John Harbaugh had been the Ravens' head coach for only about a month, which was long enough for him to look through some of the team's game film from last season.
One thing was constant. Harbaugh loved how the defensive line played the game. Now, he has gotten an up-close and personal look, and the view is even better.
If you're stuck in the worst part of town, defensive tackles Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg and defensive end Trevor Pryce are the guys you want with you.
But even their backups are good. Behind Ngata and Gregg is Justin Bannan, whose biceps give new meaning to the word "bulging." Pryce's backup is Dwan Edwards. He's not in Pryce's class, but he is the perfect stopgap player.
The Ravens are going to need a team effort to win this season, but the defensive line has to carry the team. There are few better in the NFL.
The Ravens have the perfect blend. They have great run stoppers. They have a guy in the middle who can collapse the pocket on the pass rush. They have several hybrid players who can play multiple positions, and they have depth.
So, although the Ravens' offense has been inefficient at times in training camp, part of the reason is that an inexperienced offensive line is getting manhandled.
Very few teams can run against the Ravens. They have too much beef and brute strength up front.
Gregg is underrated by the general football public but respected within NFL coaching circles. He's a leverage guy with outstanding technique. Ngata, in his third year, could have the breakout Pro Bowl season. By the end of last season, he was not just occupying two blockers, but he was also getting penetration and interrupting plays in the backfield.
But what stands out about both guys is their unselfishness. They don't mind doing the dirty work holding up blockers so linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott can make tackles.
That's what makes Pryce so valuable. Last year, it seemed as though the Ravens were whining because Pryce missed most of the season with an assortment of injuries.
But he's another guy who does a lot of dirty work. On pass-rushing situations, Pryce will draw the double team, allowing linebackers-defensive ends such as Scott, Terrell Suggs and Antwan Barnes to draw one-on-one blocks.
With Pryce in the lineup, the Ravens had 60 sacks in 2006. Without him, they had only 32 last year.
