Linebacker,
Baltimore Ravens
Age: 29 (Oct. 11)
9th
season in pro football & with Ravens
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. He received Rookie of the Year honors in 2003 and had 10
sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004, but with a change in the
defensive scheme Suggs 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.
2011 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 14 [5,
tied with Aldon Smith]
Most sacks,
game – 3 vs. Pittsburgh 9/11, vs. San Francisco 11/24, vs. Indianapolis 12/11
Multi-sack
games – 3
Interceptions
– 2
Most interceptions,
game – 1 at Tennessee 9/18, at Pittsburgh 11/6
Int. yards – 9
Most int.
yards, game – 9 at Pittsburgh 11/6
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Forced fumbles
– 7
Tackles – 52
Assists – 23
Postseason: 2 G
Sacks – 0
Interceptions
– 0
TD – 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Defensive
Player of the Year: AP
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Focus, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Ravens went 12-4
to finish first in the AFC North while leading the conference in sacks (48) and
fewest rushing yards allowed (1482). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Houston
Texans (20-13). Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots (23-20).
Aftermath:
An offseason Achilles
injury sidelined Suggs 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. In 2013, he played in every game and reached
double digits in sacks for the fifth time with 10, and was rewarded with a
sixth Pro Bowl selection. Through the first 11 years of his career, Suggs accumulated
94.5 sacks and seven interceptions.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press
International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league
itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of
the Year.
