Tag: kyle van noy

Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy opens up on how he ended up back in Baltimore

Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy opened up on how he ended up back in Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens made an in-season splash in early 2023, signing outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy to help bolster their pass rush. Not many knew how the move would work, but Van Noy put together a nine-sack season and instantly became one of the leaders on the team’s defense.

Following the year, Van Noy became a free agent but opted to return to Baltimore on a two-year deal. Van Noy opened up about his decision to return to the Ravens, saying that he kept an open mind, but he and the team had a good relationship.

“I always keep an open mind to everything. I felt like we had a good relationship, and it was open communication. We felt like it was a benefit to both parties and I’m happy to be here. [I] appreciate boss man ‘Mr. B’ [Owner Steve Bisciotti] and ‘EDC’ [executive vice president & general manager Eric DeCosta] and ‘Harbs’ [John Harbaugh] for making that happen. [I’m] just pumped to be back with [my] teammates and repent for our sins after last year.”

Van Noy will now be the veteran leader in the EDGE rusher group, especially with Jadeveon Clowney departing for the Carolina Panthers. He will play another pivotal role for the team this season, which is looking to win a Super Bowl championship.

Ravens’ linebacker Kyle Van Noy says he’s felt “under-appreciated” for most his career

Ravens’ linebacker Kyle Van Noy says he’s felt “under-appreciated” for most of his NFL career

Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy is thrilled to be returning to the Baltimore Ravens this upcoming season. Having played 11 years in the NFL, the Super Bowl Champion Van Noy relishes the opportunity to be a part of such a positive franchise.

Van Noy rallied nine total sacks last season, operating on and off the line of scrimmage. Van Noy’s versatility is vital to the Ravens’ defensive attack, which frequently uses twist concepts and pre-snap deception to confuse the opposing offensive and their pass-block scheme.

 

 

Van Noy claims he felt “underappreciated” by other teams to the Ravens’ press earlier this month. Van Noy claimed that his ability to cover skill players in the past and by a force as a pass rusher should’ve made him a a hotter commodity. Fortunately enough, the franchise he is currently signed to understands his talents and helped him record a career-high in sacks last year.

Van Noy is excited about playing under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr and has enjoyed building relationships with young players like all-pro safety Kyle Hamilton. Van Noy signed a two-year $9 million extension with earlier this spring. Perhaps the Ravens appreciate Van Noy more than other teams did.

 

Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy expects Zach Orr to be an aggressive play-caller

Right outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy sounds pretty excited to play under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr

Right outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy sounds pretty excited to play under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr this upcoming season.

“I love ‘Z.O.’ [I am] a big fan of his, have been since he played,” Van Noy said at minicamp media availability.

“He has a relationship, I would say, with everybody on defense. You don’t see that everywhere you go. ‘Z.O.’ passions himself on relationships and communication.

“He’s done a really good job of communicating what he wants done, and you better do it.”

On February 1, Orr was elevated from inside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator. He filled the void left when last year’s DC, Mike McDonald, departed to take the Seattle Seahawks head coaching position.

Orr played for the Ravens as a weak-side linebacker from 2014-2016. His final season saw him earn second-team all-pro honors after he racked up 133 total tackles, three interceptions, and five passes deflected.

Van Noy was asked if Orr will employ an aggressive strategy this upcoming season.

“How do you know he’s aggressive?” he responded, eliciting laughter from the press room.

“He was an aggressive player, so I think that’s what you’re going to want to see him [be] as a [defensive] coordinator, is be aggressive. But, he’s also really smart – very, very smart. He knows defenses.

“He eats, breathes [and] sleeps football. That’s what you want – playing for a coach like that, who has literally dedicated his – I believe it’s 32 years now – just straight football.”

Van Noy is correct; Orr is exactly 32 years old. After his playing days were over, he immediately got into coaching, staying with the Ravens as a defensive analyst for the 2017 season.

His entire coaching career has been in Baltimore, except for the 2021 season, where he served as an outside linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

You can expect a lot of heavy blitzing packages with an emphasis on being aggressive. Van Noy is very excited about having the chance to showcase his outside pass-rushing skills this fall.

“I’m excited about ‘Z.O.”s style,” the two time Super Bowl champion added.

“I think it’s going to continue to flood into the NFL because of what they’ve been able to do here for so long, and I believe we’re going to be a very, very good defense.

“It starts with him, and then it starts with the rest of the players executing – all 11 of us – each and every play.”

It will be interesting to see if Van Noy’s prediction comes true and if other teams across the league start copying Orr’s schemes.

Will Ravens DT Justin Madubuike return in rare form?

Baltimore Ravens DT Justin Madubuike tallied 13 of his teams 60 sacks last season. Will Madubuike return in rare form?

Baltimore Ravens DT Justin Madubuike tallied 13 of his team’s 60 sacks last season. Will Madubuike return in rare form under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr?

While Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Patrick Queen is busy bumping his gums, he should be thanking Madubuike for the blitz lanes that allowed him to tally up ten stuffs last year. Madubuike’s work in the a-gap cannot be overstated, pressing opposing guards out of position and causing significant disruption in the backfield.  


What’s even better for Madubuike this year is that he’ll have practice reps against an even more physical running back in Derrick Henry. The Ravens will likely digress in pass defense, and if so, Orr will need to scheme zone blitz plays to create a pass rush advantage. 

The Ravens hope Madubuike’s four-year, $98 million deal will motivate him to win at the snap until Orr can structure a new scheme to replicate last year’s production.

