For the first time since the Ravens drafted him in 2009, Paul Kruger entered the offseason settled with a position at outside linebacker.
He was considered a defensive end prospect out of Utah and Baltimore took him in the second round. In Baltimore's 3-4 defense, Kruger's size (6-4, 270) made people question whether he could play the line. He floated back and forth between defensive end and linebacker, and he didn't receive much playing time.
Heading into 2011, Baltimore moved him solely to outside linebacker, where he backed up Terrell Suggs. In third-down passing situations, Kruger totaled five sacks. With Suggs out for the majority of the 2012 season with an Achilles injury, and with strongside linebacker Jarret Johnson now in San Diego, Kruger will finally become a starter with Baltimore.
"It’s really important just for this team and for myself, and everybody is out here fighting," Kruger said. "We want to be a great team this year, and so I’m busting my tail to be able to make plays and be a guy who everybody can rely on.”
Kruger began voluntary organized team activities as Baltimore's starting rush linebacker but has since moved over to strongside, where he originally was slated to start after Johnson left in free agency (before Suggs' injury). As a pass rusher, Kruger hasn't taken too many NFL snaps where he's dropped into coverage or set the edge in the run game. It's something he's had to pick up on in both the classroom and on the field, and it's an area he's beginning to become confident in.
"I don’t think he is ever going to panic," linebackers coach Ted Monachino said. "I think the thing with Paul is that he trusts his ability. He trusts his technique. Sometimes when it gets dirty or cloudy in his mind or in his eyes, it gets harder for him. But when he can clean things up and really focus in on one or two things, he’s pretty darn hard to beat.”
Though he's the starting strongside linebacker for now, Kruger has lined up at both the rush and strongside linebacker spots in practice. It's clear he's getting reps at both as defensive coordinator Dean Pees figures out how to use the linebackers in his system with Suggs out.
Kruger has had a solid start to camp, showing a quick burst off the edge when rushing the passer. But you can tell the important elements needed at strongside are coming along in his game. He doesn't appear lost in coverage and seems to know his assignments in the run game.
Thursday's preseason opener against Atlanta will be the beginning for Kruger, to see whether he's absorbed all the information that comes with being a starting outside linebacker in the NFL. As his own toughest critic, Kruger said the next step he needs to make involves packaging his skills with consistency.
“I think it’s just being out there every play and taking that stage from getting a few reps and being productive at those, to being an every-down player that not only [makes] plays once in a while, but (is) effective at it every down," he said.
Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLBAL and @JasonButtCBS .
