Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Defenses (16-20)

Nov 24, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) gets introduced prior to the game against the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens 8-8
Last Season’s Rankings: #12 Overall Defense (335.5 total yards per game allowed) #12 Passing Defense (230.1 passing yards per game allowed) #11 Rushing Defense (105.4 rushing yards per game allowed)

For years the nasty Baltimore defense has remained a staple of the Ravens brand. In recent years with the retirement of Ray Lewis and dismissal of safety Ed Reed however, the Ravens have slowly started to decline. Don’t get me wrong, this Baltimore defense is still as talented as ever. In 2013 they ranked in the top-15 in nearly every category, even ranking third best in the league in passes defended (95). Problem was though that because of their mediocre offense, their defense was forced to do some heavy lifting, hurting them in the long run.

A Baltimore defense wouldn’t be a Baltimore defense without a solid front seven. 2014 definitely brings that front seven to the forefront of the AFC. Along with DT Timmy Jernigan, the Ravens made an excellent draft choice with ILB C.J. Mosley. As a part of two of the Crimson Tide’s National Championship winning teams (2011/2012), OLB C.J. Mosley has been a dominating force in the college football landscape. While he hasn’t been much of a sack man, Mosley gets most of his production through his able to tackle. In his freshman, sophomore and senior years at Alabama, Mosley recorded 211 tackles for the Crimson Tide, 108 of them coming in his outstanding senior season. Although Mosley battled some injuries during his sophomore and junior seasons, he was able to bounce back nicely in 2013 and help Alabama to a 11-2 record. In his senior season at Alabama, Mosley was able to record 8 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and 2 interceptions for the Tide. Where the first-team All-American has been dominant in his career has been ability to combine his elite line backing skills with his unbelievable athleticism. At 6’2″, 232, Mosley ran a 4.65 40-yard dash time in off-season workouts. This dual-threat speed and tackling ability has shown to help Mosley immensely when rushing the quarterback or getting to ball carriers quickly. Although he still has a little bit of work to be done on his mechanics, I believe that Mosley is one of the smartest line backers in the game. Where the first-team All-American has been dominant in his career has been ability to combine his elite line backing skills with his strength and finesse. Mosley knows how to play tough and how to stop the run, something that the Baltimore defense needs.

Joining the Crimson Tide LB will be DE Chris Canty (30 tackles, two sacks, one tackle for loss and four passes defended in 2013), DT Haloti Ngata (52 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss), DE Brandon Williams (six tackles and a sack in seven games in 2013), OLB Terrell Suggs (80 tackles, 10 sacks and four tackles for loss), ILB Daryl Smith (123 tackles, five sacks, four tackles for loss, three interceptions and 18 passes defended), OLB Courtney Upshaw (30 tackles and 1.5 sacks) and OLB Elvis Dumervil (31 tackles and 9.5 sacks). The combination of Suggs, Smith, Dumervil and Mosley should really make their mark this upcoming 2014 season. Dumervil and Suggs will bring the sacks, while Smith and Mosley will bring the tackles and passes defended.

When looking at the 2013 Baltimore Ravens’ secondary, one can’t help but wonder why this secondary wasn’t better. The quartet of Corey Graham, Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith and James Ihedigbo combined for 60 passes defended in 2013. Unfortunately though, both Graham and Ihedigbo are both gone to free agency. No fear cavalier, the Ravens do have adequate replacements. CB Lardarius Webb (74 tackles, 22 passes defended and two interceptions), SS Matt Elam (77 tackles and three passes defended) and CB Jimmy Smith (58 tackles and 15 passes defended) will be teaming up with new addition Terrence Brooks out of Florida State Univeristy (54 tackles and two interceptions in 2013). I think that the Ravens secondary will be effective, however without two of their safeties, I don’t see a repeat of 2013.