Ravens sign OLB Jason Babin

[PuRock]

Isn't he old too?  He's 35 years old.

 

I'm 35.  

 

But any lingering veteran is going to be 'too old'.  Plus look at this way, you are adding another veteran guy in the locker room.  It's not like there are any proven 28 y.o. pass rushing specialists waiting for a phone call.

[GrimCoconut]

Is it Odds on success that Dum and Upshaw have better stats on one side or are they afraid to assign linebacker roles to proven guys and therefore go after Babin?? whats your opinion?

I think the idea is to keep things the way they are as much as possible. Why change everything when you can change one thing? If there are problems after this then we'll see. Hey, who knows, maybe we put Babin rotating behind Upshaw on the left with Dumervil, McClellan and Smith rotating on the right.

[Cillmatic]

Interesting perspective....Do you think Babin can do both??

No, he's only gonna be used as a situational outside linebacker. Edited September 16, 2015 by Cillmatic

[PuRock]

The signing is just whatever. Babin will be purely a situational rusher; don't expect a 2014 doom role. Maybe 15 snaps a game and if he gives us 5 sacks then I would say it would be a success. I still expect doom, upshaw and z smith to have higher snap counts. Also, if our secondary stays healthy we don't need to rely on a pass rush from our front 4-5 necessarily like last year. As you saw in Denver, we had 4 sacks all from blitzing players.

 

5 sacks would definitely be a success.  Doubt he gets there.  I was thinking success would be getting somewhat consistent pressure.  Just not becoming a wash in the game.  

Edited September 16, 2015 by PuRock

[stampedehero]

Lol a 4-3 OLB is different than a 3-4 OLB and just because an apple is a fruit doesn't make it an orange. Yes, they're both linebackers but there's much more of an emphasis of being able to set the edge and rush the passer as a 3-4 OLB. The 3-4 OLB functions more like a 4-3 DE since they line up closer to the ball, meaning you are typically bigger and more explosive than a regular OLB.

3-4 OLB (generally speaking) are essentially DL that stand up near the LOS and rush the passer and set the edge unless you're a freak like Suggs who could also drop into coverage.

We need more freaks Lol   Thanks for your view and opinion.  I view  LBs assignments to cover both parameters and therefore an NFl draft choice should perform multiple LB roles. Just sayin..   .   

[rmcjacket23]

I don't expect him to play too many snaps. Likely just a situational player, maybe 20-30 a game at most.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if he's inactive on Sunday either.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Hopefully he balls like James Harrison in his rocker. If he's even half the pass rusher Harrison was last year we'll be fine

 

So 2.5 sacks and 15 tackles.   Nah, Babin has to produce twice as much as what harrison done last year...

Edited September 16, 2015 by Ravenseconbeast

[GrimCoconut]

So 2.5 sacks and 15 tackles. Nah, Babin has to produce twice as much as then what harrison done last year...

Pressure and sacks are completely different. They're definitely related but to say all pressure results in sacks is erroneous. Edited September 16, 2015 by GrimCoconut

[rmw10]

We need more freaks Lol   Thanks for your view and opinion.  I view  LBs assignments to cover both parameters and therefore an NFl draft choice should perform multiple LB roles. Just sayin..   .   

 

It doesn't work like that

[Cillmatic]

So 2.5 sacks and 15 tackles. Nah, Babin has to produce twice as much as what harrison done last year...

Harrison officially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 23, 2014. He recorded 45 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 11 games. Plus all the pressuring. He was really good last year.

[Gtown Purple]

I like it for situational pass rushing. I think he gives an insurance policy if upshaw can't deliver there,

[MTRavensFan]

Isn't he old too?  He's 35 years old.

He's 3 yrs older than Suggs, but was actually drafted the year after Sizzle, so hasn't been playing as long.

[HrdCoreRaven]

Good move with Babin, this guy will fit right in with this defense. Now lets go after Brandon Lloyd, decent speed and great routes, dude averaged over 20+ yards per catch last year as a 3rd WR, with the run oriented 49ers. He is listed as the best deep threat WR on the market.

[Cillmatic]

Babin managed just 2 sacks in 2014, but had a very high pass-rush productivity score at PFF. No. 7 among 3-4 OLBs.

This was the best signing possible.

[H8ME]

Isn't he old too?  He's 35 years old.

Yes he is OLD. A situational slow, old. washed up guy is the best they could find???

[The Raven]

If you play linebacker you know scheme and assignment.   In or out you have a job to do.  I think its'   "insurance" 

Wait a minute.  You guys are stuck on one position only rather than a defensive assignment for Linebackers.  Is one dimensional position the limitation??  I can see D line or secondary but if you play LB then you must understand the roles your team mate performs and your requirement to step up for the team when one goes down..  

 

Lmao no that's not how it freaking works. Orr and Briggs may very well understand the roles of the position, but do not mistake understanding for ability. They are quite different. I understand how to play press coverage on the outside but that doesn't mean I can do it. Not to mention 3-4 OLBs are, for all intents  and purposes, DEs. Do you think 240 pound Briggs or Orr can hold the line at the point of attack on a power run? Hell naw. Do you think they can rush the passer even remotely effectively? Hell naw. If they could, they'd be playing OLB. 

