This could be the last chance for Dan Cody

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, May 30, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

Baltimore Ravens
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Dan Cody may be a hybrid, but he's not high mileage.

In fact, the former University of Oklahoma star's stat line for two seasons as a Baltimore Raven consists of one (1) tackle. And that was an assist.

A second-round draft pick in 2005 after making several All-America first teams as a Sooner senior, the 6-foot-5, 255-pounder promptly blew out his right knee on the first day of training camp and missed the entire season after ACL surgery. Last year, he played in only two games after hurting his knee again.

Now, apparently, Cody is healthy once more, although he chose not to participate in the Ravens' OTAs this month. And he's still considered one of the possibilities to replace the departed Adalius Thomas at outside linebacker/rush end.

The position that Thomas played so well for the Ravens last season was a product of the 46 defense that coordinator Rex Ryan learned from his father, Buddy. In it, three down linemen place themselves in almost a 3-4 alignment, with another DE split off to the weak side, outside the offensive tackle, for edge rushing purposes. Ryan also likes big linebackers who can be versatile against the run or pass.

And there were reasons why the Ravens let Thomas walk, despite the fact that he was one of the strongest performers in a fearsome 2006 defense. DE Terrell Suggs can also play linebacker, in which case fourth-year man Jarret Johnson (second all-time in University of Alabama history with 23 career sacks) could move in for Suggs on the D-line. Or Johnson could play the rush end position and leave Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg and second-year man Haloti Ngata as down linemen.

Fourth-round draft pick Antwan Barnes (Florida International) is a bit small at 6-1, 240, but he ran a 4.43 40 at the NFL combine and pumped out 31 reps in the bench press, evoking comparisons with Dwight Freeney. Prescott Burgess, taken in the sixth round, was second in tackles on a formidable Michigan defense and also intercepted a couple of passes during the Wolverines' Rose Bowl season (one for a touchdown).

Cody's pluses are his quickness -- despite the knee problems -- and his length, which is enough to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. He has been working on his upper body strength and his repertoire of moves. At OU, he relied largely on speed to get into the backfield.

It's odd, however, that he isn't participating in the team's voluntary workouts. There may well be a good reason for Cody's absence, but it would seem that he needs all the work he can get at this point in his career -- especially since Barnes, who may emerge as his chief competitor for a starting job -- is currently working out and learning Ryan's defense.

If nothing else, history has proven Dan Cody to be tenacious. He missed a season at Oklahoma when he was diagnosed with clinical depression, and the two knee injuries might have chased off a less determined prospect. Perhaps Cody doesn't want to take a chance with his knee too early, knowing that if it gives out on him again, this is probably the end of the line.

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CommentsComments: 4  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
PuppyPuncher		03:11 AM
05/30/2007
He's gone. The Ravens have a lot of OLBs on the roster and there really is no use for Dan Cody. He's slow, and doesn't fit in the...
No.2
alt7787		02:07 AM
05/31/2007
I go to FIU where Antwan played DE/OLB for us and I know he will be in starting lineup sometime next season. He is fast and when...
No.3
BACKROW		09:21 AM
05/31/2007
how is he slow?? "Cody's pluses are his quickness -- despite the knee problems -- and his length, which is enough to disrupt...
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