Baltimore Ravens: Is the Defense Underrated Now or the Players?
Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens tackle Timmy Jernigan (97) reacts following his tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Ravens lost what was possibly their most well-known player on the defensive line in Haloti Ngata. The players around him rose up without much attention.
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Fans of the purple and black may not think they are underrated, but to other people, they might just be. Even without the former Pro Bowler, Chris Canty is an 11-year veteran who will certainly take focus away from the other two projected starters: Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan.
The two young guys on the defensive line are pretty unknown and with Canty announcing he expects nothing less than to be a starter, he’s caught the media’s attention for now. Jernigan received a bit of attention his rookie year, but he didn’t do too much to really draw anymore to him.
He didn’t attract attention outside of the organization, but he certainly did within. The Ravens traded Ngata with the confidence that the second-year player could help reinvent the defensive line without the veteran.
The team has to unite to try to adapt without his presence. The team still has the veteran Canty, but it will take more than the current veteran on the line to maintain the defense. The coaches trust Williams also to help the defensive line.
Jernigan and Williams are two players who aren’t very well known in the NFL, and they need to make their name known if they are to maintain the Ravens’ dominant run defense.
The problem with Jernigan’s situation is he could also have a lot of pressure put on him. He, along with the rest of the defensive line, is being asked to continue a dominant run defense that has used Ngata since 2006.
It is hard enough to maintain a dominant defense year-to-year, but to do it without a possible future Hall of Famer, is going to be very difficult and asks a lot from the players. They held teams to less than 90 rushing yards per game and only eight touchdowns last season.
Opponents averaged only 3.6 yards per carry and only eight rushes for 20 or more yards with one of those going for 40 or more. The young players have a lot expected from them to maintain this run defense, which essentially has been the essence of the defense for their entire existence.
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Jernigan made Around the NFL’s list of players they think are going to emerge this season. They predict he could reach double-digit sacks, while accomplishing his own goal of reaching the Pro Bowl.
Williams was described as “underrated” in a brief part about the second-year player’s teammates. Ravens’ fans know he is ready to step up, but he is going to be an underrated player until he proves to the league that he can do great things. This year, he and Jernigan are being given that chance.
As the team often rotates defensive linemen, the rookie Carl Davis is likely to receive playing time. He has been given praise even as a rookie, but even so, he is a “no-name” player.
He and the other defensive linemen are headed into this season with two different perspectives. They are going to be no-names on an individual basis, but they are going to be under tough scrutiny as a defensive unit as they try to repeat the dominance over the run game. They are expected to play like players who are not underrated and have the leagues’ respect.