2000 Ravens vs. 2010 Ravens Pt. 2

We continue our comparison of the 2000 Ravens vs. the Ravens of today, by taking a looking at the Defenses and Special Teams.

The initial post which compared the respective offenses can be found here:
http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2010/10/2000-ravens-vs-2010-ravens-pt-1.html

2000 Defensive Line: Burnett, Adams, Siragusa, McCrary (Webster, Washington, Dalton)
2010 Defensive Line: Redding, Gregg, Ngata (McKinney, Cody, Kruger, Jones, Divens)

It does have to be noted that the 2000 defense was using a 4-3 scheme, while in 2010 the Ravens use a 3-4 base so a head-to-head comparison does have some limitations. Still, I’m taking Burnett over Redding at LE. Gregg has been a shell of the player he was since he returned from his micro-fracture surgery, while Sam Adams would be selected to the Pro Bowl 3 times after the 2000 season.

Ngata is the best lineman overall here, and is obviously better than Siragusa. I loved what McCrary brought to the Ravens. A Pro Bowler in the ’98, and ’99 seasons he had that constant motor, and helped define that defense as much as anyone outside of Ray. His pass-rush off the edge was huge for that team, and is something the 2010 Ravens lack.

I think Cody will be better player than any reserve on the 2000 team, but Webster, and Dalton had solid careers while Cody has yet to make a play in the league.

EDGE: 2000

2000 LB’s: Boulware, Lewis, Sharper (A. Thomas, C.Brown, Brigance, Jackson)
2010 LB’s: Johnson, Lewis, Ellerbe, Suggs (Gooden, McClain, Phillips)

As we discussed with the D-line, you do have to consider that the 2000 team was using a 4-3 base, while the 2010 team uses the 3-4. Any discussion / comparison of these Line-backing units starts with Lewis. While Lewis remains feared and among the best LB’s in the game today, Lewis was unquestionably the best LB in the game in 2000. You simply have to take the Lewis of 2000 over the Lewis of 2010.

Boulware and Suggs is an interesting match-up. Boulware was 25 years-old in 2000, and had already been to two Pro Bowls. (He would go to two more). He has 7 sacks during that Super Bowl season, and was a year away from the best year of his career (15 sacks). Suggs has just recently turned 28 and has been to three Pro Bowls of his own. In 126 career games Boulware had 70 sacks, and 1 pick. In 115 career games, Suggs has had 61.5 sacks, with 5 picks. I am a little partial to Boulware, but this is basically even.

Sharper was a very solid player, who was always overlooked playing with Lewis and Boulware. During 2003-04 with the Texans, Sharper led the league in tackles. Similar to Sharper, Johnson is often underrated today. I lean towards Sharper, as he had 4 full seasons in the league after 2000, and I do not believe Johnson has that amount of time left.

So with the starters, I think the 2000 Ravens are ahead. Where the 2010 Ravens pick-up some ground is with the backups. Thomas had a great NFL career, but his rookie season was spent mostly on the bench. Also, for most of his first two seasons he was on the D-line. Brigance was a strong Special Teams player, but never got the chance to play much LB at the NFL level. Ellerbe, Gooden, and McClain are each young with their careers still ahead of them. When you look at a team like Buffalo, it is easy to believe they could each be starting somewhere.

Even though I think the 2010 backups are better, I can not give 2010 the overall edge. The 2000 starters ran sideline to sideline, and totally eliminated any semblance of a running game from the opposition. The 2010 LB’s are one of the best units in the game today. The 2000 LB’s are one of the best groups in the game ever.

EDGE: 2000

2000 Secondary: Starks, McAlister, Herring, Woodson (Trapp, Bailey, Mitchell, Harris, Poindexter)
2010 Secondary: Washington, Webb, Landry, Reed (Zbikowski, Carr, Nakamura, Wilson, Williams, Landry)

Starks and Washington are somewhat similar. 1st round talents with games built on speed, solid cover-skills, and limited help in run-defense. Starks seemed to make more ‘big’ plays. I think Webb has Pro Bowl caliber skills, but he will never have McAlister’s size. McAlister was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, that was one of the best CB’s of the decade.

Bailey had a nice career, but 2001 would be his last year. I like Carr, Wilson, and Williams better than the 2000 reserve corners. Landry and Herring is fairly equal.

Woodson vs. Reed is another interesting match-up. Both are among the top 100 NFL players of all-time. Both changed a lot of games with their ball-hawking skills, hitting, and ability to return the ball. Woodson’s career was winding down by the time of the 2000 season, but he would go to two more Pro Bowls in ’01, and ’02. I think Reed still has more left in his tank. While he has not played yet this year, I think the extra 6 weeks of rest/rehab is going to allow him to finish strong this year. I want to call this in favor of Reed, but due to his injury and Woodson’s leadership I will call it even.

The 2000 starting CB’s are better, while the 2010 reserve CB’s are deeper. The starting Safeties are also pretty even, while again the 2010 reserve Safeties are better.

As an entire group, I give a slight edge to 2010.

EDGE: 2010

2000 Special Teams: Richardson, Stover, Jermaine Lewis
2010 Special Teams: Koch, Cundiff, Parmele

Koch is really good at angling his punts, and Cundiff is doing a commendable job on his kickoffs. Stover is one of the most accurate kickers ever, and everyone would feel more comfortable with him kicking a meaningful kick over Cundiff. Parmele is not costing the Ravens field-position, but Lewis was a game-changer that made the Pro Bowl twice as a returner. Overall this is another rout in-favor of 2000.

EDGE: 2000

Part 3 will compare the Coaching staffs and discuss which team we think is better overall.