Linebacker,
Baltimore Ravens
Age: 21 (Oct. 11)
College: Arizona
State
Height: 6’3” Weight: 260
Prelude:
A star
defensive end in college, registering 24 sacks in 2002, Suggs entered the NFL
draft following his junior year and was chosen by the Ravens in the first round
(10th overall) in anticipation of converting him into a pass rushing
outside linebacker.
2003 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 12 [7,
tied with Mike Rucker]
Most sacks,
game – 2 vs. Seattle 11/23, vs. Cincinnati 12/7, at Cleveland 12/21
Interceptions
– 1
Int. yards –
11
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 4
Forced fumbles
– 5
Tackles – 18
Assists – 8
Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff vs.
Tennessee)
Sacks – 0
Interceptions
– 0
TD – 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA
Ravens went 10-6
to finish first in the AFC North while leading the NFL in sacks (47). Lost AFC
Wild Card playoff to Tennessee Titans (20-17).
Aftermath:
Suggs had 10
sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004, but with a change in the
defensive scheme was shifted to end in ’05. He received Pro Bowl recognition again
in 2006 as he garnered 9.5 sacks as a hybrid DE/OLB. Always a fine pass rusher,
he showed improvement in coverage and against the run. Following an off-year in
2007 in which he again was returned to outside linebacker, he regained Pro Bowl
form in ’08. A knee injury hindered Suggs in 2009 but he came back with an
11-sack Pro Bowl season in 2010 and was All-NFL and the NFL Defensive Player of
the Year in 2011. However, an offseason Achilles injury sidelined him for the
first six games of the 2012 season, although he returned for the second half of
the year and the playoff run to the Super Bowl, if at reduced effectiveness. For
the first 10 years of his career, Suggs accumulated 84.5 sacks and seven
interceptions and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times.
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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by
a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper
Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the
league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
