[News] The Competition: Inside Linebackers

[BR News]

The top of the depth chart is set with Daryl Smith and C.J. Mosley, but competition behind them is tight.

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[salamander]

C J Mosley has been an outstanding linebacker from Day 1 as a rookie. C J could very well end up being a HOF player himself if he continues to develop and stay healthy. Amazing talent and I hope he can anchor this defense for his entire career like Ray Lewis did.

[Ravensfansince03]

C J Mosley has been an outstanding linebacker from Day 1 as a rookie. C J could very well end up being a HOF player himself if he continues to develop and stay healthy. Amazing talent and I hope he can anchor this defense for his entire career like Ray Lewis did.

 

Better like this.

[757RavensFan]

If Orr beats out Arthur Brown for the #2 ILB position, you can officially put an end to the Arthur Brown experiment.

 

 

 Mosley didn’t practice this offseason as he recovered from wrist surgery, but he’s expected to be full strength for training camp.

 

I always wonder how they can justify a player coming back at full strength when they didn't participate all of the off-season. Recovering from a wrist injury, there's no way he could have put in the work in the weight room to be full strength. 

Edited June 30, 2015 by 757RavensFan

[jravens13]

CJ is a stud. He jumps out as a playmaker in games, but you don't truly appreciate how good he is until you isolate him on film. Watch his NFL Top 100 on youtube or NFL.com and you will see what I am talking about.

[ellicottraven]

Mosley will be amongst the best linebackers in the league this year. Daryl Smith is perhaps the most underrated great linebacker in the entire league. So, whoever backs these two up better show they deserve to whether it is Brown, Orr, McClennan or Bose. I hope that Brown makes it if only to prove that Ozzie rarely makes a mistake on drafting defensive players!

[steelcityraven]

Competition is a great problem to have! I think that ABrown needs to step up and claim his spot but I am really happy that ZOrr is ceasing the opportunity that is before him! I Like what ABose brings to the table as well and his presence will make that battle even more interesting!

[Raven_Don]

I wouldn't be surprised if Art Brown were to get cut this year... Not saying he is a bust because he looked good during preseason last year... It's unfortunate for him that he plays behind two top ILB... And he struggled on special teams that is why he was not active going down the stretch... Can't wait for training camp to start..

[salamander]

Better like this.

I am more than fine with leaving Ray Lewis in my comment. There will never be another Ray but it is certainly reasonable to hope C J has a long and productive career in Baltimore like Ray Lewis did. C J is a special player and I am grateful Ozzie found such a worthy linebacker to ease the pain of losing legendary Ray to retirement.

Edited June 30, 2015 by salamander

[AvianBrain]

CJ is a stud. He jumps out as a playmaker in games, but you don't truly appreciate how good he is until you isolate him on film. Watch his NFL Top 100 on youtube or NFL.com and you will see what I am talking about.

There is no doubt that CJ is a playmaker, but if he has a weakness, it was apparent when he was covering Bell coming out of the backfield. Watch the second Steeler game and you will see Bell consistantly eating his lunch and breaking his spork. It's not that he couldn't cover Bell, he was on him, but he didn't anticipate the pass that was coming out quickly because the line was getting to Ben. If he would have gotten his head around, he would have easily batted down or even intercepted some of those passes. He was also burned on a few trick plays in other games but he is good enough to have learned from those mistakes and certainly will improve in that area.

[Mystigo_Dragon]

I've noted some folks dogging Orr! I don't understand why; the kid has turned a chance into a career thus far!

[sami]

I find it hard to believe there is that much distance between Mosely and Smith as starters and the other LBs as back ups that thry couldn't give Smith and Mosely a few breathers. Either Mosely and Smith are super good or our backups are way way behind.

[757RavensFan]

There is no doubt that CJ is a playmaker, but if he has a weakness, it was apparent when he was covering Bell coming out of the backfield. Watch the second Steeler game and you will see Bell consistantly eating his lunch and breaking his spork. It's not that he couldn't cover Bell, he was on him, but he didn't anticipate the pass that was coming out quickly because the line was getting to Ben. If he would have gotten his head around, he would have easily batted down or even intercepted some of those passes. He was also burned on a few trick plays in other games but he is good enough to have learned from those mistakes and certainly will improve in that area.

 

There's probably not an ILB in the league that can match Bell's quickness and speed. 

[The Greek]

aside from daryl the overall youth of this group makes me nervous. i know cj had a great rookie season but he is still young. would like to see us pick up a veteran to provide knowledge and be another veteran mentor to this group

[cbrook1862]

Another great position battle to look out for, hopefully Brown can get his stuff together and show us why the great OZ picked him in the second round, either you produce or you leave simple as that.

