Tag: Justin Madubuike

Ravens DT Justin Madubuike on biggest offseason focus: ‘I worked on everything’

Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike said he worked on improving everything during the 2024 offseason

The Baltimore Ravens have one of the deepest defensive line rooms that the NFL currently has to offer. They have an incredible balance of veteran and young talent, with the group now being led by Justin Madubuike.

Madubuike had a breakout year for the Ravens in 2023, accumulating 13 sacks and really honing in on his skills as a pass rusher. While last season was great for the former Texans A&M star, he is looking to improve even further in 2024, which rings true due to him saying he was working on everything this offseason.

“This offseason, I worked on everything, [from] strength to technique, pass rush moves; I would just say everything – just getting better at everything, every aspect of the game [and] just being a whole well-rounded player. I think that will just be great for our defense.”

The defensive lineman is one of the bright young stars on Baltimore’s defense, and his presence will free up thing for other players on the unit. Plenty of people were waiting for Madubuike’s breakout season, and it appears as if he’s arrived for good after finding his stride.

Ravens’ Justin Madubuike praises new defensive line coach Dennis Johnson

Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike praised new defensive line coach Dennis Johnson

The Baltimore Ravens experienced significant coaching turnover throughout the 2024 offseason. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was the team’s most significant loss, but the team also lost coaches such as defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and others.

When speaking to the media, Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike talked about Weaver’s replacement in defensive line coach Dennis Johnson. He said that Johnson is “great”, calling him a good guy with excellent insight on the game.

“Dennis is great. Dennis is cool. He came from Texas and Baylor [University]. I’m from Texas so we had that connection. Outside of that, he’s just a good guy. [He’s] somebody that has very good insight about the game and [is] trying to find ways to get better. [He] brings a good energy, too, I like that. He’s good.”

Baltimore dipped into the college ranks to replace a lot of their coaches this offseason. The Ravens have always been a coaching factory, so hopefully, this is the latest batch of great coaches to roll through town, including Johnson.

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Ravens DL Justin Madubuike reveals teammates he was training with in Atlanta

Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike revealed the teammates he was training with in Atlanta

The Baltimore Ravens will rely on plenty of youth in their pass-rushing department for the 2024 season. The team lost veteran Jadeveon Clowney to the Carolina Panthers and will need their younger players to step up.

One player with a primary breakout season in 2023 for Baltimore was defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, who had 13 sacks. He revealed that he trained with some of his Ravens teammates in the offseason, including David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, and Odafe Oweh, with pass-rushing specialist Dez Walker.

“I was with [David] Ojabo, ‘Dafe [Odafe Oweh], ‘T-Rob’ [Tavius Robinson and] my man, [pass rush specialist] Dez Walker, that I’ve been training with the past three offseasons. I definitely told Ojabo and ‘Daf’ about it, and ‘T-Rob’ kind of tagged along as well. It was cool to have my boys with me out there training and just getting better.”

Madubuike is an important part of Baltimore’s defense, and the team hopes to build on his impressive 2023. The other pass rushers must also take leaps forward, and hopefully, training with Madubuike and Walker can help streamline that process.

Ravens DC Zach Orr talks about replacing Jadeveon Clowney’s production

Zach Orr says it’ll take a group effort to replaceJadeveon Clowney’s production

The Baltimore Ravens finished the season with a league-high 60 sacks in 2023. One major component to the success of the Ravens’ pass rush last season was veteran outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney finished with 9.5 sacks, the second most on the team behind defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.

With Clowney’s departure to sign with the Carolina Panthers this offseason, Baltimore will need several players to step up this season to fill the hole on the edge. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr was asked who could make up for the production in Clowney’s absence.

“I think the production can be made by a lot of those guys,” Orr said. “[There are] a lot of candidates in that room, specifically. Obviously, you’ve got David Ojabo, and we’ve got Kyle Van Noy back, which helps out. ‘Daf’ [Odafe Oweh] – we expect him to have a big year. ‘T-Rob’ [Tavius Robinson], Malik Hamm … I mean, [there are] a lot of guys. But I don’t think the production just has to come from that room. You mentioned Travis Jones earlier. [Justin] Madubuike, Michael Pierce, ‘Broddy’ [Broderick] Washington … That whole front, the [linebackers], blitzes … I think we can make that production up in a lot of different ways.”

The Ravens did not make any significant moves at the outside linebacker position after losing Clowney; instead, they relied on the young talent on the roster. A veteran signing closer to the start of the season would not be a surprise, though, as the Ravens did the same thing last year with Clowney and Kyle Van Noy.

Justin Madubuike talks about high expections following a career year in 2023

The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2023 season with one of the league’s top defenses and one of the best in franchise history. One major component to that was the breakout of defensive tackle Justin Madubuike in his fourth season. The athletic …

The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2023 season with one of the league’s top defenses and one of the best in franchise history. One major component to that was the breakout of defensive tackle Justin Madubuike in his fourth season. The athletic defensive tackle had flashes in his first three seasons, but he catapulted his game to the next level in 2023 with a team-leading 13 sacks. This led to a significant payday for Madubuike from the Ravens this offseason.

After such a phenomenal season that led to his becoming one of Balitmore’s highest-paid stars, Madubuike was asked if he felt added pressure this year.

“I wouldn’t say pressure; I would say expectations from people,” Madubuike said. “Teams are definitely going to be maybe blocking me different. [I’m] expecting different ways that they’re going to try to slow me down. I guess you could say pressure in terms of pressuring myself to stay polished and stay focused and stay better than I was last year. That’s the only pressure I feel. Outside of that it’s just expectations, and the world will keep working.”

