Ray Lewis: I'm probably lighter than when I walked into Baltimore.

**leachisabeast** · 07-26-2012, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by JAB1985

notice how most are in the 50s for attempts while lewis is only 27. they definitely protected him and didnt ask him to do as much in the passing game, which is fine, we didnt need him to.

Well he was injured for four games too as already pointed out. And Lawrence Timmons who is supposed to be a coverage specialist LB wasn't even as good as Ray was in pass coverage. 18/23 to 19/27. IMO this is a big myth. Ray isn't a perfect coverage LB, but he is far from incapable of covering TE's, and is better than a lot of LB's in the league in coverage. He is also still a top 3 run defender as a 3-4 ILB.

PS thanks for those statistics Arnie.

**The Excellector** · 07-26-2012, 09:37 AM

It's funny that the way Ray describes offenses as no longer being is exactly how the Ravens offense is.

**wickedsolo** · 07-26-2012, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

It's funny that the way Ray describes offenses as no longer being is exactly how the Ravens offense is.

Good point.

**JAB1985** · 07-26-2012, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by somedumbguy

He was also injured for several games last season.

good point. definitely makes it closer but even so he was put in less situations/game, 2.25/game vs the others 3.13/game.

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Well he was injured for four games too as already pointed out. And Lawrence Timmons who is supposed to be a coverage specialist LB wasn't even as good as Ray was in pass coverage. 18/23 to 19/27. IMO this is a big myth. Ray isn't a perfect coverage LB, but he is far from incapable of covering TE's, and is better than a lot of LB's in the league in coverage. He is also still a top 3 run defender as a 3-4 ILB.

PS thanks for those statistics Arnie.

Timmons while being known as a better coverage LB, also was filling in for the injured Harrison last year. thats 5 games he was more of a pass rusher OLB than a ILB.

I dont think hes horrible simply because of his knowledge and understanding of the defense but i still dont think hes physically capable of being good in coverage, specifically man coverage. he obviously agrees which is why hes dropping the weight in hopes to improve that aspect. Hopefully it works but i dont think we really need him to be that for us anymore.

**The Excellector** · 07-26-2012, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

Good point.

Maybe this is a set up. Let the rest of the league get lighter and, then, maul them with powerful run blocking linemen.

**Rxdoxx** · 07-26-2012, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by JAB1985

the media did not make something out of nothing on that. We just protected him more and didnt put him in positions to cover and be exploited as much. He rushed on 3rd downs more last year than in other years i can remember allowing BA to be the main LB in coverage, or ellerbe/mcclain depending on package. Its really not a fallacy, and the fact that hes admitting he needed to do something is a sign that he agrees. .

Sounds right to me.
And can't really predict what this year will entail because we have a new (but not outsider) DC.
Just suggesting that if we see the same thing as last year, the lighter Ray could be faster on the blitz, so maybe if everything says the same as last year we see a spike in sacks? He had 2 in '11 also 2 in '10 and 3 in '09. Think we could see 6-8? (if slimmer is truly faster)

**JAB1985** · 07-26-2012, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Rxdoxx

Sounds right to me.
And can't really predict what this year will entail because we have a new (but not outsider) DC.
Just suggesting that if we see the same thing as last year, the lighter Ray could be faster on the blitz, so maybe if everything says the same as last year we see a spike in sacks? He had 2 in '11 also 2 in '10 and 3 in '09. Think we could see 6-8? (if slimmer is truly faster)

interesting thought, but 6 alone would be the most hes ever had (i believe he had 4.5 or 5 one year). with suggs out maybe he is asked to do that more often and gets in that range, certainly a possibility.

**leachisabeast** · 07-26-2012, 10:06 AM

Lets not get ahead of our selves now, Ray was one of the fastest LB's in the league 10 years ago, and couldn't exceed 3 sacks, I doubt it will happen.

**ballhawk** · 07-26-2012, 12:05 PM

I dont know how much i like the idea of ray dropping weight. He bulked up a few years ago saying he needed the extra lbs to get through a season healthy at his age. The old man is going to get himself hurt. Might be better for him to come off the field on 3rd down at this point, then to try be a full time player at the lesser weight. This has disaster written all over it, IMO.

**arnie_uk** · 07-26-2012, 12:51 PM

Maybe he wasnt put in those situations and just had great coverage so no pass was attempted. i dont have coverage snaps, thats just passes attempted. He could have been in coverage as much as the others, they were just targeted more so that "less situations/game" isnt exactly correct

Originally Posted by JAB1985

good point. definitely makes it closer but even so he was put in less situations/game, 2.25/game vs the others 3.13/game.

Timmons while being known as a better coverage LB, also was filling in for the injured Harrison last year. thats 5 games he was more of a pass rusher OLB than a ILB.

I dont think hes horrible simply because of his knowledge and understanding of the defense but i still dont think hes physically capable of being good in coverage, specifically man coverage. he obviously agrees which is why hes dropping the weight in hopes to improve that aspect. Hopefully it works but i dont think we really need him to be that for us anymore.

**goodandfast** · 07-26-2012, 12:53 PM

If losing weight lets us see more of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRlIEMhv-ZE

Then I'm fine with it.

;)

**JAB1985** · 07-26-2012, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by arnie_uk

Maybe he wasnt put in those situations and just had great coverage so no pass was attempted. i dont have coverage snaps, thats just passes attempted. He could have been in coverage as much as the others, they were just targeted more so that "less situations/game" isnt exactly correct

I dont remember that ever being the case but it could have been. like Wicked said pass rush could have be a factor too. It doesnt really say a whole lot and im not going to delve too much further into it. i dont personally think he was put into positions to cover, especially man to man, as much last year as years past. i feel pagano made an effort to mold the defense to his players and thats one area where he protected a 36 year old thats not as quick as he used to be. thats just my opinion. His actions are definitely supporting that, if it wasnt an issue he wouldnt be dropping the weight.