[/b]
Albert McClellan
Sergio Kindle
Josh Bynes
[/quote]
No Curtis Painter!!! We must keep him!

[callahan09]

[quote name='Played' timestamp='1343305192' post='1103338']
[b]2013 Free Agents[/b]
Joe Flacco
Ed Reed
Cary Williams
Paul Kruger
[b]Restricted Free Agents[/b]
Ed Dickson
Dennis Pitta
LaQuan Williams
[/quote]

These are all players it would be very tough to say goodbye to. We have to keep Joe, that's a given. From there, I think we have to keep at least either Ed Dickson OR Dennis Pitta, if we can't keep them both. Cary Williams and LaQuan Williams could honestly be the best #3s at their respective positions this season, and it would be great to keep them both. Kruger will probably be somebody that we'll want to try hold on to as well, and I didn't keep Gorrer in my list, but I think he may have a lot more to contribute to this team as well.

Lots of guys there that it would hurt to have to see move on to another team.

[Gordo52]

I think Pernell McPhee could have made the list too. They probably just didn't want to crowd it with to many Ravens which is understandable.

[raybaby]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1343269592' post='1103268']
I'm a Double J fan, but I have a question. If the NFL is becoming such a QB driven pass happy league, why is it so important that we are missing the edge setting abilities of JJ?
[/quote]

Because it doesn't change the fact that one can set up the other. If teams can run all over a defense it then opens up passing plays as well. Have you noticed most of the top defenses in the league are great run defenses?

Also our division is not like the other divisions. We still have a old school mentality.

Edit: Not saying Kruger can't set the edge just saying setting the edge and stopping the run is still important.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='raybaby' timestamp='1343421012' post='1104362']
Because it doesn't change the fact that one can set up the other. If teams can run all over a defense it then opens up passing plays as well. Have you noticed most of the top defenses in the league are great run defenses?

Also our division is not like the other divisions. We still have a old school mentality.

Edit: Not saying Kruger can't set the edge just saying setting the edge and stopping the run is still important.
[/quote]

Oh I know setting the edge is important, but rushing the passer is just as important in todays NFL. All you hear about is how it's gonna be so hard to replace the edge setting capabilities of Double J. It won't be.

Teams are passing the ball far more on first and second downs, even in the AFC North. Even then run game has become about matchups, just like Ray said, you don't have that physical style of running anymore. Both Kruger and Upshaw will be lining up mostly against pass catching TEs.

I'm value what Double J did for us, but so called experts make it seem like the guy is irreplacable. I disagree.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1343422860' post='1104396']
Oh I know setting the edge is important, but rushing the passer is just as important in todays NFL. All you hear about is how it's gonna be so hard to replace the edge setting capabilities of Double J. It won't be.

Teams are passing the ball far more on first and second downs, even in the AFC North. Even then run game has become about matchups, just like Ray said, you don't have that physical style of running anymore. Both Kruger and Upshaw will be lining up mostly against pass catching TEs.

I'm value what Double J did for us, but so called experts make it seem like the guy is irreplacable. I disagree.
[/quote]

Both Kruger and Upshaw will have a better season than JJ. I am very confident in them. Is that too bold of me to say?

[CapoRocky]

I really want to see Kruger stop the run and Upshaw lead the team in sacks.

[Gordo52]

Apparently Kindle just had his best practice ever....it's not saying much, but it's fantastic he's getting the hang of things.

I really hope he steps up this year so he can give Upshaw and Kruger the breaks they need. I think he'll only come in on 3rd downs though.