The Defensive Changes Being Implemented in Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens have become known for one thing over the last decade in the NFL, defense. Their defense has been completely dominant but this year things may be a little different. For the 2009 season, the Ravens defense looks a lot different and is getting older. There is a lot of doubt whether the team will be able to continue playing its punishing style of football, and a lot rests on the shoulders of veteran players who are winding down their careers, such as Ray Lewis.

This is not to say the Ravens won't be a force to be reckoned with. Last year they were second in the league in yards allowed and had the most takeaways of any defense. However, change is presenting itself. Rex Ryan has been replaced by Greg Mattison as the defensive coordinator and will bring a new philosophy to a veteran team. It will be tough for Mattison to come into the position and try to build upon the success that the team has had over the last ten years or so. However, if anyone can do it, Mattison can. He has 11 years of experience as a coordinator in college and will utilize a scheme that relies on blitzing and what has become known as "organized chaos".

The nucleus for the team will remain the same and everything will revolve around perennial pro bowlers, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed. However the team has lost Corey Ivy, Jim Leonhard, Bart Scott and most importantly Chris McAlister. The team has lost players before, but this year will prove to be quite difficult to overcome due to the important of the group of players that left. Scott complemented Lewis nicely and allowed the Ravens to blitz as much as they did. Leonhard is an important loss considering how well he played alongside Ed Reed. He covered the deep field and gave Reed the freedom to get all over the field and make the big defensive plays. The most important loss would have to be McAlister. He has the ability to line up against the opposition's top talent and is an excellent shut down corner.

The good news for the Ravens is that they have done an excellent job producing a group of young promising players such as Jameel McClain and Tavares Gooden. Gooden will try and replace the impact that Scott made and McClain will be there to step in if Gooden is not up to the task. To replace Leonhard, the team has Dawan Landry sitting in the wings who is experienced and ready to become a starter.

It will be a time of transition for the Baltimore Ravens but they have dealt with adversity before and have proven they have the right core of players to make the season especially tough for opposing teams.