Providing leadership has always been the forte of the Ravens linebacker corps.
From Ray Lewis‘ Hall of Fame career to the smooth transition Daryl Smith provided upon Lewis’ retirement, the ‘Mike’ is one of the most important positions on defense.
After the Ravens released Daryl Smith in March to save precious Cap space, C.J. Mosley became the leader in the middle of the defense.
Entering his third year in purple and black, Mosley, one of 63 players who reported to the Ravens offseason workout program Monday, is up for the challenge.
“I think I have to be more of a vocal leader more this year, especially being at ‘Mike’ now,” responded Mosley on Tuesday as he spoke to the media for the first time this offseason. “It’s going to take time to get comfortable with it.”
“It’s not [like] me to be the one to talk a lot, but once everybody starts getting together and once the group that’s here now starts going through OTAs together, that leadership part will start kicking in.”
The Ravens 2014 first-round draft pick excelled in his first year. That year he became the first ever Ravens rookie to make the Pro Bowl. Mosley, however, struggled to contain opposing tight ends and running backs in coverage last season.
“He played very well,” Ravens head coach Harbaugh stated at seasons end last year. “He has played a lot better the second half the season than the first half — as has our defense as a whole.
“C.J. has a great career in front of him. The other thing that has showed up a couple times that is probably under the radar are some of his leadership things,” added Harbaugh. “It’s just conversations here and there, things that he has asked other players to do, that far exceed his years in the league.”
Just how does Mosley become more of a vocal leader for a Ravens defense?
“Honestly, I think it’s just a mindset thing, because you can always be a leader by example,” said Mosley. “But when you feel, ‘OK, somebody needs to say something,’ that’s when you have to be like: ‘Alright, it’s my time to do that,’ whether it’s just talking to somebody on the side or [if I] see somebody struggling and just talking to him, keeping his head up.
“[It’s about] being a leader any kind of way you can.”
Leadership has been brought up often since #52 rode off into the sunset and Mosley, who has all the ability in the world, could provide it for years to come on a young Ravens defense.
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