Ravens defense still worth crowing about
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OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have spent 11 seasons together with the Baltimore Ravens, making one big play after another for a defense perennially among the NFL's best.
Although it is difficult to imagine the Ravens without Lewis in the middle of the huddle and Reed as the last line of defense, the unit has plenty of young players eager to make an imprint once the aging veterans walk away from the game.
Baltimore's defense, which ranked third in the NFL this season, is the main reason the Ravens (13-4) are in the AFC championship game and stand a decent chance of defeating the high-powered New England Patriots (14-3) for a berth in the Super Bowl.
Lewis and Reed are the most recognizable stars, but they get help from Terrell Suggs, 29, Haloti Ngata, 27, Terrence Cody, 23, and rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith, who was 8 when Lewis played his first game with the Ravens in 1996.
"You need that veteran presence and you need enough young people to run around and make the plays," Smith said. "I think it's a great mix on this team."
It is by design. Lewis was drafted in the first round of the NFL in '96, the Ravens first season after making the move from Cleveland. Since that time, general manager Ozzie Newsome has worked to surround his sensational middle linebacker with enough talent to keep the defense operating at a high level.
Reed was plucked from the University of Miami in the first round of the '02 draft, Suggs was the 10th overall pick in '03 and Ngata was a No. 1 pick in '06. Pass-rusher Paul Kruger ('09) and Cody ('10) were second-round picks, and Smith was taken in the first round last year.
"Sixteen years I've been in this business," Lewis said. "Do you know how many men I have seen come walk in and out of this door?"
When the Ravens reached the Super Bowl in the 2000 season, Tony Siragusa was a defensive tackle. One year ago, Kelly Gregg played in front of Lewis. Now it's Cody, and there's been no dropoff.
The Ravens have been ranked in the top 10 in total defense each of the past nine years.
"We've got veteran experience, guys that have been around a long time, and young, raw talent. When you mix those together, it's a great combination," linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "Ozzie deserves a lot of credit. You've got your veteran guys that do things right, good guys that are also good football players. Then, you bring in good talent and they watch and learn, then pretty soon those guys are the old veteran players and they're bringing in a new batch of young guys."
Baltimore is the only team to reach the postseason each of the past four years. Much of the credit goes to Lewis, Reed, and a defense that has withstood the test of time.
"Old? I call it experienced," Smith said.
"You've got two of the best at key spots. Their experience is what guides us, and it's helped us get to the position we're in now."
First Published January 20, 2012 12:00 am
