mayoclinic

I think one of the keys to the game is how we handle DE/DT Haloti Ngata. He is a beast. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if I had to pick any one defensive player in the entire NFL to build my defense around, it would be Ngata. Here's why:

(1) He's young (25). High character kid, no issues. Ed Reed is a fabulous player, but he's 31, with back problems.

(2) He's versatile. At 6'4" 345# he mostly plays DE in the 3-4, but can easily play NT, or 4-3 DT. To have the athleticism to play 3-4 DE at that size is incredibly rare.

(3) He shuts down the run. Despite the NFL becoming a passing league, stopping the run is still critical, and Ngata excels at that. In 2005 the Ravens were 9th in passing defense at 99.4 YPG (just behind the 2005 Patriots, at 98,8 YPG). Then they drafted Ngata. In the 3 full seasons since they have finished 2nd in 2006 (75.9 YPG), 3rd in 2007 (89.9 YPG, despite losing starting DE Trevor Price for almost the entire season), and 3rd in 2008 (81.4 YPG). They currently rank 1st so far in 2009, average a measly 51.0 YPG, over 10 better than 2nd ranked Tennessee. Even the 2000 Ravens with Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa in the middle didn't do that well, giving up 60.6 YPG. The 2003 Pats in comparison allowed 89.6 YPG rushing. The Ravens haven't allowed a 100 yard rusher since Ngata's rookie season.

Ngata hasn't posted the kind of sacks that Seymour did (4.5 in 3 years prior to this year), but to my mind he is the biggest impact 3-4 DL player since vintage Seymour. He doesn't have huge numbers on the stat sheet, but his presence on the DL is what allows Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed to make plays.

Pass rushing DE/OLBs like DeMarcus Ware (25), shut down CBs like Darrell Revis (24) and play making safeties like Troy Polamalu (28) are all tempting, but a great defense starts on the DL, and I can't think of a better player to build around than Ngata.

I can't see Matt Light making much of an impact on Ngata. I'd like to see how Seabass might fare against him.

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Box_O_Rocks

Mankins was the match-up last time, Volmer would not be my choice.

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mayoclinic

I was kind of assuming that either way Mankins would have to play a huge role in containing Ngata. It's going to take more than one guy.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

klinefan

They could put him on Koppen, whom he would absolutely demolish.

I think they need 2 TE for the whole game, lots of dump offs, Brady is good at that. That way they can try to double team Ngata the whole game.

Brady seems rattled with a blitz and dodging linemen...so I think pass pro is a priority.

I like BB's offense last week. I think they mixed it up more. They used to run a single back with Maroney and every time he was back there is was a run up the middle. And he'd find Koppen in his lap most of the time.

mayoclinic

I would like to see what TE Matthews can do.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Nestapats

Couldn't agree more Mayo. Ngata is extremely dangerous. I never felt like the ravens Defense would be much weaker after losing Scott and Leonhard because of the D-line staying intact. This could be a key-factor in the game sunday. We have to double team the guy every play. Pretty intersting too is that this ravens D has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in a couple of years. Probably going to see alot of passing.

H8R

Just for the record, Ed Reed has a nerve impingement in his neck, no back problems.

I appreciate the love for Haloti, we can't get enough of him. He is a beast, one of the most under rated players on our Dline is Kelly Gregg though. Kelly is the true run stopper for us and like Haloti has a nonstop motor and never quits. that tandem in the middle may be the most disruptive in the game. As for Ngata not getting sacks, we never really have applied pressure in the middle since big Tony S and Sam Adams.

ForThoseAboutToRock

Very interesting stat there. Surprising to me is that he's not yet been voted to a pro bowl. That 2006 draft sure had it's share of big time talent, lots of pro bowlers in there.

I don't mean to make the pro bowl more than it is. Just an eyeball's estimate.

mayoclinic

Thanks for setting me straight. My bad, I knew it was something nagging like that, but forgot.

You guys were both lucky and smart to get Ngata, just like we were lucky to get Wilfork. He was probably the top guy on your draft board in 2006 when you picked 13th, but didn't get a lot of pre-draft hype because he was expected to be long gone. Buffalo was considered a sure thing to take him at #8, and possibly the Raiders at #7. Then Oakland took Huff and Buffalo took Whitner. Cleveland desperately needed DT help at #12, but fell in love with Kamerion Wimbley, and you guys were smart and offered a 6th round pick to switch places. Cleveland ended up taking Wimbley and that NT out of Stanford in the 6th round, who they cut in the preseason. Great move by Ozzie.

It also shows that pro bowls mean nothing. 3-4 DEs don't get voted to a lot of pro bowls. Look at Ty Warren. Seymour has been the exception. Ngata has been the best DL in football in the past 3 years IMHO. The results show in the bottom line for the team, not the stat sheet or highlight films.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs. And Kelly Gregg is underrated, I agree. But for me, Ngata is the best player on the defense.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

JackBauer

You'd think so, but Koppen was pretty solid against Jenkins.