[BMORElegacy]

Yes he is OLD. A situational slow, old. washed up guy is the best they could find???

With the proper scheme he could make an impact. James Harrison is still doing damage for our division rivals....

[The Raven]

Harrison officially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 23, 2014. He recorded 45 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 11 games. Plus all the pressuring. He was really good last year.

 

Four of those sacks came in his first three weeks back. Then he started sucking as his old age caught up.

[LosT_in_TranSlatioN]

Four of those sacks came in his first three weeks back. Then he started sucking as his old age caught up.

Yup. That being said. I believe us having a significantly higher amount of talented players on the defense will benefit Babin here. Pretty sure the Steelers last year didn't have a pass rusher who was as good as Dumervil was next to Harrison(Worlids was good but c'mon)

[Runnin Raven]

If nothing else we've got a proven pass rusher for the PIT game coming up.

[DenverRaven]

Yes he is OLD. A situational slow, old. washed up guy is the best they could find???

 

Choices are pretty limited. Can anyone name a younger, proven vet we should have taken instead?

[Sami84]

Choices are pretty limited. Can anyone name a younger, proven vet we should have taken instead?

 

i actually wanted the two older guys in abraham and babin/freeny

 

abraham has this ageless bullrush. 

[-Truth-]

There is an enormous difference between the roles, and more importantly, capabilities of a traditional 4-3 Will and a 3-4 ROLB. Lance Briggs would be an ILB on our team, as he would've been in San Francisco had he signed there when visiting. Daryl Smith is a clear-cut example and he played more Sam than Will.

I'm happy that we signed Babin. Was kind of hoping that we'd lure in Freeny but I'll take it.

Edited September 16, 2015 by -Truth-

[balfan23]

its a bad sign regarding `za'darius smith though

 

harbs never says anything negative about our players but its clear that bringing in a 35 year old pass rusher means they are not impressed.

It means they don't see him to be ready to step into this role right now. It says nothing about what they think he can become. Very few rookies not drafted in the first or at least second round would be called on to fill the role. 

 

Indeed ... Harbs never says anything negative about our players ... nor does any other coach in that has any clue how to run a football team. 

[Sami84]

Good. He provides a good pass rush and will adaquately replace Suggs in that department. Smith better be able to defend the run on the right side.

3rd down lineup.

Jenigan

Davis

Canty

Dumervil

Mosely

Smith

Babin...

That stll scares the crap out of me if I'm an opposing olinemen

 

When Urban comes back i'd actually try him at OLB...might actually work.

 

I just wish we had a younger canty. His pass rush skills have noticeably diminished since the late 00's. 

Its a good pass rush. It needs that one world class rusher. Doom is really good but he's one dimensional. 

 

Jernigan has to show he can be our aarron donald.

[Sami84]

It means they don't see him to be ready to step into this role right now. It says nothing about what they think he can become. Very few rookies not drafted in the first or at least second round would be called on to fill the role. 

 

Indeed ... Harbs never says anything negative about our players ... nor does any other coach in that has any clue how to run a football team. 

 

remember the arthur brown situation? josh bynes...over him..mclelllen orr now..

could be similar with z smith

[balfan23]

I don't expect him to play too many snaps. Likely just a situational player, maybe 20-30 a game at most.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if he's inactive on Sunday either.

Agree, since he'll have been a Raven for all of 3 or 4 days before game time. I'd anticipate Z Smith will be active instead. 

[GrimCoconut]

When Urban comes back i'd actually try him at OLB...might actually work.

 

I just wish we had a younger canty. His pass rush skills have noticeably diminished since the late 00's. 

Its a good pass rush. It needs that one world class rusher. Doom is really good but he's one dimensional. 

 

Jernigan has to show he can be our aarron donald.

I've been saying this, actually, even before the Suggs injury. I recall Urban playing some there in training camp last year as a rookie before his injury. It might've been OTAs, I don't know. I think it was training camp, though. Anyway, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we did just this. 

[balfan23]

remember the arthur brown situation? josh bynes...over him..mclelllen orr now..

could be similar with z smith

Yes, I remember. Could it be similar with Z Smith? Might be. Might not be. I don't think this move is proof positive of the former. 

 

You said, "its a bad sign regarding `za'darius smith" ... that is a definitive statement in an indefinite circumstance. 

 

Bottom line ... we lost a player, we needed to add a play. 

[PuRock]

remember the arthur brown situation? josh bynes...over him..mclelllen orr now..

could be similar with z smith

 

Z Smith as a situational pass rusher is less riskier than a versatile position like ILB  You can always throw out a pass rusher and see what he has with his ears pinned back.  But throwing out a guy asked to do many aspects of the game like a MLB is a bit more riskier when it comes to trust.  

 

At the very least, I expect the Ravens to see what Smith has to offer in obvious pass rushing situations, even if the trust isn't there.  Unlike how they've handled Brown at ILB.  Can't screw up things too badly.  

 

I think this is more of adding a body for a body into a rotation.  

Edited September 16, 2015 by PuRock