Can Ravens linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs still be the disruptive, quarterback-sacking duo they were in 2014?
That season, Dumervil (17 sacks) and Suggs (12 sacks) were the NFL’s top sacking combination.
However, things were much different last year, when Suggs missed almost the entire 2015 season with a torn Achilles suffered Week 1, and Dumervil dropped to just six sacks without Suggs on the field.
Is it fair to expect Dumervil (32 years old) and Suggs (33 years old) to be a dynamic duo at this stage of their careers?
Dumervil believes they can be, and will be.
“Me and Suggs…you’ve got two alphas, man, and we love doing what we do,” Dumervil said during mandatory minicamp. “I can tell you one thing with him: he’s a great teammate, he’s a great player and he’s a confident guy. So, he’s going to do what he needs to do to make sure we can get what we need to get done. The last time we played, we were the No. 1 (sacks) tandem, and so that’s something we’ll try to defend once we both get back healthy.”
Only the Texans and Bengals had two players with more than 10 sacks last season. J. J. Watt of the Texans led the NFL with 17 ½, while teammate Whitney Mercilus at 12. Carlos Dunlap (13 ½) and Geno Atkins (11) both reached double digits for the Bengals.
Suggs has not spoken with the media since his injury, nor has he participated in offseason workouts heading into training camp. But Dumervil believes that he and Suggs will once again be difficult for pass-blockers to handle. The Ravens hope Dumervil is right.
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