NFL 30 to Watch: Haloti Ngata, Defensive Tackle, Baltimore Ravens

TDJets72027 · Aug 12, 2007

Last off-season, the Ravens lost defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu to the Carolina Panthers. The front office was caught off guard when the Panthers signed Kemoeatu to a five-year, $27.5 million deal. Especially since Baltimore was trying to negotiate a new contract with the four-year vet at the time.

Well, silver linings and all that. The Ravens traded up one spot -- from 13th to 12th -- to select Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. Obviously, at 6-4, 340-pounds, Ngata had the physical, um, skill set, but rookies are a fickle bunch, and there were no guarantees he'd smoothly transition to an NFL starting job.

But Ngata had a couple of things going for him: First, he was 6-4, 340 pounds. Beyond that, he showed great athleticism, and forced opponents to double-team him. Second, because Ngata took up so much space, he made middle linebacker Ray Lewis' job much, much easier.

When Lewis isn't encumbered by beefy offensive linemen, he doesn't have to worry about shedding blocks to make tackles. He can just make tackles. And that's what he did, usually, near the line of scrimmage. Ngata will be called on to perform the same duties this year, particularly with outside linebacker Adalius Thomas now in New England and backup outside linebacker Dan Cody's season again in doubt.

Bottom line: With a year under his belt, Ngata has the potential to be one of the league's best defensive tackles. And as long as he's eating up offensive linemen, Ray Lewis will be very, very happy.
Click to expand...

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/tag/30ToWatch/

Log in or Sign up

NFL 30 to Watch: Haloti Ngata, Defensive Tackle, Baltimore Ravens

TDJets72027 Rex Ryan baby

Log in or Sign up

NFL 30 to Watch: Haloti Ngata, Defensive Tackle, Baltimore Ravens

TDJets72027 Rex Ryan baby

Useful Searches