The Ravens will rely on Madubuike even more this season after losing outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who was second in sacks on the team with 9.5 and a major force in applying pressure and allowing others to benefit in the front seven.

Justin Madubuike talks about where he can improve most after a career season in 2023

Justin Madubuike hoping to improve after a career season in 2023

One of the biggest storylines for the Baltimore Ravens last season was the emergence of defensive tackle Justin Madubuike as a game wrecker in the middle of the defense. Madubuike notched 13 sacks in his fourth season with the Ravens, earning him a massive payday to remain in Baltimore this offseason after initially being franchise-tagged.

It is hard to imagine how Madubuike can take his game to another level after such a season in 2023, but the All-Pro defensive tackle had an answer ready when asked where he can get better this year.

“I just stay present,” Madubuike said. “I just stay in the moment. I always have to understand that. I always have to put the work in to get the results that I want to get. I try to stay true to that and just focus on the little things like sleep, diet [and] nutrition. Little things that I can … just as little pebbles that just add up over time. I try to focus on those things, and I know putting in the work that will check that list off. Just doing the little things well throughout camp and throughout the season and just adding up at the end goal.”

Madubuike is a pivotal piece to the Ravens’ defense, which will see a new defensive coordinator calling plays and several new players contributing at various positions after finishing last season as one of the best in franchise history.

Ravens initial 90-man roster arranged by uniform number ahead of training camp

Baltimore Ravens’ 90-man roster at the start of 2024 training camp

The Baltimore Ravens have officially reported to the Under Armour Performance Center for the start of training camp with the first practice scheduled for Sunday morning.

There will be starting jobs and roster spots up for grabs, which should make for some intriguing position battles throughout camp and the preseason.

Currently, the Ravens have 90 players on their roster, and that will be trimmed down to 53 ahead of the start of the regular season, and by August 27.

With training camp underway, here’s an updated look at the Ravenss’ initial 90-man roster at the start of training camp, organized by jersey number.

Justin Madubuike has added motivation for the 2024 NFL season

Perhaps Madubuike himself has seen a couple of these articles predicting him to regress in 2024

Baltimore Ravens’ “franchise player” Justin Madubuike has plenty of reasons to be extra motivated this year.

Coming off a breakout season in which he registered a career-high 13 sacks after tallying just 8.5 his first three years in the league, the club slapped the franchise tag on Madubuike.

Then, just three days later, he signed a four-year, $98 million contract extension.

This has led to a fair amount of articles, all across the internet, predicting that Madubuike will take a step back this season. Some observers, pundits, and prognosticators believe his 2023 campaign was a fluke.

If you enter his name into a search engine, you’ll quickly see headlines forecasting regression for the interior pass-rushing specialist. The theory goes that Madubuike broke out last season because it was his contract year.

And thus, now that he has his money, he won’t be as ambitious. It almost feels like the editorial staff at the Ravens’ official website has been reading these articles because they included the following sentence in their defensive line position group preview yesterday:

“He has even higher goals after signing a lucrative contract extension.”

Perhaps Madubuike has seen some of these articles predicting him to regress in 2024. If he has, he should use those words to fuel the fire.

Panthers’ Derrick Brown ranked as 7th-best DT by NFL execs, coaches, scouts

Are there six defensive tackles better than Carolina’s Derrick Brown?

Derrick Brown now has another number to add alongside his name.

ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler polled league executives, coaches and scouts in compiling a list of the game’s top 10 defensive tackles. Brown, who found a spot on the honorable mention section last summer, reps the Carolina Panthers at No. 7.

Fowler writes:

Brown was a menace in the middle for the Panthers, leading the league with a 47% run stop win rate.

While the sack production isn’t there — Brown has eight sacks in four years — the disruption very much is. Carolina decided to build the defense around him instead of pass-rusher Brian Burns, who was traded to the Giants

“You feel him more than you see the sack numbers,” a veteran NFL scout said of Brown. “When you play him and watch him, he’s really good. Wouldn’t surprise me if he has more sacks in the future. Carolina is always losing in games, so teams don’t throw the ball as much on them late.”

Brown set a single-season NFL record for defensive linemen in 2023, amassing 103 tackles. His historic campaign led to his first Pro Bowl selection, as he replaced the now-retired and future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald on the NFC squad.

That season also led to a four-year, $96 million extension for Brown—tying him with New York’s Quinnen Williams as the fourth-highest paid player at the position. Williams was amongst the six players who finished higher than Brown, who polled as high as No. 2 and as low as No. 10, on Fowler’s list.

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Watch: Justin Madubuike shows he’s already in midseason form while doing running drills

Justin Madubuike is a franchise player, both literally and figuratively.

Justin Madubuike is a franchise player, both literally and figuratively. The Baltimore Ravens applied the franchise tag on the 26-year-old defensive tackle on March 5. The club signed Madubuike to a four-year, $98 million contract extension three days later.

This season, the Ravens will be looking for a good return on that hefty investment. If this Madubuike offseason training video below is any indication, the 300-pound defensive lineman will certainly earn his pay and then some.

Note all his speed, quickness, and agility as he runs through the bags. His swim moves and evasive tactics are already in midseason form.

Madubuike had a breakout season last year, making a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro. He developed into one of the better young pass rushers in the game.

Racking up 12 tackles for a loss and 13 sacks in 2023, the Dallas native and Texas A&M graduate will look to put up even more impressive numbers this fall.

The journey starts relatively soon, as Ravens veterans are set to report to training camp on July 20.