With inspirational linebacker Ray Lewis retired, Baltimore’s Ravens have begun their defense of last season’s Super Bowl title with new faces and questions about which player will lead them. At their training complex in Owings Mills, jokingly called the Castle, the king, head coach John Harbaugh, is getting familiar with a different cast of knights than the one that brought home the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February.
“It wasn’t the same,” said Harbaugh. “Our last practices with the whole team were when we were getting ready for the Super Bowl, so it adds a different tenor to the whole thing. But it’s not unexpected. It’s reality and it is our reality to deal with. We are all excited about that, too.”
Lewis was known as much for his guidance as for his on-field play. And his absence creates a sizable leadership gap. Defensive lineman HalotiNgata says the void might be filled in a different way. “We’re not all like Ray Lewis, who can take over a team,” said Ngata. “I think some guys are comfortable leading their group and some guys don’t mind being up front of the whole team.”
So, who might that be?
On defense, the most logical candidate is pass rushing linebacker Terrell Suggs, the NFL’s 2011 Defensive Player of the Year who missed a large chunk of last season with a torn Achilles tendon. He returned for the Super Bowl run and has been dominant in the early days of training camp. “[I’m] feeling good,” Suggstold reporters. “Achilles feels good. Biceps feels good. I’m 100 percent. You come out here. You report for camp. You don’t have any nicks, any bruises. You don’t have to sit out. You can’t ask for more than that — that opportunity to go to work. Like I said, I’m just blessed that I am 100 percent right now and I do get to go to work.”
Cornerback Lardarius Webb says Suggs’ preseason conditioning has given him a platform to be a leader. “If you look at him, you can just tell that he’s been doing some work,” said Webb. “He’s slim. He’s moving fast. He’s ready to take that throne of being that leader on this defense. He’s the perfect guy for it. He wants it as bad as everyone else does.”
Harbaugh pointed to Webb, who is returning from a knee injury that cost him the entire 2012 season, as a possible leader, and Webb is eager to accept the mantle. “It feels good,” said Webb. “I just know it’s a lot of responsibility being that guy. You have to look out for the younger guys. When the younger guys need help, they’re going to come to you now, so you have to put them on your back and you have to ride with them.”
The Ravens attempted to bolster the defense in the offseason, signing former Denver Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil, defensive lineman Chris Canty, formerly of the New York Giants, and bringing in former St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo as a consultant.
On offense, the answer might be a combination of players.
Quarterback Joe Flacco, the Super Bowl MVP who signed a $120 million, six year contract in the off-season, would appear to be the obvious choice. But he lacks that forceful personality. Last week’s season ending injury to tight end Dennis Pitta may place more of the offensive emphasis on running back Ray Rice.
Rice, who has been an All-Star, says his experience makes Harbaugh’s job easier. “And when a coach doesn’t have to say anything about the way you’re working, obviously he can focus more on coaching,” said Rice. “And that’s something as a veteran team – even though the guys we lost, we’re still a veteran team with guys that know how to work. I think that’s very important, obviously with me and Joe.”
Rice’s job should become appreciably easier with the return of fullback Vonta Leach. The 32-year old Leach carried the ball only 21 times last season, but his blocking skill was a large reason that Rice was able to run for more than 2,500 yards in the previous two seasons.
Even with Pitta’s absence, the Ravens plan to throw the ball. Incumbent Ed Dickson will likely inherit the starting tight end slot, with Visanthe Shiancoe, a 10-year NFL veteran who played in college at Morgan State, the probable backup.
Players like Leach and Shiancoe may provide depth, but to repeat as Super Bowl champions, the Ravens will need leadership--and a lot more.