Madubuike should expect help from linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh who combined for 14 sacks last season. With linebacker Jadeveon Clowney gone, Madubuike must be ready to shoulder the load as the Ravens’ main guy in the pass rush.

Eric DeCosta talks about the role of Chuck Smith in evaluating pass rushers

The Baltimore Ravens have been heavily lauded for their hiring of pass rush guru Chuck Smith as the team’s outside linebackers coach. After selecting outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ravens general manager …

The Baltimore Ravens have been heavily lauded for their hiring of pass rush guru Chuck Smith as the team’s outside linebackers coach. After selecting outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was asked if his evaluation of athletic pass rushers has changed because of Chuck Smith.

“I really pay attention to [pass rush coach] Chuck [Smith],” DeCosta said. “when he talks, I listen because he is a great pass-rush specialist, and he’s looking for specific traits, and he gets excited by certain guys, and I like that. I love his enthusiasm. He’s a joy to work with in the draft meetings because you know if he loves a guy, and that’s exciting. That’s what you want as an evaluator and as a guy that organizes the draft. You really want your scouts and your coaches to take ownership of certain guys and get on the table for guys, and Chuck does that, and he’s a great coach. So, if he sees these traits in somebody, I get excited. I think we all saw how our guys developed last year and emerge and what we did, and I think Chuck is a big part of that.”

Smith’s impact was clear in his first season in Baltimore, not only for the outside linebackers but for the entire defensive line. The Ravens led the NFL in sacks with 60 with defensive tackle Justin Madubuike leading the way with 13 — earning him a four-year, $98 million contract from Baltimore. Veteran outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy also enjoyed their best seasons from a sack standpoint, totaling 9.5 and 9 sacks respectively.

Ravens rookie pass rusher Adisa Isaac named one of the “Elite” round 3 picks by PFF

The Baltimore Ravens added more depth at the outside linebacker position by selecting Penn State’s Adisa Isaac with the No. 93 overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Isaac was labeled one of the three “Elite” picks from the third …

The Baltimore Ravens added more depth at the outside linebacker position by selecting Penn State’s Adisa Isaac with the No. 93 overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Isaac was labeled one of the three “Elite” picks from the third round by PFF.

Isaac was a productive pass rusher at the collegiate level, racking up 11.5 sacks in his final two seasons as a Nittany Lion. Isaac will join former teammate Odafe Oweh now with the Ravens to round out an outside linebacker group consisting of Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, and Malik Hamm.

The Ravens will need to fill the sizeable void left by veteran outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney after he departed to sign with the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Isaac will have an opportunity to earn playing time early on in first-year defensive coordinator Zachary Orr’s defense.

 

Former Patriots two-time Super Bowl champion LB signs two-year deal with Ravens

Former Patriots LB Kyle Van Noy will be returning to Baltimore on a new deal

Former New England Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, per a report from “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday.

In the follow-up details from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it was revealed that the deal is worth $9 million with up to $1 million worth of incentives.

Van Noy played in 14 games for the Baltimore Ravens last season and started in three of them. He recorded 70 combined tackles and nine sacks on the year.

The veteran linebacker was a big part of the Patriots defense over the years. He joined the organization in two separate stints, with the first one being from 2017-2019.

He then signed with New England in 2021 as a free agent. He recorded 287 combined tackles and 21.5 sacks over the course of five seasons with the Patriots.

Van Noy will return to a Baltimore defense that ranked first in the league in scoring last season with 16.5 points allowed on average. He will be a solid supplementary player on a Ravens team that looks to be a contender in the AFC once again.

Ravens agree to a 2-year deal with LB Kyle Van Noy

The Baltimore Ravens are signing Kyle Van Noy to a two-year deal

The Ravens are retaining one of their own free agents, as Pat McAfee reported that the veteran linebacker is returning to Baltimore on a two-year deal.

You can never have enough good pass rushers or leadership on your roster, and for the right price, Van Noy has to return after posting 30 tackles and a career-best 9.0 sacks in 14 games with the Ravens during the regular season.

Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney formed a formidable duo off the right side and combined for 18.5 sacks during the regular season.

Now, one will return in 2024.

10 pending free agents the Ravens should not re-sign

We’re looking at ten pending 2024 NFL free agents that the Baltimore Ravens should not re-sign

Baltimore faces an offseason of change after Mike Macdonald bolted for the Seahawks job. Anthony Weaver landed the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator job, and 26 players, headlined by Patrick Queen, are set to be free agents.

Justin Madubuike landed the franchise tag, leaving Baltimore -$9 million over the salary cap ahead of the early tampering period.

With an urgent offseason underway, we’re looking at ten pending free agents who shouldn’t return.

Former Dolphins LB rips team for not franchising Christian Wilkins

A former Dolphin isn’t happy with the team for letting Christian Wilkins get to free agency.

The NFL’s deadline for franchise or transition tagging a player has come and gone, and the Miami Dolphins opted not to use theirs on defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.

Now, Wilkins, who had a career-high nine sacks in 2023, will hit the free-agent market where he’ll likely receive a huge contract that will pay him roughly $20 million annually.

One player who took umbrage with Miami’s decision was former Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy, as he shared his thoughts on social media.

While many Dolphins fans are calling Van Noy’s reaction “sour grapes” on social media because of the way his tenure in Miami ended, he’s not wrong.

Wilkins did everything that was asked of him over the last five seasons, and in 2023, he even improved his pass-rushing, which was the one thing that detractors pointed toward as a potential weakness in his game.

If the defensive lineman doesn’t return in 2024, the Dolphins will be a worse team, not just because of the loss of his production, but also because of the loss of his leadership and discipline.