The Ravens have so much depth at linebacker that the competition for a backup position is just as intense as for earning a starting spot.
It has gotten fierce on the inside, where second-year player Tavares Gooden appears to be a starter but is being challenged by Jameel McClain, also in his second year, and rookie free-agent linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.
There is one other linebacker. His name is Prescott Burgess. In his third year out of Michigan, the 6-foot-3, 247-pound Burgess has played well running with both the first and second teams at various times at inside and outside linebacker.
Burgess is the forgotten linebacker because he missed a lot of playing time the past two seasons with injuries. But throughout this training camp, Burgess has been playing well.
"Yep, he'll rock you, too," said Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.
After practice Monday, Burgess said he didn't care where he played, just as long as he got onto the field.
"They have me in there rotating at every group, trying me at all different kinds of positions," Burgess said. "I feel good about it because they know they can just throw me in and I'll get the job done. I'm going into my third year. The first two years I was injured, and I had a lot of time to get the mental part down. Now, everything is coming along, everything is coming easy."
Keep water flowing
On hot days, a player the size of 345-pound defensive tackle Haloti Ngata loses 6 to 7 pounds a practice, and up to 10 pounds on really hot days. According to Ngata, the key is drinking a lot of fluids during practice.
"During training camp, I'll lose 10 to 15 pounds, but then gain some of it back after training camp is over," Ngata said. "You have to stay hydrated during practice. On Sunday, even though we didn't have on pads, we went like three hours and it was really hot. There is nothing you can do about it but work through it and drink a lot."
Backpedaling
If you really want some entertainment, watch Ravens defensive end/outside linebacker Paul Kruger drop into pass coverage. Kruger was a pass rusher in college, so all he did was go forward.
Now, he has to backpedal and keep his head on a swivel looking for receivers out of the backfield and tight ends on crossing routes because he is making the transition to linebacker.
Neck pain sidelines Rolle
