October 03, 2009|By Edward Lee | Edward Lee,edward.lee@baltsun.com
Brendon Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl player for his achievements on special teams, had no doubts he could contribute on both defense and special teams. Convincing his coaches required a little more effort.
"I always believed in myself, but I knew it was going to take a coach to back me up and support me and believe in my skills," Ayanbadejo said. "Obviously, it did take awhile. I just told coaches: 'Give me a chance. Just put me in there, and you can't just throw me in for one play and you can't just throw me in for two plays. It's something that you have to take time with. Rome wasn't built in a day.' "
Ayanbadejo is getting his wish this season, as the Ravens are inserting the 33-year-old linebacker more frequently on the defensive side of the ball. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Ayanbadejo usually replaces starter Tavares Gooden during the defense's packages in passing situations.
The coaching staff's faith is getting a nice return. According to statistics provided by the team, Ayanbadejo ranks second behind linebacker mate Ray Lewis with 17 tackles, including 11 solo stops.
Ayanbadejo registered an interception, a sack and six tackles in the Ravens' 34-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday, which on Wednesday earned him the first AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors of his career.
"Brendon has been, obviously, one of the dominant special teams players in the league for the last six or seven years," coach John Harbaugh said.
"Now he's becoming a real asset, defensively, to us. He's basically on the field for all of our sub-packages. Our passing situations, when people put three wide receivers on the field, he's out there."
Added Lewis: "Working with him is good. Brendon is, physically, doing the things he wants to do. So my job is just to direct him in the right way and instruct him [on] what I'm thinking we're going to see. From there, he's just a heck of a football player. So it's a great appreciation playing with him."
Ayanbadejo has experience at linebacker, making three combined career starts with the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears and contributing in five other games. But he carved out a career on special teams, earning back-to-back invitations to the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2007 with the Bears.
While appreciative of his hard-earned reputation on special teams, Ayanbadejo privately chafed at being pigeonholed.
"There were years when I was sitting at home and I believed in myself and knew that I could play football," he recalled. "In 1999 and 2000 [when he was out of the NFL], I was sitting at home and watching the NFL, and I was saying: 'I can do what that guy is doing. I can do what these guys are doing.' ... No matter where I've been, I always took time because I tried to understand every little nuance of the defense - what I can do, what I can't do - before I'll fly around and play."
Perhaps Ayanbadejo's best asset is his speed, which he uses to chase down return specialists and receivers. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said Ayanbadejo's quickness helps the unit adhere to a fundamental principle.
"We talk a lot about cupping the ball and keeping the ball inside and in front," Mattison said. "Well, that's only good if you have defensive linemen and linebackers that believe that's going to happen so that they won't run for no reason at all and they have the speed to go make plays. ... He just keeps doing it, and the reason is because he's playing faster. The more he understands the defense and the more experience, you always play faster, and he's a great example of that."
Ayanbadejo will likely see more work Sunday when the Ravens visit the New England Patriots. Whether he is asked to match up with tight ends Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker or tackle running backs Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk, Ayanbadejo said he is eager to perform.
"I wanted to be more than just a guy that's out there," he said. "There are guys that contribute, and there are guys that make a difference. This year, my goal was to make a difference as a Raven. I think I'm doing that, and hopefully I'll be able to do it more and continue to do it."
