31 replies to this topic

[BallHawker]

Overshadowed by 52 and 20 his entire career, how do you think he will handle this new found role?

There won't be pump up huddles and speeches in the secondary with Ed, and there won't be anymore "what time is it" and "where the dogs in the house" chant with Ray.. What will Suggs do? I'm sure he will come out of the tunnel last, but is he a formidable replacement for Ed and Ray in the locker room?

Most have speculated how those troubled rookies playing with Ed and Ray have always matured just by being surrounded by the two (i.e. McAllister, Jimmy Smith, etc), but I remember the days when Suggs was a immature brat on the field. Even now, he talks a bit too much trash on and off the field.

What do you think his influence will be? I can't think of any instances where he's shown signs of a great leader. Enlighten me?

[beanfigger]

If he plays at the level of his Defensive MVP year of 2011, then it won't matter much how well he gives a speech. I'm sure he'll be very vocal and pump up the guys around him, but he needs to lead by producing. I think Webb has a lot of leadership potential, as well.

[redravenfan]

I don't see it he talks ALLOT of trash this last year was a bad year for him, I suspect this offseason he gets healthy on the field he turns back to the beast . he may have to step up there really is no one left . Lewis and reed are both huge losses they coached etc while they played.

[mgridda]

Terrell Suggs has been groomed and watering at the mouth to be the next Ravens defensive leader for years.


Seriously, watch his interviews. He's known it for years that he'll be the next leader. Everyone is going to make it open and not hand him anything, but he's clearly going to take it. He'll lead by example, lead in the practice field, lead in the weight room, lead in the locker room as the most vocal: lead this defensive unit on the field.


Basically, Terrell Suggs is to Ray Lewis as Eric Decosta is to Ozzie Newsome.

He's been waiting a looooooooooooooooooong time, and now his only challenger, Ed Reed, is gone.

[mgridda]

No one has even been on the team longer than Terrell Suggs anymore. He's been here longer than all the coaching staff I think, too.

Suggs has a very playful and jovial attitude about having fun when playing football, but he practices like a menace. He has the attitude of being very tough, very hard working despite the fun. Best of all, Suggs prides himself on being the best at every aspect of the game: run stopping, pass coverage, pass rushing: he wants it all. He'll expect this out of our younger guys, and they will take the cues from him.

He is, however: the DEFENSIVE leader. Which is great. Because knowing Suggs, he'll throw the gauntlet down on Flacco and Ray Rice and breed competition between the defense trying to keep up with our high octane offense. He'll carry the legacy of how good our defenses were. And he'll try to re-instill that in 2013.

It's going to be fun. Very, very, very fun to see a Suggs-led defense. Suggs is just cheeky enough: rarely too much. But he owns it with his work and production. He's very well respected around the league and a beast.

Ngata will become the "Ed Reed" [quiet leader] of Terrell Suggs. I actually am excited about it. I can't wait until I see the offense score and Suggs say that "it's on us" to close out the game. He expects a lot out of his guys, and will probably push them harder than Ray Lewis did.

Edited by mgridda, 20 March 2013 - 07:15 PM.

[MTRavensFan]

Suggs has a very playful and jovial attitude about having fun when playing football, but he practices like a menace. He has the attitude of being very tough, very hard working despite the fun. Best of all, Suggs prides himself on being the best at every aspect of the game: run stopping, pass coverage, pass rushing: he wants it all. He'll expect this out of our younger guys, and they will take the cues from him.

It's going to be fun. Very, very, very fun to see a Suggs-led defense. Suggs is just cheeky enough: rarely too much. But he owns it with his work and production. He's very well respected around the league and a beast.

This.
I think the injury may have mellowed the "brattiness". And how important being a father has become for him.
I think Sizzle surprises us all with his maturity this year.

[BloodRaven]

Suggs has never had the pressure on him to be a leader or pull the team together, and Ngata/Webb are not rah-rah types.

[CharlesK]

We will soon find out won't we. Suggs has been around for so long now and with a bit of work he should get himself back to 2011 levels. He has the ability and has learned so much from Lewis that I think he knew this time was coming and is ready to take over. Ngata has also been around for a long time now (seven years I think) but he is a bit more reserved. Webb should be ready to take over the lead in the secondary. He is turning into a Revis style shutdown corner if he can stay healthy.

[mgridda]

There is only one thing that will question, sort of, Terrell Suggs unquestioned claim as the Ravens next defensive leader:



if we sign James Harrison.


Harrison is known to be a lone wolf type, though. More like: leave "Dibo" alone and just let him do his thing. So, I think Harrison could still function with Suggs as leader, as long as Harrison just works hard as he usually does and doesn't slack.

But i'd be very interested to see Sugg's jovial/joker personality along with James Harrison. How Suggs will bring him into the fold will be very interesting considering who James Harrison is.

Of course, all of this is contingent on whether Harrison even signs. Osi U is also a guy who's good at run and pass rush.

