Courtney Upshaw boarded a
train from New York to Baltimore late Friday night, a short journey that
delivered the latest defensive standout to the Baltimore Ravens’ roster.
The Ravens were intent on upgrading a pass rush headlined by NFL
Defensive Player of the Year outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.
And they wanted to reinforce a run defense left with a gaping hole
after the departure of gritty outside linebacker Jarret Johnson when he signed
a $19 million contract with the San Diego Chargers.
By drafting Upshaw, an imposing Alabama All-American outside
linebacker Courtney Upshaw in the second round with the 35th overall pick
obtained via a trade from the Minnesota Vikings, the defending AFC North
champions are confident they’ve accomplished both goals.
As a run-stuffing presence setting the edge of the defense, the
stout 6-foot-2, 272-pounder provides an accomplished, productive skill with his
ability to anchor, shed blocks and make tackles.
"I think that’s his specialty," Ravens director of
player personnel Eric DeCosta said. "That’s one of the things that was so
attractive about him. He plays like a junkyard dog. He has a strong punch. He’s
a physical, violent football player. We’re excited about that.
"That’s not an easy position to play. A lot of guys can’t do
that. A lot of guys can rush the passer. A lot of guys can drop and play in
space, but setting the edge is really one of the most important things at that
position. We feel this guy can do that."
Upshaw endured a long wait in the green room at Radio City Music
Hall in New York.
He arrives in Baltimore after watching his Alabama teammates Trent
Richardson, Mark Barron, Dont’a Hightower and Dre’ Kirkpatrick all went in the
first round.
After trading out of the first round where they considered taking
Upshaw with the 29th overall pick, the Ravens were still able to obtain Upshaw
after passing over Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill, Wisconsin center
Peter Konz and University of Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn.
"The wait was a little frustrating at times, but I’m very
excited and very happy to be chosen in the second round and by the Baltimore
Ravens," Upshaw said during a conference call with Baltimore reporters. "I
wasn’t shocked. I went into today kind of hoping that I’d be a Baltimore Raven.
I can’t do nothing but smile once I got the call.
"I started the tough-guy act going. My family would get
teary-eyed. I didn’t want them to see me getting down. Not down, but teary-eyed
and crying and all that. I’m very excited and I’m ready to get it going."
Once projected as a lock for the top 10 overall selections,
Upshaw’s stock dropped as he had a sluggish Senior Bow l and didn’t work out at
NFL scouting combine due to tendinitis in his knee.
Upshaw wasn’t thrilled with his campus Pro Day workout where he
ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds and registered a 27-inch vertical leap and
a 9-1 broad jump.
And the native of Eufaula, Ala., faced some scrutiny from NFL
teams due to an arrest three years ago along with his girlfriend where he was
charged with misdemeanor domestic violence and third-degree harassment. The
case was eventually dismissed after Upshaw completed an anger management
course.
The Ravens had a strong comfort level, though, with Upshaw.
General manager Ozzie Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end who played
for the late Bear Bryant for the Crimson Tide, knows the Alabama program and
coach Nick Saban as well as anyone in the industry.
Ultimately, how Upshaw performed on the field mattered far more to
the Ravens than how he performed for a stopwatch.
"When you talk about Courtney, there still is a game we call
football and Courtney is a football player," Newsome said.
"Obviously, he played at the alma mater of myself and I had the
opportunity to watch him a lot. I’m sure if you would have asked us back in
October, November if Courtney would make it to the third pick in the second
round, everybody would have said, ‘Probably not. He was a guy that we talked
about at No. 29 also."
Upshaw recorded 141 career tackles, 36 1/2 for losses, 17 1/2
sack, 18 quarterback pressures, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Last season, he emerged as an All-American as he finished with 52
tackles, 17 for losses, 8 1/2 sacks and one interception.
Upshaw plays the game with a hard-nosed temperament, freeing
himself from blockers and delivering some punishing hits. Operating in Saban’s
NFL style schemes, Upshaw has lined up as a defensive end with his hand in the
dirt and as a rush outside linebacker.
He did his best work attacking the line of scrimmage rather than
retreating into pass coverage.
"He is a really explosive player and heavy-handed,"
Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz said. "He plays hard, and
he is versatile. He has played with his hand down and up, so he can stand up on
two feet and play and then get down and play in the sub packages as a
rusher."
Upshaw will compete with Paul Kruger for the starting strongside
linebacker position vacated by Johnson.
For now, Kruger remains first on the depth chart.
"Obviously, it bolsters our linebacker situation," coach
John Harbaugh said. "I think Paul is still the lead dog there. It will
give us another pass rusher. There will certainly be tremendous depth.
Obviously, it makes us more physical on defense."
Upshaw visited the Ravens and also participated in a private
workout. Now, he
becomes a part of the third-ranked defense in the NFL from last season.
"I’m a tough, physical player," Upshaw said. "I
feel like I’m relentless and I get after the ball. I’m a playmaker. At the end
of the day, I’m a football player. I love the game."
