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The 2008 Raven's had a lot to be proud of, especially the defense. There are now some holes to be filled on the team with several offseason losses, Corey Ivy, Bart Scott, and Jim Leonhard. This is an overview of the replacements and the returners.
I will use the most state-of-the-art and high-tech stat projecting and grading system, also know as my noggin.
Cornerbacks
No. 22 Samari Rolle
Strengths: Coverage, pass blocking
Weaknesses: Age, tackling
Grade: B-
Projected stats: 35 tackles, five deflections, one interception. 11 INT yards
No. 31 Fabian Washington
Strengths: Speed, coverage, pass blocking
Weaknesses: Small stature, tackling
Grade: B
Projected stats: 33 tackles, seven deflections, three interceptions, .5 sacks, 75 INT yards
No. 24 Domonique Foxworth
Strengths: Speed, pass blocking, coverage, tackling
Weaknesses: Small stature
Grade: B+
Projected Stats: 41 tackles, seven deflections, three interceptions, one sack, 83 INT yards
No. 29 Chris Carr
Strengths: Speed, kick/punt returns, special teams
Weaknesses: Coverage, tackling
Grade: Returns: A; Corner: B-
Projected stats: 32 attempts, 780 yards, one touchdown; no cornerback play
Safeties
No. 28 Tom Zibikowski, SS
Strengths: Tackling, kick/punt returns, speed
Weaknesses: Coverage
Grade: Returns: B+; Strong safety: B
Projected stats: 27 attempts, 505 yards; five tackles.
No. 43 Haruki Nakamura, FS
Strengths: Hitting, tackling, coverage, speed, deflections, special teams, blitzing
Weaknesses: Inexperienced
Grade: A-
Projected stats: 22 tackles, five deflections, two interceptions, 32 INT yards, 2.5 sacks
No. 26 Dawan Landry, SS
Strengths: Hitting, tackling, speed, deflections, intercepting, blitzing, special teams, coverage
Weaknesses: Returning after neck injury
Grade: A+
Projected stats: 38 tackles, 10 deflections, five interceptions, 50 INT yards, one touchdown, three sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries. Pro Bowl selection.
No. 20 Ed Reed, FS
Strengths: Coverage, speed, intercepting, INT returns, takeaways, fumbles, blitzing, deflections, hitting, tackling, special teams.
Weaknesses: None
Grade: A++
Projected stats: 45 tackles, 10 deflections, 11 interceptions, 100 INT yards, three touchdowns, 3.5 sacks, one blocked punt. Pro Bowl selection, First Team All-Pro, Defensive Player of the Year
Defensive Linemen
No. 93 Dwan Edwards
Strengths: Pass rushing, speed, tackling
Weaknesses: Pass blocking, blitzing
Grade: B
Projected stats: 15 tackles, one for a loss
No. 94 Justin Bannan
Strengths: Pass rushing, blitzing, tackling
Weaknesses: Speed, pass blocking
Grade: B+
Projected stats: 23 tackles, three for a loss, 1.5 sacks
No. 90 Trevor Pryce
Strengths: Blitzing, tackling, pass rushing, pass blocking, speed
Weaknesses: Age
Grade: A
Projected stats: 35 tackles, five for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble
No. 97 Kelly Gregg
Strengths: Pass rushing, pass blocking, blitzing, tackling
Weaknesses: Speed, age
Grade A-
Projected stats 40 tackles, four for a loss, 3.5 sacks
No. 92 Haloti Ngata
Strengths: Pass blocking, pass rushing, tackling, blitzing
Weaknesses: Speed
Grade: A
Projected stats: 49 tackles, six for a loss, six sacks, one interception, zero INT yards, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery.
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