Arthur Brown getting healthier before challenging for starting job

[papasmurfbell]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/17/arthur-brown-getting-healthier-before-challenging-for-starting-job/

 

 

 

With the Ravens losing a pair of inside linebackers this offseason, plenty of people have looked to second-round pick Arthur Brown as a starter from the start of his career.

An operation to repair a sports hernia hasn’t done much to throw that off track. Brown did miss some time during offseason work, but he’s about a month removed from the surgery and was able to be a limited participant at the team’s minicamp last week. With a big chunk of time until training camp, Brown should be 100 percent when the Ravens resume practicing and that’s when he says he’ll start focusing on the push for a spot in the starting lineup.

“Considering what I’m dealing with as far as the injury, I definitely have to be patient with that,” Brown said, via the team’s website. “My goal going into training camp is definitely to take care of my body and do what I can to have a healthy recovery. Also, it’s to compete. That’s what we’re all here for; not only for ourselves but also to make this team better. I’m definitely keeping that in mind.”

Brown’s chief competition will likely be former Jaguar Daryl Smith, a solid veteran who gives the Ravens a good option in the event Brown isn’t ready for the starting job. One gets the feeling that Baltimore would prefer not to avail themselves of that option, which makes it all the better that Brown should be ready and raring to go in camp.

 

 

 

[vmax]

I don't want to lose Smith's vet experience...he needs to be on the field.

 

As a rookie, Brown is unproven at this level so it will be fun to watch him develop. If he starts it will be because he earned it....so he has a big mountain to climb during camp.

 

Right now he is not a starter. He is behind everybody who I mention in the next sentence.

 

He's better or will be, than McClain, McClellen, Carr, Copeland and Bynes...as I see it. So he's a starter in the 3-4 front with Smith when the season begins.

But not at this time. At this moment he's at the end of the line.

[thundercleetz]

I think if Smith and McClain are healthy, they are the starters. Starters is a misleading term however. I think Brown is going to require a full year in an NFL weightroom before he can be an every snap player. That is not to say he will not have an immediate impact. I think Brown is going to be very heavily used in passing situations to spell McClain and Smith. That is Brown's strongsuite with his speed and instincts. With how much of a pass happy league we have become, Brown will get a lot of snaps no doubt. We better hope that Smith and McClain stay healthy because at this point I am not sure if Brown's frame could hold up a full season taking on guards within the tackles. Brown also has a tendency for missed tackles. Remember, for every small athletic ILB like Ray or Navarro Bowman there are ten Tavares Goodens. Now Brown has a lot better instincts than Gooden, and is more willing to be aggressive. Brown is really going to be a beast once he gets experience and in our weight program.

 

We are in a good position for our ILBs that we have a lot of size and depth upfront. Our defensive line should do a much better job this season of wearing down offensive lines and taking up blockers.

[papasmurfbell]

I think if Smith and McClain are healthy, they are the starters. Starters is a misleading term however. I think Brown is going to require a full year in an NFL weightroom before he can be an every snap player. That is not to say he will not have an immediate impact. I think Brown is going to be very heavily used in passing situations to spell McClain and Smith. That is Brown's strongsuite with his speed and instincts. With how much of a pass happy league we have become, Brown will get a lot of snaps no doubt. We better hope that Smith and McClain stay healthy because at this point I am not sure if Brown's frame could hold up a full season taking on guards within the tackles. Brown also has a tendency for missed tackles. Remember, for every small athletic ILB like Ray or Navarro Bowman there are ten Tavares Goodens. Now Brown has a lot better instincts than Gooden, and is more willing to be aggressive. Brown is really going to be a beast once he gets experience and in our weight program.

 

We are in a good position for our ILBs that we have a lot of size and depth upfront. Our defensive line should do a much better job this season of wearing down offensive lines and taking up blockers.

I don't see that as necisarily true. He could walk in day one and be the man. Now his on the field knowledge will be lacking immediately. But pure athleticism he could start.

[vmax]

Good point on the Tavares Gooden comment cleetz.

I don't have high hopes for McClain. I hear Bynes had a good off season and spring camp. He could be in the mix.

 

As for Brown...he needs to be what they hope he will be. Not the next Ray Lewis, but a fast, sure tackling, sideline to sideline LB with good coverage skills. Good in those categories will fill the bill given the defensive line he will be working with. He doesn't have to be great this year.