After the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl season, the front office knew there was a real cause for concern when it came to attacking opposing quarterbacks. As with every Super Bowl team, there is little hope to retain free agents as is, but it’s particularly difficult to keep ones that made a name for themselves during the postseason run.
Following a season that prodced a Lombardi Trophy and 39 quarterback sacks, 2013 took on a new look for a team that built its legacy on defense. Their top pass rushers outside of Terrell Suggs (Paul Kruger- 9 sacks, Dannell Ellerbe – 4.5 sacks, and Arthur Jones – 4.5 sacks) all departed via free agency and the Ravens drastically needed help.
Enter Elvis Dumervil.
The Ravens jumped on the opportunity to bring the fierce pass rushing threat to Baltimore after the Denver Broncos’ fax machine snafu. Signing the three-time Pro Bowler (2009, 2011-12) on March 26, 2013, the Ravens knew they struck free agency gold as they found their player to line up opposite of Terrell Suggs.
Dumervil’s debut season in Baltimore – his first in a non-Broncos uniform – started off with a bang when the veteran recorded a sack in each of the Ravens’ first two games. Elvis followed up with zero sacks the next two games and collected just five and a half sacks prior to missing a week eight match-up with Cleveland due to an injury.
After a resurgent Dumervil returned to action the following week and recorded three quarterback take downs, the pass rusher ended the 2013 season with a total of 9.5 sacks including just one sack after week nine. With hindsight always 20/20, many wondered if the Ravens made a huge mistake inking him to a $26 million that included a $7.5 million signing bonus with $11 million guaranteed.
What a difference a year can make!
When the Ravens hit the fields at the Under Armour Performance Center for OTA’s and training camp in 2014, it appeared as if there was a new Elvis Dumervil. The All-Pro added at least 10 pounds to his 5-11 frame and the talk throughout the summer centered on whether Dumervil’s weight would hamper or improve the NFL’s 2009 sack leader.
It’s certainly clear now just how much it helped Dumervil as he earned his fourth Pro-Bowl honor. “Doom” ranked third in the NFL in sacks with 17 and cashed in a $1 million one-time incentive clause when he recorded his 12th sack this season.
In just his second year in purple, Dumervil set the Ravens’ single-season sacks record.
He and his counterpart Suggs (12 sacks) wreaked havoc on opposing signal callers, combining to produce the most sacks (29) among any NFL duo in 2014.
Dumervil’s regular season production carried over to the Wild Card round as he took down Ben Roethlisberger twice in the Ravens’ 30-17 victory.
With the Ravens advancing to the Divisional Round of the playoffs where they’ll meet Tom Brady and the Patriots, Dumervil has drawn concerns from Brady.
“[Elvis] Dumervil has had a phenomenal year,” Brady told Boston radio WEEI 93.7 when asked about the Ravens vaunted pass rush. “He’s been a great player since he’s been in the league, that’s why Baltimore signed him.”
For Elvis, he’s just keeping his eye on the ultimate prize, a victory over the Patriots and the chance to play for a trip to the Super Bowl as a member of his new team and family.
“That’s one of the reasons I came to Baltimore, to be in a situation like this,” said Elvis following practice on Tuesday. “I think [it’s a team of] proven winners, a first-class organization from top to down, and we’re winners. That’s why I chose to come to Baltimore, and that’s why I’m here.”
Follow me on Twitter @sportguyRSR
