Ravens sign OLB Jason Babin

[BmoreBird22]

Key word is limited my friend. If it turns out he has a second wind as a run defender then we just got a bargain at Daryl Smith level proportions. 

The only reason that I think it's limited is because he's 35. Have to wonder how long he can hold up if he's playing a full time role.

[LosT_in_TranSlatioN]

The only reason that I think it's limited is because he's 35. Have to wonder how long he can hold up if he's playing a full time role.

Not much imo. Hence why I want to go out and get another run stopper. That run stopper would probably solidify the defense, and effectivley spread the production of Suggs out among st three or so players. 

[rmw10]

One thing that probably led to Babin being the top option is the fact that he was in camp with a team and we know he's in football shape.  Abraham, Freeney, and Phillips have all been hanging around since the end of last season, assuming they were the other guys in consideration of course.

[H8ME]

If they traded for a young vet with upside there may be something there. But Babin is a guy brought in only because of the Suggs injury. Remember what the Ravens were looking for when drafting ZDS. They saw him in the light of Mcphe not a future Suggs replacement. So it makes sense that they aren't just telling him next man up. He'll get a long and hard look before they gave up on him. Keeping a guy like Steven Means and giving him the opportunity to replace Suggs would have been more of a story. Babin is just another role player option.

I think Pees will give Upshaw every opportunity to be a 3 down guy and be to the defense what Suggs has been for years. Now clearly he won't be the pass rush guy Suggs was but he has the ability to be the DE playing OLB. I think ZDS and or Babin will serve as that Mcphee type guy. I don't see this as a major signing just insurance. I will say that the younger version of Babin was exactly the type of guy Pees likes because he could get pressure without blitzing. Just don't know how much he has left.

 

Where is Means?

[cursona pirate]

I never heard of the guy but looking at the stats and probably how much he will play i think this is a good signing. Look forward to see him play. Sometimes these older players want to show they can still play.

[rmw10]

Where is Means?

 

On the open market.  We can't sign him until week 11 if we wanted him back.

[sflegend89]

Who would ever imagine we would sign Babin. He was good with the Eagles when he played but since he is "out there" why was he not in a Eagle uniform now   I prefered Lance Briggs   However, why can't Upshaw, Orr or the Z man be our choices..   

 

Briggs is a 4-3 OLB what are you talking about lol

[CalvinSmoke]

I think Upshaw stays on the field. He saw a lot of 3rd down snaps vs Denver lining up all over the field. Suggs and Upshaw were out best coverage guys at OLB. Obviously Suggs doesn't do it often but Upshaw does. I think Upshaw and Babin/Smith do rotate at OLB but Upshaw will still stay on the field a ton on 3rd downs.

I don't see Upshaw at OLB on 3rd down brother, because you'd want Babin and doom out there, if Babin isn't out there on 3rd down there's no reason to sign him.

[redlobster]

What are the contract details?

[Ravensfan23]

I don't see Upshaw at OLB on 3rd down brother, because you'd want Babin and doom out there, if Babin isn't out there on 3rd down there's no reason to sign him.

That's why i did he and Babin/ZDS will rotate at OLB. Upshaw's role will not change. If he saw a lot of 3rd down snaps with Suggs on the field, why would his role diminish now that Suggs is hurt?

[Ravensfan23]

Well, that would be huge if we could use him some in run situations and not just have him come in on passing downs. As I've said in other posts, I don't agree with those that think we're suddenly going to have Doom be a 3 down OLB. He's not the best against the run and if we over-use him, his effectiveness in pass rush situations will be diminished. I really feel like we're going to be in a heavy rotation to guys fresh, with Upshaw seeing more snaps than any of the group.

Yea Upshaw will slide into the role played by Suggs and I see McClellan playing the role of Upshaw. I can't see Doom as a full time player, especially when you have a guy like McClellan capable of stepping in. Babin and Doom will be kept fresh as rush specialist while Upshaw and ZDS will see 3rd down reps in that Mcphee type role.

[CalvinSmoke]

That's why i did he and Babin/ZDS will rotate at OLB. Upshaw's role will not change. If he saw a lot of 3rd down snaps with Suggs on the field, why would his role diminish now that Suggs is hurt?

I wish I had a way to verify this but gut tells me Upshaw on 3rd down wasn't playing edge rusher. He doom and Suggs saw nearly the Sr amount of snaps but idk where they where lined up on 3rd down.

[Tru11]

hope he got something left in the tank.

[Rav'n Maniac]

Yea Upshaw will slide into the role played by Suggs and I see McClellan playing the role of Upshaw. I can't see Doom as a full time player, especially when you have a guy like McClellan capable of stepping in. Babin and Doom will be kept fresh as rush specialist while Upshaw and ZDS will see 3rd down reps in that Mcphee type role.

This is the way I see it as well. It's the smart play. You keep Upshaw & Doom doing their thing and you use McClellan on running downs to set the edge with Babin in on passing downs on the other side. This way you keep Upshaw & ZDS in that McPhee role and it allows Doom & Babin to stay fresh.

 

Babin is a good signing for us.

[polynesian15]

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..  

I will prefice by saying I'm a newbie when it comes to football insight/strategy/x's & o's, but besides knowing another position you also have to perform that other role physically and technically.

Some players have an instinctual knack to get after the quarterback and the physical tools to support that ability.

