Is Ngata the Ravens version of Haynesworth 2.0?

[durango46]

attitude aside, because there is no comparison there. It's a pretty fair question.

IMO, Ngata doesn't have anybody else on the front line that matters. Upshaw to a degree but he's still learning on the job. So....with no help the guy is double teamed most of the time. Makes it kind of tough.

Hopefully T coming back helps. Not too mention Ngata was never a big sack guy.

Haynesworth at one time was a beast.....

[chrisbraven]

OCF, I'm assuming you are stirring up good convo with this question. Ngata is a model player. I wish I could bottle and market his effort, respect, athleticism, and talent. Remember, his peers voted him as one of the top 20 players in the league two years running (the only two years of that top 100 poll). As was said before, even when hurt he demands attention from the opposite offensive scheme. He made plays down the stretch last year, and he also kept linemen off of #52 so that HE could make plays. Getting injured is part of football. Sometimes it seems we as fans are too exacting. My perspective is, do I see a work ethic to get through injury? With Ngata, definitely. Never with Haynesworth. He left the game a big baby with a trashed rep.

Braven

[OriginalColtsFan]

OCF, I'm assuming you are stirring up good convo with this question. Ngata is a model player. I wish I could bottle and market his effort, respect, athleticism, and talent. Remember, his peers voted him as one of the top 20 players in the league two years running (the only two years of that top 100 poll). As was said before, even when hurt he demands attention from the opposite offensive scheme. He made plays down the stretch last year, and he also kept linemen off of #52 so that HE could make plays. Getting injured is part of football. Sometimes it seems we as fans are too exacting. My perspective is, do I see a work ethic to get through injury? With Ngata, definitely. Never with Haynesworth. He left the game a big baby with a trashed rep.

Braven

No, I think the comparison, sans the attitude, is rather obvious: a HUGE investment in a player who has not only underperformed, but who came to camp fat and out of shape, regardless of what a "great guy" he is. Teams can't afford that much ballast with the cap ceiling policies of the 21st century NFL. Ngata is arguably as big a bust -- bang for the buck -- as Haynesworth.

[ziptop]

I know what the hype is, that I know. I know that when the season ended last year his sub par performance for the year was blamed on his being injured. And it seemed to be generally admitted that after the first four games he wasn't much of a force.

So, how good is this guy and how has he actually performed? That is the question. You tell me; I don't see the line play that well.

[Eastside Terp]

ngata is nothing like haynesworth,on the field or off .......

[afan]

Not to mention he has been hurt much of the year and still outplays any other member of the Ravens and is still schemed for by the other teams

[ckferg]

If he can't stay healthy, he's not worth the money we're paying him. My question is how long can he be an injury plagued player before decisions will have to be made?

[OriginalColtsFan]

If he can't stay healthy, he's not worth the money we're paying him. My question is how long can he be an injury plagued player before decisions will have to be made?

The Ravens don't have a real good track record with cutting their losses when it comes to their pet players they've invested in.

[Dub]

I don't see how you can compare them other then that they play relatively the same position. Ngata was voted top 10 overall players in the NFL by his peers. You know, the players he actually plays against and the players that study the film. Ngata was a beast last year until he got hurt and played through his injuries, and still played at a high level. Ngata sprained his MCL earlier this year and is still playing. MCL sprain was the injury that kept Cutler on the sideline in the playoff game pouting by the way.

Ngata put more weight on, on purpose and was destroying lineman earlier this year basically being our only pass rusher I believe currently leads our team in sacks. I am baffled at how anyone can compare Ngata to Haynesworth both to on the field performance over time (more then 2 great years) and off the field. Ngata is the best DT in the NFL period. This is like comparing Adrian Peterson to Lawrence Phillips

[jamesdean]

The guy just doesn't have any support around him. He's an All-Pro defensive lineman who's probably getting double teamed on every play and is surrounded by players who are at best, mediocre. Most are horrible. If he had a Sam Adams or Tony Siragusa playing along side of him, he'd be a human wrecking ball.

[TDL]

The guy just doesn't have any support around him. He's an All-Pro defensive lineman who's probably getting double teamed on every play and is surrounded by players who are at best, mediocre. Most are horrible. If he had a Sam Adams or Tony Siragusa playing along side of him, he'd be a human wrecking ball.

The reason so many of those other players are mediocre on defense is because Haloti,Suggs,Reed and a few others are making so much bank that the team doesn't have the cap space to either retain quality vets or bring in decent free agents. That along with a free bad drafts,key injuries and mismanagement of the salary cap.

I don't blame the players in the least for trying to make as much cash as possible, but that's the unfortunate reality of the situation.

[jamesdean]

The reason so many of those other players are mediocre on defense is because Haloti,Suggs,Reed and a few others are making so much bank that the team doesn't have the cap space to either retain quality vets or bring in decent free agents. That along with a free bad drafts,key injuries and mismanagement of the salary cap.

I don't blame the players in the least for trying to make as much cash as possible, but that's the unfortunate reality of the situation.

Everything you say is absolutely right. Unfortunately, until something changes organizationally with player personel, it's going to be tough for Ngata to be something other than a great talent that's been nuetralized.

[Ravens2006]

During the game yesterday at the stadium they threw up a little factoid on the big screen... Ngata led the NFL going in to yesterday for tackles by a DT (a game in which he then barely played because of his injury). Also noted he leads the NFL in tackles for a DT since the beginning of 2011.

We often minimize making a lot of tackles when you're a DB. Is it a good thing when your DT is making tackles? Is it possible that he's really not playing as poorly as some seem to think? Can a fat, out of shape, unmotivated because he has a big contract, defensive tackle lead the NFL in tackles at a position where you WANT the guys to be making tackles... but still be a huge disappointment?