The Ravens quickly turned the page on the difficult loss to the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs last season.
As we all painfully remember the defense, particulary the injury depleted secondary giving away two 14 point leads, torching the opportunity to appear in its fourth AFC Championship game in organizational history.
All eyes and attention have shifted focus towards training camp and the 2015 season. Much has changed for the better, at least on paper, to correct the mistakes made throughout 2014 and the postseason.
The one thing the Ravens need to remain the same this season is the play of Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs.
Last season, the defense, led by Suggs and Dumervil, the Ravens racked up the NFL’s second-most sacks (49, tied with Philly), boasted the No. 2 red zone defense and allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game (88.3).
Suggs didn’t exactly get off to a great start as the veteran reported to minicamp in what he called “walking around weight” instead of his normal playing weight.
“I’m not out of shape,” remarked Suggs following practice on Tuesday. “As you can clearly see, I can participate in practice without getting hurt and without getting tired, but I’m definitely not at my fighting weight.”
Entering year 13, Suggs is just the 31st player in NFL history with 100-career sacks and admittedly took it easy this offseason giving a chance for his 32-year old body to heal.
“I think it was really just taking my time,” said the former NFL defensive Player of the Year. “I kind of let my body heal from the physical abuse of last season.”
“Usually around this time I’m ready to go. I didn’t want to stress about anything coming in. I just kind of wanted to let my body heal, take a little bit of time. But I think come July, I’ll be ready to go.”
Being “ready to go” is a must as the defense will be counting on the 12 sacks he notched in 2014.
His counterpart, Elvis Dumervil is equally important to Dean Pees’ defense after losing promising pass rusher Pernell McPhee during March’s free agency frenzy.
Last season Dumervil earned his fourth Pro Bowl appearance after recording a franchise-record and career-high-tying 17 sacks (fourth time in his career he produced double digit sacks). The 17 QB drops were the NFL’s third-highest total, while his -127.5 sack yards ranked second and are also a franchise record. Along with Suggs (12) the pair combined to form the NFL’s top sack duo (a franchise-record 29 QB drops.)
With Suggs and Doom sharing a common thread of sacking opposing quarterbacks the two have separate ways of preparing for training camp and the season that lies ahead.
“Everybody is different,” replied Dumervil when asked about he prepared the same as Suggs this offseason. “We may be from the same cloth, but we’re cut different.”
“For me, I go about it differently. That doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong. We all have different ways we prepare, so for me, I just like to go out and … You never know when it’s your day, so I just try to go every day. I can’t afford to pace it.”
His offseason regime was noticed over the course of the three-day minicamp as the veteran reported in shape and played an extended number of reps much like he did last season.
It is important to note that nothing much matters when it comes to minicamp and the on-field play cannot truly be judged until the team straps the pads on.
Looking to build upon his play of last year, the 31-year-old doesn’t feel as if opposing players will approach him differently after the success he endured last season.
“I have [career] 90 sacks. It’s not like … I’ve been in the league almost 10 years now, so I don’t think I will catch anybody by surprise,” he remarked. “It’s all about just working on your craft, being around good teammates and good play-calling, and you just go out and execute.”
The Ravens will certainly need both Suggs and Dumervil ready to go out of the chute in 2015 with Peyton Manning looming in week one.
It’s expected the team will handle both vets with ease during training camp providing ample days off so it’s a must that both use their down time wisely.
And that’s where Dumervil is clearly ahead of Suggs this offseason.
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