When the Ravens lost veteran linebacker Bart Scott to a free-agent raid by their former defensive coordinator last March, they turned his position over to a second-year player with just a handful of snaps on an NFL defense.
At least Tavares Gooden was a draft pick (third round, 2008); Scott had been an undrafted surprise in 2002 who eventually earned a Pro Bowl invitation and a big payday.
Gooden, 25, has made steady progress, along with the expected growing pains, in his first season as weak-side starter. On a proud defense that has developed certain age issues, he is part of the turn toward youthful linebackers.
Right behind Gooden is rookie Dannell Ellerbe, 23, another of those promising, undrafted talents the Ravens gravitate toward. Jameel McClain, 24, the backup to Ray Lewis at middle linebacker, is another player who went undrafted but fit the Ravens' mold.
Those three - Gooden, McClain and Ellerbe - represent the future, perhaps, of the Ravens' linebacking corps. Whether they make up for the loss of Scott in the overall defense is another issue, but they'll be tested again Sunday when the undefeated Denver Broncos come to M&T Bank Stadium.
"I think they're doing a great job," defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said this month. "I think they continually work [hard]. All I can go by is when they're in the game, how they play, and then what they do during the week to prepare. They work tremendously hard. They always know they're a step away from being in there full time, just like Ellerbe was against the Patriots."
Ellerbe was pressed into emergency service in New England in Week 4 when Brendon Ayanbadejo, starting for an injured Gooden, tore his left quadriceps. Ellerbe delivered six tackles in his first NFL game.
The loss of Ayanbadejo, 33, for the season not only hurt the Ravens on special teams, but it also cost the defense a key player. He was playing in all the sub-packages at linebacker, and he was playing well.
With the Ravens minus Ayanbadejo, Gooden has gotten more snaps than coaches think he should.
"At some point, we'd like to not have [Gooden] play all the plays, so he doesn't get worn out," linebackers coach Vic Fangio said. "We've got a capable guy [Ellerbe] who can go in and play some. And the more you split those guys up, the more you can help the special teams, too, because they'll stay fresher for special teams."
Ellerbe has nine tackles in three games. He might be more physical than Gooden, but Gooden (27 tackles) brings more speed to the defense.
"I feel I could get meaningful minutes," Ellerbe said. "I feel like whenever they need me to step in, I just want them to have that trust. I'm just waiting."
A knee injury took Ellerbe out of the mix in training camp, and he essentially lost six weeks.
"Because it was a knee injury, he couldn't condition very well," Fangio said. "I think he got out of tip-top football shape, which is what he was in prior to the injury. So that became an issue. You go five, six weeks without getting any reps, things become rusty and aren't as second nature as they need to be. I think he's getting back to being comfortable there."
Ellerbe became an NFL prospect at Georgia after moving to middle linebacker from the outside. He was projected as a middle-round pick in April but fell out of the draft because of character issues.
As a 20-year-old freshman in Athens, he drove a teammate's car into a tree and was charged with DUI, underage possession of alcohol, theft of a motor vehicle and giving false information to police. He got two days in jail, two years of probation and a three-game suspension from the team at the start of 2006.
Gooden had a season-high eight tackles in the loss at Minnesota in Week 6. His strength and weakness were evident on the same play in that game. He got caught out of position on a breakout run by the Vikings' Adrian Peterson but ran him down 58 yards later, preventing a touchdown.
"He's improving," Fangio said of Gooden, "but I still think he can improve a lot more."
Like Ellerbe, McClain is waiting his turn. Rex Ryan, the former Ravens defensive coordinator who signed Scott after he became head coach of the New York Jets, worked McClain into the defense a year ago as a pass rusher. The Philadelphia native contributed 2.5 sacks, eight solo tackles and two safeties in his cameo role at outside linebacker.
Mattison moved him inside in the offseason, but McClain's role continues to grow. He backs up Lewis in the middle and Jarret Johnson at strong-side linebacker in some sub-packages, and he plays on special teams (he's tied for the team lead with 12 tackles).
"Jameel hasn't gotten as many opportunities as the other guys," Fangio said. "He's got a lot on his plate. We have to be careful how much we expect him to know and learn. ... [But] he's a smart player, has good instincts and a good feel for the game. And he understands football."
McClain demonstrated his ability to get to the quarterback last season and hopes for another opportunity.
"Now I'm playing more positions," he said. "I'm more focused on [middle] and [strong-side linebacker], and hopefully I'll get an opportunity to rush."
BRONCOS @RAVENS
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Ch. 13
Radio: 97.9 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens
by 3 1/2
