How does Pee's react?

[trailhiker85]

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade here, but I'm not ready to place the level of hope in Kindle that others seem to be doing. Here we have a guy who's 2 1/2 years removed from doing serious defensive snaps as a college star. His playing time with the Ravens last year was highly limited after doing nothing in 2010. We know there's a hearing issue (seems to be some question about the severity) and completely apart from that, the combination of an exceptionally long layoff in the wake of his injury raises serious questions about whether he can ever regain his college form, let alone play at NFL-level. OK, maybe JJ or another player was quoted as saying he was "tearing it up" in practice. First, that's a very subjective off the cuff assessment, and secondly, it was just that -- practice.

Yes, Kindle will have his chance now. And hopefully I'll be proven wrong. But I'm no where near being convinced. I really have to wonder if the Ravens will find someone else this summer to use at OLB who would get more playing time than Kindle. In fact, had Suggs not gone down I wonder if Kindle would have even made the team in 2012.

Whether it's Kindle, another guy on the current roster, or a summer FA signing, Suggs can be substituted for but cannot be replaced in terms of effectiveness. It'll be up to Pees & Co. to make effective adjustments. Talk about a challenge for the first year DC -- I think how that turns out will really tell the story of the 2012 season for the Ravens defense.

[leachisabeast]

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade here, but I'm not ready to place the level of hope in Kindle that others seem to be doing. Here we have a guy who's 2 1/2 years removed from doing serious defensive snaps as a college star. His playing time with the Ravens last year was highly limited after doing nothing in 2010. We know there's a hearing issue (seems to be some question about the severity) and completely apart from that, the combination of an exceptionally long layoff in the wake of his injury raises serious questions about whether he can ever regain his college form, let alone play at NFL-level. OK, maybe JJ or another player was quoted as saying he was "tearing it up" in practice. First, that's a very subjective off the cuff assessment, and secondly, it was just that -- practice.

Yes, Kindle will have his chance now. And hopefully I'll be proven wrong. But I'm no where near being convinced. I really have to wonder if the Ravens will find someone else this summer to use at OLB who would get more playing time than Kindle. In fact, had Suggs not gone down I wonder if Kindle would have even made in 2012.

Whether Kindle, another guy on the current roster, or a summer FA signing, Suggs can be substituted for but cannot be replaced in terms of effectiveness. It'll be up to Pees & Co. to make effective adjustments. Talk about a challenge fro the first year DC -- I think how that turns out will really tell the story of the 2012 season for the Ravens defense.

While I tend to agree with you, I hope Kindle proves us wrong by doing this to Andy Dalton on Monday night prime time.

[wickedsolo]

That would be flagged most likely.

You could argue that he led with his helmet.


It'd be really nice if he could destroy some RT's and QB's like that this year though.

[leachisabeast]

That would be flagged most likely.

You could argue that he led with his helmet.


It'd be really nice if he could destroy some RT's and QB's like that this year though.

Yeah that's true haha, lets say that is BJGE or Bernard Scott then!

[pslholder96]

If in fact Suggs misses the entire season and guys like Kindle, Kruger and Upshaw don't step up and adequately fill his shoes then you better believe Pees will dial back the pressure and exotic schemes. Everything is now predicated on whether these guys step up. Even more of a reason for the offense to step up it's game.

[leachisabeast]

Just so everyone knows, Dean Pees had a pretty successful career in New England as the DC. In each of his seasons, the Patriots defense ranked in the top 10. I'm not really sure what sort of blitz schemes he used to use, but I know that the Patriots pass rush was always pretty good between 2006 and 2009, and that was working with a less talented defensive team than what the Ravens have right now, even without Suggs.

[blacknpurplepain]

I think they held him back last year so he could learn the playbook better and make sure he was totally healed. I just hope he doesn't shy away from hitting bc of the head injury. They probably figured it was no rush bring him back since they had players at OLB anyway

[Carey]

Idk, this may just be me but even if this was Kindle rookie season i find it hard to think that once OTA's, Training Camp and Preseason is done that they wouldnt have him up to speed enough to at least rush the QB 10 to 15 snaps per game. No assignments or reads...just go get the QB. If he proves he can handle more fine but he should at least be able to go after the QB.

[wickedsolo]

Idk, this may just be me but even if this was Kindle rookie season i find it hard to think that once OTA's, Training Camp and Preseason is done that they wouldnt have him up to speed enough to at least rush the QB 10 to 15 snaps per game. No assignments or reads...just go get the QB. If he proves he can handle more fine but he should at least be able to go after the QB.

Those snaps were taken by Kruger last year because Kruger was behing JJ.

Now that JJ's gone and Kruger is likely going to be starting those 10-15 snaps of just "get get'em" can go to Kindle.

[Carey]

Those snaps were taken by Kruger last year because Kruger was behing JJ.

Now that JJ's gone and Kruger is likely going to be starting those 10-15 snaps of just "get get'em" can go to Kindle.