[mgridda]

I will add these quotes to this topic just to cement things:


"You're talking about some great sack artists that have been here," said Harbaugh. "This has been a high pressure type of deal. Terrell Suggs is a premiere player. He's one of the best players in the National Football League. He's one of the premier defensive players that everybody game plans around. He gets blocked every different kind of way a guy can get blocked, from one game to the next, when you watch it. He still finds a way to make plays."

"Plus, he's one of the best leaders I've been around," said Harbaugh. "This guy is one of the hardest working guys I've ever been around. He's part of the heart and soul of our team and our defense."

"I guess whenever the torch is passed, it would come to me," said Suggs. "I could take it. But the way Ray is going, the torch might get burned out before it's passed on to me, I don't know. But I do know that during the past eight years. I've been sitting by him and I've picked up a lot of good things. During the past couple of years, my role has evolved."




"I always try to keep things fresh," said Suggs. "The NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint, so you don't want to have that monotonous attitude. So I try to change up. I'll switch jerseys, or come out one day wearing pink spikes at practice. I know sometimes I get on player's nerves, somebody like JJ [Jarret Johnson], but he knows how I am. When it's time to get serious and focus on detail like last week, I know when to turn it off. That's part of being a good leader."

[Free Agent]

At worst, Suggs will continue to bring plenty of personality to the team. But I wouldn't be surprised to see other leaders emerge as well.

[elliot]

This.
I think the injury may have mellowed the "brattiness". And how important being a father has become for him.
I think Sizzle surprises us all with his maturity this year.

I don' think he's mellowed. Remember "Don't yall wish you had Tebow now?" to the Broncos crowd after Manning threw a pick? And then there's the tirade towards the Patriots after the AFC championship game. On the other hand I believe he's already a locker room leader. I remember watching one of the tv shows where they have cameras and mikes behind the bench. Suggs got in Torry Smith's face for not making a catch on a ball that was not perfectly thrown. He told Torry: " they're not all gonna be purfect. Sometimes YOU have to make a play". (not exact quote, but close) It might have been the Giants game.

[GrimCoconut]

I thought it was strange when I saw the article on BR.com that Suggs would be the new leader of the defense. I sort of figured it meant Reed was already believed to be gone. Today confirmed my belief with the announcement.

Yes, I believe Suggs will lead this defense. He has been groomed by Ray to lead this team and he has matured to become the leader we deserve--not the leader we need.

[The Raven]

I don't see it he talks ALLOT of trash this last year was a bad year for him, I suspect this offseason he gets healthy on the field he turns back to the beast . he may have to step up there really is no one left . Lewis and reed are both huge losses they coached etc while they played.

And? So what! Ray talked trash! What does that have to do with being a leader?

[IH EART DA RAVENS]

Suggs can inspire men, but not lead them.

[The Raven]

Suggs can inspire men, but not lead them.

I think it's the other way around. I don't see Suggs giving many inspirational, Ray Lewis-esque speeches. But I do see him going to war with 52 men following behind him.

[redravenfan]

I don' think he's mellowed. Remember "Don't yall wish you had Tebow now?" to the Broncos crowd after Manning threw a pick? And then there's the tirade towards the Patriots after the AFC championship game. On the other hand I believe he's already a locker room leader. I remember watching one of the tv shows where they have cameras and mikes behind the bench. Suggs got in Torry Smith's face for not making a catch on a ball that was not perfectly thrown. He told Torry: " they're not all gonna be purfect. Sometimes YOU have to make a play". (not exact quote, but close) It might have been the Giants game.

it was the broncos game .

[IH EART DA RAVENS]

I think it's the other way around. I don't see Suggs giving many inspirational, Ray Lewis-esque speeches. But I do see him going to war with 52 men following behind him.

I don't necessarily mean speeches - I don't think he'll try to emulate Ray - I mean more through his play and his talk in the media and in the locker room and such. If leadership is considered getting those 52 men to go to war with him, I agree with you, but I think leadership goes beyond just the game. I don't know how well Suggs will handle all the young guys suddenly turning to him for advice or at least trying to take cues from him.

I'm not bashing Suggs here, I love him as a Raven and I'm glad we have him. To be honest, my feelings are probably less about doubting Suggs than mourning Ray and Ed. Eh, at least I'm honest about it. Prove me wrong Suggs!

[redravenfan]

And? So what! Ray talked trash! What does that have to do with being a leader?

there's a difference in bashing an opponent and going on public rants .

[TonyTone1192]

He'll be 31 this upcoming season and he's always been overshadowed by Ray and Reed.

When you have those two Natural born leaders on the team there is no need for a third leader especially on defense. Suggs knew his role and he did it well. I think he'll be a great leader he's got personality and don't forget he's from BALL SO HARD U.

IMHO Reed was always a passive leader for us but that was not the case during his Miami days. He realized that once he came to Baltimore his leadership would have to take a back seat to Ray.

Edited by TonyTone1192, 20 March 2013 - 09:31 PM.