Quote (Benny21 @ Aug 3 2014 12:10am)
How's Upshaw been looking for you guys? I was really high on him coming out of college. Thought he'd be an immediate impact player
He's a solid contributor. He kind of had a sophomore slump last season, but he's one of the best run stopping 3-4 LBs in the league. The Ravens website actually published an article either yesterday or today about him, but it's kind of long so I'm not going to post it here. It basically says though that he's the most versatile defender in the league, does all the little things, runs the defense on the field, and is basically just a better version of Jarrett Johnson. He's one of the more important players on our defense.
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Upshaw can line up at either outside linebacker position. He can play defensive end with his hand in the dirt. He can even line up inside at defensive tackle. Upshaw could play inside linebacker too if needed.
That position flexibility helped the Ravens tremendously two years ago when they were battered by injuries on their defensive front. It also helps the defense be more multiple. They can bring in many different combinations to best utilize each player’s skill set.
“There are times in a single practice that he’ll play seven different positions,” Monachino said. “That’s not only due to him having some dominant physical traits, but it’s also due to him having a very high football IQ.”
That football intelligence is what has led Upshaw to taking on the Ravens’ defensive calls.
Everybody thought Lewis was the one making the calls to adjust the defense in Super Bowl XLVII and beyond. Nope – it was Upshaw.
“It’s not because Ray couldn’t do it. It’s because we didn’t want Ray to do it,” Monachino said. “We wanted Ray to be Ray and understanding that he’s so far ahead from a preparation standpoint that he’s going to use his instincts and let somebody else handle making the calls.”
Each defensive play is called by Pees. That is relayed to the Mike linebacker, who gives the play to the players in the huddle. Once the team is in formation, however, it’s Upshaw who runs the defense. He’s the one who makes adjustments and gets everyone on the same page.
Upshaw’s job description requires him to communicate with the defensive linemen, the inside linebackers and safeties.
Most teams use their Mike inside linebacker to made adjustments, and the Ravens considered going to that model last year after Lewis retired. But, ultimately, they kept the job in Upshaw’s hands.
“He’s one of our very smartest players,” Harbaugh said.
There's part of the article.
This post was edited by GangStarr on Aug 2 2014 11:21pm