[Space11jams]

aside from daryl the overall youth of this group makes me nervous. i know cj had a great rookie season but he is still young. would like to see us pick up a veteran to provide knowledge and be another veteran mentor to this group

That wouldn't make any sense to do. Where would he line up because C.J isn't coming off that starting unit unless he wants to. How do you expect your players to grow if that don't get any gametime expereince. A vet can teach all he want but the younger guys need to be in the game to get experience. These are grown men and they do not need to be babied in a grown mans game. If the rookies are putting in work to get on the field, reward them with playing time. That's the purpose for preparation and practice right? So they can gain reps on the field. Our one vet is good enough to help the younger LB's. It's not like we have 52 LB's and we have other leaders, Suggs, Doom, Canty and other leaders on the team that can assist with character if that's what you're worried about. Suggs can easily play standing or lining up and letting upshaw take some snaps. We don't need any more LB's.

[Crusader]

Between Brown and Elam who goes first?

[steelcityraven]

I don't think that ABrown is going anywhere. He will play limited duty behind two of the top ILB's in the NFL. He is capable of playing and growing and getting better. He will be re-signed cheaply (as DSmith continues to age going into his 12th season). Arthur Brown will be ready to contribute when we need him to! Either this year if someone were to miss any time with an injury or next year (two years) stepping in and becoming a starter (or at least providing quality reps). The less exposure we show with him the less chance we have of losing him. He has looked solid in limited opportunities... He even looked good last pre-season! Not physically dominant but more then adequate! Arthur will be ready to step in when we need him.... Lets not jump the gun on the bust thing just yet... That is the luxury of a great team... we don't have to draft for need and we can stock the warehouse! It is not coincidence that Ozzie does the best job in the league replacing guys when we lose them!

[DomMcRaven]

There is no doubt that CJ is a playmaker, but if he has a weakness, it was apparent when he was covering Bell coming out of the backfield. Watch the second Steeler game and you will see Bell consistantly eating his lunch and breaking his spork. It's not that he couldn't cover Bell, he was on him, but he didn't anticipate the pass that was coming out quickly because the line was getting to Ben. If he would have gotten his head around, he would have easily batted down or even intercepted some of those passes. He was also burned on a few trick plays in other games but he is good enough to have learned from those mistakes and certainly will improve in that area.

Good points. To Mosley's credit, I remember him saying that he wanted to improve his footwork and coverage in the offseason.

[stampedehero]

Daryl Smith is riding the highest wave of his carreer since joining the Ravens. For the longest time, he was committed to a team that did not participate in playoffs. Now he is recognized as the crafty veteran. He and Mosely should be featured in a Ryan Mink piece regarding their chemistry.  

[stampedehero]

Another great position battle to look out for, hopefully Brown can get his stuff together and show us why the great OZ picked him in the second round, either you produce or you leave simple as that.

Yep....All business. I never supported Elam but won't chastize his fans. If he goes after whatever analysis, it would not ruin my day                                                                        RIP CHRIS SQUIRE-BASSIST

[stampedehero]

You guys could see CJ took his role and improved it.   Very few college system football players can step in like he did. He Will not have a Sophmore slump. He'll probably listen to Ray Lewis motivational CD's    

[Purple&Black]

I still think Brown is being groomed to replace Smith once he retires. Brown is unlucky to have two Pro Bowl LBs in front of him, but if one were to go down (hopefully not) then I feel as though Brown will be more than capable of stepping up. Orr sounds like he's making some noise. Let's see when the pads come on!

[20306cab]

Daryl Smith is the most underrated player in the NFL. Replacing a legend is hard to do.

[RavenManiac#7]

Boy, if Orr Does beat out Brown as the "next man up", that would really seem to indicate pretty strongly that we missed on Brown. Remember, Brown is a guy we Moved up for in the second round to get. And if an UFA beats him out for the first backup role, well, that just doesn't sound good for Brown any way you want to shake it. I don't know about anybody else, but if that happens the word "bust" comes to my mind. I sincerely hope that doesn't turn out to be the case. Somehow, some way, I hope Brown finds a way to live up to the potential Ozzie and our scouts saw in him. Bottom line is, though, we want the best Team we can get. We don't want to focus on one player's lack of development or his failure to meet our expectations. May the best man win.

[RavenWarrior]

Daryl Smith is one of the best, and I love the fact that the Ravens have kept him on. He is a good leader and a solid lineman. He has the Raven Spirit that we love and you can tell in the way he plays. I truly believe that he will retire as a Raven.

[Ravensfansince03]

I am more than fine with leaving Ray Lewis in my comment. There will never be another Ray but it is certainly reasonable to hope C J has a long and productive career in Baltimore like Ray Lewis did. C J is a special player and I am grateful Ozzie found such a worthy linebacker to ease the pain of losing legendary Ray to retirement.

 

We all are bro