Baltimore Ravens: All About Perspective – Terrell Suggs, Matt Elam and Calvin Johnson
Oct 6, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) reacts after sacking Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (not pictured) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Much has been made about the remarks of the Baltimore Ravens’ safety Matt Elam about Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. Referring to Megatron as “pretty old” was certainly an indiscrete rookie mistake of the mouth in front of the media. Look for it to get some air time on the telecast tonight.
For the record, Johnson is age 28, Elam is barely 22.
But from someone who really is pretty old, all of this cracks me up a bit, and it is interesting to see the varied angles of perspective about age. At age 31, Terrell Suggs said of Johnson, “Megatron – anytime somebody has a nickname like that … The kid is real. The kid is real.”
So, what is it? Is he “pretty old?” Or is he a “kid?” Or is he a pretty old kid?
I can answer that – They’re all kids! And two out of three of them are BIG kids, but one of them isn’t any bigger than my size … another reason not to talk too loud. I like charts … let me chart this out:
| Suggs | 10/11/82 | 31 | 6-3 | 260 |
| Johnson | 9/29/85 | 28 | 6-5 | 236 |
| Elam | 9/21/91 | 22 | 5-10 | 208 |
| Blog Author | 1/9/55 | 58 | 5-10 | 205 |
Johnson is having a fantastic season, as Suggs would also say, “He is probably arguably the best receiver in the game. It’s going to take all 11 guys especially tending to him.”
He is currently second in the NFL in pass-receiving yards … these stats including yesterday’s game, so, the Ravens will be challenged to keep him under 116 yards …
1. |
Josh Gordon · CLE
1467
2.
Calvin Johnson · DET
1351
3.
Antonio Brown · PIT
1307
4.
Andre Johnson · HOU
1295
5.
DeSean Jackson · PHI
1275
6.
A.J. Green · CIN
1268
7.
Alshon Jeffery · CHI
1265
8.
Demaryius Thomas · DEN
1194
9.
Brandon Marshall · CHI
1185
10.
Pierre Garcon · WAS1146
Here are Johnson’s basic career stats:
Year |
Age
G
Rec
Yds
Y/R
TD
Lng
2007
22
15
48
756
15.8
4
49
2008
23
16
78
1331
17.1
12
96
2009
24
14
67
984
14.7
5
75
2010
25
15
77
1120
14.5
12
87
2011
26
16
96
1681
17.5
16
73
2012
27
16
122
1964
16.1
5
53
2013
28
12
75
1351
18.0
12
87
Career
104
563
9187
16.3
66
96
And the challenge is not just with Johnson. Matthew Stafford is fourth in the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, distributing the ball well to wide receivers and targets out of the backfield. Reggie Bush, if fully healthy, is 11th in the league in rushing yards and cannot be ignored.
Much of the Ravens’ effectiveness will be determined by the ability of Suggs & Co. to keep Stafford uncomfortable with the pressure applied.
It is amazing to think that Suggs’ sacks over the years amount to seven football fields in length in terms of yards lost. That is about two complete games worth of offense. However, Suggs has not had a sack since the Cleveland game on November 3rd.
Suggs’ career basic stats …
Year |
Age
G
Sk
Yds
Int
Yds
TD
Tkl
Ast
2003
21
16
12.0
97.0
1
11
0
18
8
2004
22
16
10.5
83.5
0
0
0
46
14
2005
23
16
8.0
64.5
2
38
0
47
21
2006
24
16
9.5
64.5
0
0
0
47
18
2007
25
16
5.0
34.0
0
0
0
52
28
2008
26
16
8.0
69.5
2
86
2
53
15
2009
27
13
4.5
33.0
0
0
0
44
15
2010
28
16
11.0
73.0
0
0
0
53
15
2011
29
16
14.0
91.0
2
9
0
52
23
2012
30
8
2.0
15.0
0
0
0
17
6
2013
31
13
9.0
42.0
0
0
0
45
29
Career
162
93.5
667
7
144
2
474
192