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."
