During the 2013 season Arthur Brown struggled with some nagging injuries yet still made his way on to the field during 14 of the Ravens’ 16 games, inactive just twice. This year, assuming he dresses for the remainder of the 2014 campaign, Brown will suit up a total of 12 regular season games.
The team’s scouts and coaches say Brown will be a very good player.
Some say he will remind you at times of the San Francisco 49ers NaVorro Bowman.
When they drafted the former Kansas State Wildcat the team claimed to be elated since Brown, a linebacker the Ravens say they had a first round grade on, was still available with the 56th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Yet here we are in season two of Brown’s career, assured that he has made strides in Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees’ offense, and he still can’t find his way on to the field.
Other teams have inquired about Brown’s availability via trade. Perhaps they too are curious about the linebacker’s lack of playing time and think they can acquire his top-end athleticism for something less than the price the Ravens paid.
But the Ravens won’t bite – at least not yet.
Many have asked if Brown occupies a place in John Harbaugh’s doghouse.
That’s not it. The book on Brown is that he’s a great guy.
The most common “justification” for Brown’s inactivity is that he is less accomplished as a special teams player than two undrafted players – Albert McClellan and Zachary Orr.
The Ravens dressed six safeties on Sunday, only two of which were drafted.
Brown and his alleged athleticism can’t get beyond these guys on teams?
And by the way, isn’t the emphasis on special teams a bit overstated?
Think about this…
- Justin Tucker has kicked off 23 times this season. All but 3 were touchbacks.
- Sam Koch has 10 punts this season and only 4 were actually returned.
- Jacoby Jones has set up to catch 13 punts this season – 5 were returned.
- Jacoby Jones has dropped back to field 17 kickoffs this season and has returned only four.
So of the 63 potential special teams plays (excluding field goal attempts and PAT’s) only 16 of those plays involved blocking and tackling.
You can’t tell me that those 4 competed plays per game are worth keeping Brown in street clothes in order to dress a total of 6 undrafted players.
It just doesn’t make sense.
If you don’t buy it and I don’t buy it you have to wonder how Brown is handling it.
Another disturbing trend (at least for me) with the Ravens is their apparent hesitancy to trust young players and therefore the coaching staff gives them little in the way of playing time despite the presence of some untrustworthy veterans, Arthur Brown being one example.
There are others…
Terrence Brooks possesses a nose for the football, excellent closing speed and a willingness to hit. Yet he gives way to Darian Stewart who can’t be trusted in a basic Cover 2 alignment and has been an inconsistent tackler.
Jacoby Jones has three rather insignificant catches this season for a total of 20 yards to go with three rather significant drops for a whole lot more real estate. Meanwhile rookie Michael Campanaro, according to a team source, has looked great in practice and demonstrated veteran savvy during the preseason. But like Brown and Brooks, Camp can’t get on the field either.
When will the training wheels come off?
Lastly, many fans have criticized Pees for his bend but don’t break philosophy, preferring instead the organized chaos masterminded by Rex Ryan and later implemented by a once-removed successor, Chuck Pagano.
But keep in mind the expression “organized chaos” is just that – organized.
The many moving parts that give opposing quarterbacks the feeling of chaos require players to know each other well and to be able to communicate in unspoken ways. And that takes playing time together – a lot of it. It also requires film study junkies in the front seven and in the back end, something the Ravens once had with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
Today Pees has to play with a patchwork secondary and aging pass rushers. To blitz too many and too often would only serve to further expose the secondary.
The sometimes-conservative approach is not as flashy, it’s not as fun and it doesn’t match up well with the collective DNA of a traditional Ravens defense.
But given the personnel and their deficiencies and the learning curves to be traveled, things aren’t so bad. The Ravens defense is ranked 13th in the league in yards per game (343) and they are tied for second in points per game (15).
For now, maybe “bend but don’t break” isn’t such a bad thing.
