Woodson’s Ravens: Best defense ever?

Critics of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens were annoyed by a slight penchant for pretentious behavior and speech.

After the Ravens thrashed the New York Giants, 34-7, in Super Bowl XXXV, it seemed a tad over the top when cornerback Chris McAlister said, “Our defense, as a whole, is the greatest thing ever to exist.”

If McAlister meant that the Ravens had just completed the best single season of defense in NFL history — well, he has a point if you do that math.

The 2000 Ravens allowed 165 points, an NFL record for a 16-game season.

One perspective on that 

•  The Ravens were an extension of the Cleveland Browns franchise that entered the NFL in 1950. In a 12-game season, en route to an NFL championship, the 1955 Browns gave up 218 points.

•  In a 14-game season, also en route to an NFL title, the 1964 Browns allowed 293 points.

Linebacker Ray Lewis was the edgiest of the 2000 Ravens, stomping and kicking around the field, exuding violence.

The Ravens were overflowing with swagger before they ever hit the field for the Super Bowl in Tampa. Lewis, the mouth of the defense, challenged Shannon Sharpe, the mouth of the offense:

“Give us 10 points, and the game’s over.”

It was 10-0 at halftime, and Lewis was right.

In the interview tent after the rout, Lewis said, “I truly believe we’re the greatest defense of all time.”

Rod Woodson played well on the back end of that defense, making the Pro Bowl as a free safety. He also was the Ravens’ guidance counselor.

On Saturday, Woodson will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He was 33 when he joined the Ravens in 1998, 35 when he helped them win the Super Bowl.

“Nobody told me it was my job to be a mentor,” Woodson told the Baltimore Sun at the time. “But I knew that the young talent needed to be cultivated.”

After the Super Bowl, linebacker Peter Boulware alluded to Woodson in a question about whether Baltimore’s defense was the best ever:

“You can name Butkus or any of your other great names. I’ll come back with Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson,” Boulware said. “I’m naming legends, too.

“The numbers back us up. We did it on the biggest stage. To be great, you have to win a championship. We put up the numbers. We won the championship. What more could we do?”

Sustain, maybe?

The 2001 Ravens allowed 100 more points than the Super Bowl team. They were eliminated from the playoff by the Steelers, 27-10.

Woodson, though, again was a Pro Bowl starter in 2001, though it was the end of his run with the Ravens.


BEST ELEVEN EVER?

The 2000 Baltimore Ravens beat Cleveland 12-0 and 44-7. Here’s a look at the team’s starting 11 on defense.

DE Rob Burnett  A Round 5 pick in 1990, he was with the Browns-Ravens franchise for 12 years. He led the 2000 Super Bowl team with 12 1/2 sacks, two in postseason.

DT Sam Adams  A No. 8 overall draft pick (Seahawks) in 1994, he joined the Ravens in 2000, when he went to his first Pro Bowl. A massive man, he is remembered by Browns fans for appearing to break Tim Couch in two during a 2001 game.

DT Tony Siragusa  This 350-pounder and Adams provided a whale of a 1-2 run-stuffing punch. He was is his 11th NFL season in 2000 and was out of the league by 2002.

DE Michael McCrary  The meat of his 10-year career was 1996-99, when he amassed 48 1/2 sacks. He slipped in 2000 but caught a second wind in the postseason, racking up six sacks.

OLB Peter Boulware  He’s what former Browns GM Phil Savage had in mind when Cleveland drafted another Florida State defensive end, Kamerion Wimbley, in 2006. A No. 4 overall pick in 1997, Boulware cranked out 52 sacks in his first five seasons.

MLB Ray Lewis  The face of the Baltimore franchise was a first-round draft pick in 1996, months after the team left Cleveland. He was 25 in the Super Bowl season.

OLB Jamie Sharper  An example of effective drafting. He was a Round 2 pick in 1997 and a fourth-year starter in 2000.

CB Duane Starks  The No. 10 overall pick of the 1998 draft.

CB Chris McAlister  Is there an echo in here? He was the No. 10 overall pick of the 1999 draft.

SS Kim Herring  The former Solon High School star was a Round 2 pick in 1997.

FS Rod Woodson  He was in his third season with the Ravens and his 14th overall in 2000, playing safety with the mastery he brought to cornerback in Pittsburgh.

Canton Repository