When you put the words linebacker and Baltimore in the same sentence you probably think of Ray Lewis. However, on May 9 the NFL Draft took place, and with the 17th pick,The Baltimore Ravens selected 21-year-old linebacker C.J. Mosley out of Alabama University as their newest addition to the team.
Though the Ravens feel like they got a steal because Mosley was the highest rated player on the Ravens draft board, there are many fans who were shocked. Some think that this wasn’t where the team needed to get beefed up. The Ravens already have 11 year veteran linebacker Daryl Smith and second year linebacker Arthur Brown waiting in the wings for this same position.
Mosley is expected to start next to Smith at the weak side linebacker position and will move to the strong side down the road when Smith retires, leaving Brown to be the weak side backer when Smith’s time comes to hang up his helmet.
Mosley caught the eye of many NFL Draft analysts and scouts. In fact, some have said “He’s such a solid football player” and “He’s a plug-and-play linebacker in a 3-4 defense”.
But will he live up to the hype? Most analysts say yes. They believe he will pursue sideline to sideline and has shown enormous improvement in getting off blocks this year. Former NFL football star Mike Mayock said he is “a typical Baltimore Ravens solid football player; a solid pick.”
Mosley certainly is a terrific football player, having acquired numerous awards and accolades throughout his college career. He has earned awards like the SEC defensive player of the year, Butkus award, SEC Champion, two time consensus All-American. In fact, Mosley is a very strong candidate for Rookie of the Year. The question is, does Moseley have what it takes to be a superstar in the NFL?
What does the iconic Ray Lewis think about Mosley? “This is a leader at the position of linebacker,” Lewis said. “I left there a couple years ago, but when you watch this kid play football, his instinct is what impresses me the most. He’s very patient with his feet, he stays in the pocket and when he gets there. He’s a read-it-and-react guy.”
That’s pretty high praise coming from one of the NFLs greatest football players ever. It’s obvious that Lewis approves of the selection of Mosley.
In fact, it doesn’t surprise many people, including me, that General Manager Ozzie Newsome selected an Alabama player; it’s no secret that Newsome “loves” Alabama players. Why? Maybe it’s because Newsome is an Alabama legend, or maybe it’s because he loves the way head coach Nick Saban prepares guys for the big leagues, or some combination of both.
Newsome loves his pick of Mosley. “I would never want anyone, nor would C.J., to have to come in here and try to be the next Ray Lewis. He needs to be C.J. Mosley for our football team for us to be successful,” said Newsome. But that just leaves one question: what does Mr. Replacement think about all of this?
“My favorite two linebackers were [Brian] Urlacher and Ray Lewis, and they’re two totally different guys on the field,” Mosley said. “But one thing they have in common is they’re both playmakers, they both control their defense, and they’re leaders. As long as I have those three things, I should be good.”