This is the third part of a series where I’ll list those players who I believe to be most critical for the Ravens this season. Obviously, every Ravens player is important, as football is the ultimate team game. This is a list, though, that looks at players who are on on track for a breakout season, play a position at which the Ravens desperately need help, or are stepping up to take a leadership role.
Click here for Part 1: Numbers 20-17
Click here for Part 2: Numbers 16-13
In this edition of the countdown, we’ll take a look at a dynamic wide receiver, a converted safety, the team’s leader in sacks from a year ago, and a free agent signing that could be the x-factor of the entire team.
Players 12-9
No. 12: WR Mike Wallace
Here’s the deal with Mike Wallace: He’s as fast a wide receiver as there is in the NFL, he can make really good defenders look silly, and he’s scored an average of seven touchdowns per season throughout his seven-year career.
With Steve Smith, Sr. returning form a torn achilles and with Breshad Perriman’s debut still in doubt, Wallace fills a pressing need. Moreover, Baltimore got him for a good price, too, at $3.5 million against the cap in 2016.
There’s one (potential) problem with Wallace: his commitment. The NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington (via Yahoo!) reported that, during Miami’s 2014 finale against the Jets, Wallace took himself out of the game with 2:49 left in the first half. Per Darlington, “Several [teammates] tell me they felt like he abandoned them when needed.”
Seven months later, Wallace told his side of the story to CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco:
“I did not quit,” Wallace insisted. “It didn’t happen like that. I don’t remember what I said, but it wasn’t anything like I am not playing. It definitely wasn’t that. I would never quit on my teammates. Anybody who said I did wasn’t there. The only ones who were there were coach Philbin and my assistant receivers coach. That’s it. Anybody else is making it up. They have no idea.
“When they told me I wasn’t playing in the second half, I wanted to knock over the Gatorade. I wanted to do this and do that, f— this and f— that. But I didn’t do it. I know I was frustrated and said some things I shouldn’t have said. But I never said I didn’t want to play in the game.”
Wallace averages more yards per reception over his career (15.2) than Julio Jones (15.0), A.J. Green (14.9), or DeAndre Hopkins (14.8), and he’s been playing longer than any of them. However, where there’s smoke, there’s either a fire or a fire has just been put out. My advice to Ravens fans is to welcome Wallace, and trust that if a problem does arise, John Harbaugh and Steve Smith, Sr. will be among the first to address it.
No. 11: FS Lardarius Webb
There are only nine other Ravens older (including Joe Flacco) than Lardarius Webb. He has been in the league since 2009 and has made a lot of plays in various alignments on Baltimore’s defense. This year, he’s moving from cornerback to free safety.
I’m kind of conflicted on Webb. On one hand, I think about his contract. If I’m Steve Bisciotti, it’s hard for me to justify paying Webb $22.5 million over the next two years, especially considering Webb has made only 12 interceptions in seven seasons.
On the other hand, I think about Webb’s toughness and perseverance. In 2012, he played in only six games before suffering a torn ACL. In 2013, his comeback included starting every game, making 75 tackles, and defensing 23 passes.
He’s an important player for the 2016 Ravens for two main reasons. First, his tenure. After Terrell Suggs (14), Sam Koch (11), Marshal Yanda (11), and Joe Flacco (9), Webb, entering his 8th season, has been with the Ravens longer than any other player. When a team like Baltimore is re-vamping its defense, a stable veteran is vital.
Second, Webb’s versatility is something Dean Pees will need throughout this season. Figuring out who you should keep and who you should cut is a tough process to undertake. Figuring out where to place those players on your depth chart once you keep them is an even tougher task.
Taking into account the diversity of NFL passing attacks, a coach must be able to, on the fly, call on a player that knows every defensive back position and is able to execute the subsequent assignment. Webb can do that.
And, according to Jeff Zrebiec, Webb is getting a significant look at punt returner–a position the Ravens are desperate to fill.
No. 10: OLB Elvis Dumervil
The Ravens need to sack the quarterback more than they did in 2015, plain and simple. Last year, Baltimore recorded 37 sacks, which saw them finish tied for 17th in that department.
Since when have the Ravens been known for being average defensively?
Elvis Dumervil led the team in sacks last year, which isn’t a surprise. It is, surprising, though, that his total sack number was just six.
Sacks are a sign of consistent pressure on the quarterback: up the middle, off the edges, and tight coverage downfield. Between Brandon Williams, Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith, and Jimmy Smith, Baltimore has the personnel to allow Dumervil plenty of opportunities to sack the quarterback.
That’s especially good news for “Doom,” as he’s four sacks shy of 100 for his career. Only 31 players in NFL history have eclipsed the 100-sack mark.
Perhaps his first shot at reaching that milestone will be at home in Week 4 against the Raiders–a team against whom he’s recorded nine sacks in 13 career games.
No. 9: SS Eric Weddle
Speaking of former AFC West defensive stars, we now come to Eric Weddle. Signed as a free agent in March, Weddle is an exceptional addition to Baltimore’s defense. He’s a two-time First-Team All-Pro (2011, 2014).
At the NFL owner’s meetings in March, Mike McCoy, Weddle’s former head coach, spoke about Weddle’s value to his team:
“He is an outstanding football player who is one of the smartest defenders I’ve ever been around,” McCoy said at the NFL owners meetings last week. … “Having worked with quarterbacks for a long time, he was the quarterback of the defense,” McCoy said. “It’s amazing.”
I don’t expect Weddle to be an All-Pro this year. He might make the Pro Bowl, but even if he doesn’t, I can’t foresee his impact being minimal. His fearlessness will translate to confidence for younger Ravens defenders, and he will be a natural fit in the AFC North.
Think Bernard Pollard with better coverage skill.