Others are more geared towards the run game - I guess that's why it beneficial to be long as a pass rusher and perhaps more stocky as a run defender. Just my five cents.

I'm glad we signed a veteran presence on the outside while Za'darius hopefully gets up to speed.

Only question now is how much they paid him for the year (are we capless the rest of the year)?

[VeiledPsychosis]

We can't just throw any ol' linebacker out to take Suggs' spot. We take McClellan for granted but the athletic ability it takes to perform both inside and outside in the 3-4 at a respectable level is quite amazing, it's why he's still on the team 5 years after going undrafted, Ozzie sure does know how to find em'. I'm sure guys like Briggs could pull off a move outside in the 3-4 based on talent level in his prime but during his last two or so years in Chicago he really struggled in his natural 4-3 OLB, let alone moving him out of position. And Orr being moved outside is a pipe dream, he's not nearly versatile enough to pull that off. Babin was the right move here.

[nextgen_RavensFan]

Dang we signed Babin? This dude is insane he hunts bears, literally. He'll fit right into our culture toughness wise. 

 

I remember I liked him when he played that wide 9 position in Philly. He's obviously older now, but I like the signing.

See now that is what i was hoping to read. I am excited as well and it seems we lost that nasty edge we had all of those years. Offenses did not seem as worried or intimidated by us at all the last few years. I remember sitting and watching teams going for first down attempts on 4th down like we had no chance of stopping them.

 

That would never have happened in years past. We need that fire again. Suggs is a hyper guy but can only impact the game in so many ways. I love the signing a lot. Lets hope he can set that edge still. 

[JEEPercreepermd]

Who would ever imagine we would sign Babin. He was good with the Eagles when he played but since he is "out there" why was he not in a Eagle uniform now I prefered Lance Briggs However, why can't Upshaw, Orr or the Z man be our choices..

Upshaw is the next man up. He'll start at SAM while Dumervil will start at rush. Then guys like Z and Babin ect will rotate in during passing situations.

Babin is a one trick pony, he had a monster year in Philly in Juan Castillo's infamous wide 9 scheme, which put a ton of pressure on the tackles from the outside.

I'm sure Castillo being our OL coach played a big part in us signing him over Phillips or anyone else.

[Static]

Jason Babin has not been a good person in the past, I've heard from multiple teams that he is a locker room cancer.

 

 

Not to mention he doesnt play the run

[Ravensfan23]

I wish I had a way to verify this but gut tells me Upshaw on 3rd down wasn't playing edge rusher. He doom and Suggs saw nearly the Sr amount of snaps but idk where they where lined up on 3rd down.

He only played rush end a handful of snap. His other 3rd down snaps came as a coverage OLB or lined up at DT rushing like Mcphee used to do.

Babin and Smith will probably rotate as that rush guy like Suggs but Upshaw will still play on 3rd downs.

[rmcjacket23]

Jason Babin has not been a good person in the past, I've heard from multiple teams that he is a locker room cancer.

 

 

Not to mention he doesnt play the run

I don't care about whether we get a "good person" or not. I care about whether he can get to the QB. He could be a locker room cancer on a team where people look to him for leadership. That won't be here.

[Gordo52]

I don't care about whether we get a "good person" or not. I care about whether he can get to the QB. He could be a locker room cancer on a team where people look to him for leadership. That won't be here.

Spot on

[PolishRifle]

Ball out for one more season and you might get a shot at a SB, Jason. Now, the most important question is: What am I going to scream at my Laptop, when Babin sacks someone? Any ideas?

[GrimCoconut]

Ball out for one more season and you might get a shot at a SB, Jason. Now, the most important question is: What am I going to scream at my Laptop, when Babin sacks someone? Any ideas?

"Babindook!!!"

[PolishRifle]

"Babindook!!!"

 

A bit of an obscure referance, but I can dig it. xD You can't get rid of the Babindook...dook...dook.

Edited September 16, 2015 by PolishRifle

[salamander]

A little concerned whether there is truth to these rumors about being a cancer in the locker room. Any specifics or details? Curious if a legit issue or non-issue.

[rmcjacket23]

A little concerned whether there is truth to these rumors about being a cancer in the locker room. Any specifics or details? Curious if a legit issue or non-issue.

If it were a legit issue the Ravens were concerned about, then he probably wouldn't be here.

 

Its not like that kind of information is something that only fans have and teams don't. As I typically remind me, teams have 100% of the information the fans have AND 100% of the information the fans don't have.

[gabefergy]

A little concerned whether there is truth to these rumors about being a cancer in the locker room. Any specifics or details? Curious if a legit issue or non-issue.

I doubt Harbaugh would bring him in if there is any credence to it.

[salamander]

I doubt Harbaugh would bring him in if there is any credence to it.

Good point. A guy who has been around for years should certainly be a known quantity, reputation-wise. I know that 1 coach complained about him working too hard per 1 of the articles. That certainly won't be a problem in Baltimore. I am just hoping that if this is the best defense he has ever played in that Babin could actually contribute even more than he did on other teams despite his age.

[CalvinSmoke]

He only played rush end a handful of snap. His other 3rd down snaps came as a coverage OLB or lined up at DT rushing like Mcphee used to do.

Babin and Smith will probably rotate as that rush guy like Suggs but Upshaw will still play on 3rd downs.

this debate made me re-watch the game. Suggs, doom and Upshaw where all of the field on 3rd downs. So BabimBabin, doom and Upshaw shalso also be out there