My thoughts exactly, and i dont think thats too much to ask. The physical is there, hopefully this offseason will get him up to speed on the mental. And thats not to say he doesnt know what he's doing, to some extent im sure he doesnt but if your playing behind Suggs, JJ and Kruger and your a meh ST player then you will have trouble getting on the field. You put him on a team that doesnt have as much talent maybe he's already a sub package rusher.

[blacknpurplepain]

Idk, this may just be me but even if this was Kindle rookie season i find it hard to think that once OTA's, Training Camp and Preseason is done that they wouldnt have him up to speed enough to at least rush the QB 10 to 15 snaps per game. No assignments or reads...just go get the QB. If he proves he can handle more fine but he should at least be able to go after the QB.

I agree totally but I am more worried about him not going all out bc of he head injury. There are ways around the hearing isssue

[LC_Ravens_87]

Here's Jamison's opinion as to changes in scheme this year
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/pos...-without-suggs

In general, I think he's right on. The Ravens will have one of the deepest CB units in the league next year and Ed Reed on the back end. Leverage that and blitz, blitz, blitz.

Bigger issue will be how they play the run. With Suggs, the Ravens could stop most teams running even in the nickel (except the Pats in the Championship game but at that point Ngata was likely quite injured). Without Suggs, you have to think teams are going to be able to matchup a lot more effectively against the Ravens personnel. 2 CBs pass, 3 CBs run it. Silver lining might be that in their base package, JJ had become a pass coverage liability which hopefully will be tightened up depending on who takes over for him.

Either way, time for the young guys on the front 7 to step up.

[wickedsolo]

I may be alone in this thought, but IMO the guy who needs to step up the most is not Kindle or Kruger or Upshaw. It's Art Jones.

When Corey Redding was out there on the field and able to really get into it and generate pass rush the entire defense played a lot better. Jones is bigger than Redding, but he's pretty damn athletic too. He'll likely be a starter with McPhee working in behind him.

Art Jones could really be a major catalyst for opening things up along the DL for Ngata, Cody, Kruger, Upshaw, and whoever else.

[Carey]

I may be alone in this thought, but IMO the guy who needs to step up the most is not Kindle or Kruger or Upshaw. It's Art Jones.

When Corey Redding was out there on the field and able to really get into it and generate pass rush the entire defense played a lot better. Jones is bigger than Redding, but he's pretty damn athletic too. He'll likely be a starter with McPhee working in behind him.

Art Jones could really be a major catalyst for opening things up along the DL for Ngata, Cody, Kruger, Upshaw, and whoever else.

Your definetely not alone, im pushing for Jones to start in place of Redding...thus keeping Mcphee in his role as a pass rusher while he also evolves and gets more snaps. I think it would be the best way to utilize both players.

[Justlovemybirds]

I may be alone in this thought, but IMO the guy who needs to step up the most is not Kindle or Kruger or Upshaw. It's Art Jones.

When Corey Redding was out there on the field and able to really get into it and generate pass rush the entire defense played a lot better. Jones is bigger than Redding, but he's pretty damn athletic too. He'll likely be a starter with McPhee working in behind him.

Art Jones could really be a major catalyst for opening things up along the DL for Ngata, Cody, Kruger, Upshaw, and whoever else.

Art has been putting serious work in the offseason with his brother, he's another guy I'm excited to see consider (if not for injury) he could have been drafter much higher.

[JimZipCode]

Is Michael McAdoo going to bring anything, this year?

[seraph]

I remember how Patriot fans hated Dean Pees. The Fairbanks-Bullough defense that Pees is familiar with fits with the Ravens 2 gap scheme so not much is going to change even with Suggs gone.

[Tucker: M&T Sec 527]

Exactly, the talent is there it just needs to show up on game day.

Apparently w/ Kindle, it also needs to show up in practice. The dude was a game day inactive most of the season. He's had some bad breaks. Narcolepsey is not his fault ,and to the extent it has been involved in his driving into walls or falling down stairs, he gets a pass. However, booze and bad judgements could also explain such mishaps. Methinks he's not the brightest bulb on the string, which could account for both his difficulty mastering NFL defensive schemes and the misadventures. We the fans will never know for sure. Let's hope for no more boo-boos, and that a normal/full off-season and TC gets him ready to take advantage of the bad situation of Suggs going down, cause it's all hands on deck time.

[Ravenous1]

I may be alone in this thought, but IMO the guy who needs to step up the most is not Kindle or Kruger or Upshaw. It's Art Jones.

When Corey Redding was out there on the field and able to really get into it and generate pass rush the entire defense played a lot better. Jones is bigger than Redding, but he's pretty damn athletic too. He'll likely be a starter with McPhee working in behind him.

Art Jones could really be a major catalyst for opening things up along the DL for Ngata, Cody, Kruger, Upshaw, and whoever else.

Excellent point. Everyone is so focused on Kindle, Kruger and Upshaw. If Jones and McPhee can take the next step and be disruptive that is going to help the guys on the outside and open up a lot for them

[The Excellector]

This could put more emphasis on getting quality run defense from the big guys up front, which could lead to more snaps for Jones, over McPhee.