Replacing The Irreplaceable

Loss Of Special Teams Ace, Linebacker Ayanbadejo Will Be Difficult For Ravens

Ayanbadejo was also valued for the insight he could provide his teammates. Ayanbadejo was almost like another set of eyes for Rosburg, and he would frequently compare notes with the coordinator before disseminating instructions with the rest of the special teams.

"Those guys like him, they're hard to replace," tight end Edgar Jones said. "As a special teams unit, we all have to replace him and take our game to another level. You can't just replace him individual-wise. The entire special teams unit has to step its game up."

Rosburg said he is not expecting someone like Jones, Jameel McClain or Matt Lawrence to replace Ayanbadejo. Instead, Rosburg said he is looking for a collective effort.

"Some guys' roles will change perhaps, some guys' positions will perhaps change, some guys will get more reps in one phase than they previously had," he said. "So I think really the responsibility falls across the board, the whole roster."

Ayanbadejo, who is recovering from surgery in Birmingham, Ala., is expected to wait a couple of weeks before returning to the Ravens. And when he does, Rosburg said Ayanbadejo will assist him.

"When I spoke with him [Wednesday], he was anxious to get back here as soon as he can to go out to the practice field with us and meetings with us," Rosburg said. "So we'll have Brendon Ayanbadejo the assistant coach returning to us."