Baltimore Ravens Still Need a Middle Linebacker
By Joe Serpico
The Baltimore Ravens have addressed almost every weakness except at middle linebacker. They are running out of options at this point of the offseason.
The Ravens have always been known for having great play from their inside backers. Ray Lewis is the most celebrated middle linebacker in franchise history, but he is not the only one to enjoy success in Baltimore.
Bart Scott was a force next to Lewis. So was Ed Hartwell. Once Ray hung them up, it was up to Daryl Smith and C.J. Mosley to keep the tradition alive. That is until the Ravens parted ways with Smith this offseason.
General Manager Ozzie Newsome has done a terrific job of addressing every major need this offseason. They needed players in the secondary so they added Eric Weddle, Jerraud Powers and rookies Tavon Young and Maurice Canady. Playmakers on offense so they brought in Mike Wallace and Ben Watson. The pass rush should be better with three picks in the draft used on pass rushers.
The only hole that still remains is at middle linebacker. The Ravens have a stud in Mosley, but with Smith out the door, they need someone to start alongside him. The current makeup of the roster has Arthur Brown, a 2013 second-round draft choice that has been a failure, and four undrafted free agents that will battle for the spot next to Mosley.
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Albert McClellan signed a three-year deal this offseason so the team will likely keep him around this season. Zach Orr was the Ravens best inside linebacker last season, according to Pro Football Focus, but has not sold me yet. They also have Brennan Beyer and Cavellis Luckett in the mix. While everyone likes to root for undrafted players, they usually are not the most talented the players.
That’s what makes us wonder why not one middle linebacker with talent has been added to the group.
Heading into the draft, many wanted the team to draft UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. The Ravens passed on him not once, but twice, and failed to draft an inside backer. They brought in Luckett, who does have great speed with coverage ability. That’s the type of player the defense needs, but again, there has to be a reason why he went undrafted.
It makes little sense that nothing has been done to address the position. The Ravens used the second phase of free agency to add Powers, Vladimir Ducasse and Josh Johnson. They didn’t desperately need another corner, guard or quarterback as much as a linebacker.
I am already on the record of saying that Ozzie should give DeMeco Ryans‘ agent a phone call. Ryans is one of the few experienced players available that could step right in and produce. If not Ryan, get someone who can play in coverage. For as terrific as Mosley has been, he is a liability in the passing game.
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Everyone is about to find out just how important Daryl Smith was to this team. Maybe Ozzie has something else in the works that we do not know about, but right now, the heart of the Ravens defense is missing a key piece.