ExtremeRavens Posted August 13 Posted August 13 Chuck Smith’s eyebrows furrowed behind tinted sunglasses. The Ravens outside linebackers coach stood behind the podium after Monday’s training camp practice, facing a fair preseason question: Is his defensive group challenging themselves to repeat the team’s NFL-leading 60-sack performance from a year ago? Smith let out a sincere giggle. “Everybody wants to be the best pass rusher in the league,” he said. “I don’t even think about that. I could [not] care less. My goal is to impact quarterbacks by beating them up. Simple as that.” If opposing quarterbacks don’t end plays the way they want, the second-year pass rush guru is happy. The numbers will follow, Smith declared. That said, someone has to be responsible for beating up the quarterback. And with a front seven that looks a little different from last year, who makes up for lost production remains to be seen. “Everybody on the front can be a threat at some point,” Smith said. “Mike [Pierce] was rushing last year. [Broderick Washington] got sacks, Travis [Jones] got sacks. [Brent Urban] had three sacks. You want everyone to be able to do that, and that’s kind of the good thing, we want everyone to be a threat.” The 2023 Ravens defense was among the best in football and a key reason they earned the No. 1 seed and reached the AFC championship game. They were the first unit in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5 ppg), sacks (60, tying 2006 for a franchise record) and takeaways (31, tied with the New York Giants). Sixteen Ravens registered at least one sack. And three — Justin Madubuike, Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney — recorded at least nine sacks, making the Ravens one of two teams to do so. The offseason brought change, however. Clowney signed a lucrative two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. And Patrick Queen, who had 3 1/2 sacks, fled for the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Madubuike leads the returners. The All-Pro is expected to repeat similarly dominant numbers — 13 sacks — in 2024. Van Noy, now 33, has the advantage of timing this year. He signed with the Ravens in late September and spent the early stages of the season adjusting to defensive schematics and new relationships. “Now, he’s one of the guys,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Everybody knows him, respects him.” Outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith says the Ravens’ goal is to beat up opposing quarterbacks. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) As an 11-year veteran linebacker, Van Noy said this will be only the third season he’s been able to focus solely on playing on the ball. In other words, “not as much communication, just focusing on my task and opportunity to win a one-on-one.” That could be a bonus toward his sack total. One significant draw in Van Noy coming to Baltimore was playing for Smith, who has a unique approach to coaching the position. “A lot of places worry about scheme,” Van Noy said. “This place worries about scheme and technique, and he’s a pass rush technician, and he’s very good. He’s helped me a lot in my career, and he’s helped other players, and I’m excited to get back to work with him again.” There’s still time for Baltimore to potentially bring in another pass rusher before the start of the season, but if nothing changes, after Madubuike and Van Noy, who might fill the gaps — literally and figuratively — to replicate such a lucrative defensive front? Fourth-year outside linebacker Odafe Oweh is the front-runner who, as Smith said, “came out smoking” in camp. The 2021 first-round draft pick played 13 games last season and recorded five sacks with meager reps behind Clowney and Van Noy. A strong camp has made him a common talking point among teammates. Harbaugh said Oweh’s unique skill set makes him particularly disruptive. “I always hear the little jokes sometimes about him missing sacks,” Smith said. “He did miss seven, eight, nine sacks in a season. So again, he’s getting there. He’s going to be an A-list rusher, and I’m just excited for him. He’s buying in as he always has, he’s a good dude, and no one deserves to finally reach that pinnacle [more] than Odafe, and I think he’s going to go 100% to reach that goal.” Third-year outside linebacker David Ojabo, a former second-round draft pick, would be another candidate, despite recording only one sack in three games after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in November. He and Oweh accompanied Madubuike this offseason on a training trip to Atlanta. The ever-hopeful Smith said Oweh just needs the opportunity — and health — to execute the skill set he’s already flashed. Jones and Pierce combined for three sacks a year ago. As two returning pieces of the Ravens defensive front, they’ll be counted on to fill lost production. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr anticipates a noticeable third-year jump from Jones in the run and pass games behind a greater familiarity with schematics. Orr added, “When [Pierce] speaks, everybody listens, and he’s still playing at a very high level. So, I’m glad he’s here with us. I’m glad he’s on our team, on our defense.” Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is another one to monitor. He played in every game as a rookie last year, although he produced only one sack. Smith called him a “glass eater.” Baltimore’s 60 sacks tied its franchise record, so meeting that total would certainly be an uphill battle. But as Smith said, as long as his group can consistently beat up the quarterback, he’ll be happy. “They love learning from [Smith],” Harbaugh said. “So let’s see where it takes us. It was good last year.” View the full article Quote
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