OTL: Crabcakes &…Dominant Leaders at MLB

I’m convinced that growing up watching Ravens football makes you view the game differently than other fan bases. For most fans, the identity of your team comes from an offensive superstar, most often a QB, and that’s completely understandable. Between the importance of the quarterback position and the rise in popularity of fantasy football, it makes sense that young fans growing up watching the game would gravitate toward offensive playmakers. Of course, in the true nature of Baltimore sports, we do things a little differently around here. As appreciative as I am that the Ravens have a bevy of offensive weapons, the identity of Ravens football for me will always and forever be defined by defense.

Since the franchise’s inception, the Ravens have had the hallmark of smash-mouth, physical, defensive football. Throughout the years, the defining feature of Ravens squads past was always vocal leadership from their defensive superstars, and as you read this, I’m sure you’re all conjuring to mind pregame speeches from guys like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs. In the time since their departures, guys like Pernell McPhee and Calais Campbell stepped up to provide the voice of a veteran standout on defense, but it felt like the unit was still looking for their centerpiece, that guy who captured the heartbeat of what a Ravens defense is all about.

Last season, they got him.

The Terminator. The Operator. Agent Zero. Whatever you call him, he’s a natural-born Raven.

Whatever you wanna call him, Roquan Smith is lethal 😤@Ravens | @InsideTheNFL pic.twitter.com/d4rUMUjKm1

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) September 11, 2023

It’s no secret to any of you readers that have been watching Roquan Smith since his mid-season acquisition last year that the dude has been an absolute stud. He’s a guy who carries old-school energy (in all the right ways) at just 26 years old. He operates with the mentality that respect is earned and not given, and yet it’s commonplace to hear him greet folks around the facility with a “sir” or “ma’am.” There are very few frills to him; you can frequently see the small-town guy from Montezuma, Georgia rocking a basic T-shirt and some jeans as he walks to and from his pickup. When it’s gametime, he’s the same way: no frills, no pomp and circumstance, nothing but hard-nosed Ravens football. That mentality has put him quickly into the good graces of his teammates and fans. Case in point, who did the Ravens social media team feature in their Victory Monday post?

VICTORY MONDAY MOOD. 😈 pic.twitter.com/vgU67ncEQe

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 2, 2023

There’s been no shortage of conversation around Smith from outlets covering the Ravens; in fact, our own Derek Arnold wrote a piece last week highlighting Roquan and Ray doing a joint film session. Yesterday, Jeff Zrebiec penned a piece about Smith as well, focusing on his impact before, during, and after Sunday’s game, and that impact helped inspire this piece.

Roquan Smith sets the tone for this Ravens team with both his words and his play. The Ravens followed his lead Sunday in overwhelming the Browns and they need to keep doing it. Baltimore has an opportunity to take early control of the AFC North. https://t.co/M3W5zkPuJS

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 2, 2023

In case you missed it, in media availability prior to Sunday’s game, Roquan was asked about facing off against the Browns on the road. He made his intentions clear: if the Ravens were going to win at the Dawg Pound, the big dogs had to come ready to eat.

Roquan Smith, with smile on his face, before the Ravens trip to Cleveland: “We going over to beat their tails in front of their wife and kids.”pic.twitter.com/mBw2ILN2h7

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 28, 2023

Now, them’s fightin’ words, and understandably, some of the Browns players didn’t take them too well.

Still, Roquan made it no secret what he intended, both before and after the game. He’s not going to back down from a challenge, no matter the opponent, the day of the week, or the odds. If you want to get the best of the Ravens defense, no amount of “bulletin board material” is going to help you unless you’re ready to come get some.

Roquan Smith: “Honestly, if you need bulletin board material, you’re playing the game for the wrong reasons. I don’t need anybody to say anything to me because guess what, when that whistle blows, I’m going 100 mph all game long.” pic.twitter.com/4BRjmVaGGA

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) October 1, 2023

I love it. I’m all about this mentality, and it’s translated into results from the entire defense. Not only has Roquan’s presence allowed Patrick Queen to be more versatile in his approach, but the linebackers have been able to generate pressures even without their top two EDGEs available.

The highest graded linebacker in the NFL per @PFF

Roquan Smith

Run Defense: 84.3 (5th/78)
Coverage: 85.4 (2nd/74)
Pass Rush: 59.6 (22nd/42)

Overall: 89.4 (1st/78)

I’d say he was well worth that 2nd round pick 😈 #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/Eq4mjPKDua

— ⚡️Garrett Ferguson⚡️ (@GarrettSprints) October 2, 2023

"We have a lot of ‘dawgs,’ a lot of hungry guys on this defense, a lot of guys that just want to out there, compete and make plays. That’s what makes us good, and I love it.” pic.twitter.com/wewx9fXWmA

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 2, 2023

It’s not just about what he’s doing out there, either. It’s about how he’s doing it. Look at these two plays from Sunday and tell me that’s not Ravens football.

What it looks like to get hit by Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen at the same time. 😮 pic.twitter.com/B9lyPGxi0m

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) October 2, 2023

How is this not a personal foul? Elijah Moore is wrapped up and going down. Roquan Smith comes in and rips off his helmet off with both hands and throws it. No flag. No comment from the announcers. #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/NaHlw717Nt

— Roberto Shenanigans (@Rob_Shenanigans) October 1, 2023

Roquan would later say, “a couple [Browns] came up trying to do a lil chop chop after number eight’s helmet came off. He should’ve had it tighter. When you’re going out there, you’re supposed to have your helmet skrapped up tight. So that’s his fault.”

He’s talented as hell, but that doesn’t stop him from being a mean, nasty force over the middle of the field, and I keep catching myself thinking about how it feels like he’s always been here. The middle of that defense is right where he belongs, and the long-term contract he inked last season means that his #0 will be a welcome sight for us for years to come, and the source of nightmares for AFC North opponents. With a road showdown against the Steelers up next on the docket, expect to see Agent Zero setting the tone early and often.