Ravens: Loss of Suggs could be minimal, history says
With the abrupt news of Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs’ Achilles tendon injury that could sideline him for the entire 2012 season, players, coaches and fans are questioning the impact his injury will have on the team.
While we won’t know the answer until the team takes the field against Cincinnati on Sept. 10, there is some precedent for the reigning Defensive Players of the Year missing significant time with injuries.
Bob Sanders, a former safety for the Indianapolis Colts, won the honor in 2007. The following season, he played in only six games. The Colts defense struggled during his absence. The Colts went from the third-ranked unit to 11th, surrendering more than two more points per game.
The silver lining for Ravens fans is the Colts were only one game behind their 2007 win-loss record, going from 13-3 to 12-4.
Keith Millard, a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, was named Defensive Player of the Year for 1989. After a devastating knee injury sidelined Millard for the 1990 season, the Vikings defense went from first in yards allowed to 13th. Minnesota went 10-6 in 1989, but the Vikings went 6-10 without their defensive stalwart the next season.
Two former San Francisco 49ers also missed significant time after winning the defensive honor. Defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield was recognized for his 1997 campaign and Deion Sanders earned Defensive Player of the Year after his 1994 season. Both of these players joined new teams after receiving the award, so the impact of their injuries cannot be measured.
How does this relate to the Ravens?
History shows that by losing Suggs, the Ravens will suffer a slight dip in production, but their defense will still be above average. If anything, the Ravens defense will suffer from losing players to free agency.
Outside linebacker Jarret Johnson signed with San Diego. Defensive end Cory Redding, backup defensive tackle Brandon McKinney and backup safety Tom Zwbikowski signed with Indianapolis. Haruki Nakamura joined the Carolina Panthers.
A unit that ranked third in the NFL in 2012, the Ravens defense still has Pro Bowlers Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata. However, the unit lacks quality depth in the secondary and on the defensive line.
Suggs’ play would cover some of those holes. Without him, the Ravens are missing a big-time pass rushing threat that can put opposing quarterbacks on the dirt.
One of the most likely options for replacing Suggs’ is rookie Courtney Upshaw from the University of Alabama. The 35th overall pick in this April’s NFL draft, Upshaw was utilized in a similar role under Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban in college, being used as both an edge rusher and as an end. His skillset is similar to Suggs’ although he has less experience.
Paul Kruger and Sergio Kindle are two other players likely to get significant snaps at outside linebacker. Kruger totaled 5.5 sacks last season as a rotational player. Now in his fourth season, Kruger may be ready to seize a larger role. In limited action, he has shown that he can be an effective player in the NFL.
Kindle is more of an unknown. He showed promise as a pass rusher coming out of the University of Texas but after being drafted, he fell down a staircase and fractured his skull. The second-round draft pick missed his rookie season and has struggled to get playing time since.
Kruger is the favorite to win one of the outside linebacker spots. The other spot will go to Upshaw or Kindle.
With the remainder of a Ravens offense that provided 23.6 points per game in 2012 intact, even a shorthanded Ravens defense should be able to lead the team to a respectable record and a chance to win the AFC North.
Last year they held opponents to 16.6 points per game average. If the defense gives up an additional two points per game like the 2008 Colts or falls to the middle of the pack like the 1990 Vikings, the Ravens will still be competitive.
Zach Sparks is an aspiring journalist with interests in a multitude of different areas including news, human interest stories and sports. A student at Towson University, he currently holds an internship at a public relations and advertising firm in Owings Mills where he writes and distributes press releases for several local non-profit organizations among other duties. He hopes to graduate in the fall of 2012 and parlay his experiences and education as a student into a successful writing career.