THE BIG CRAB CAKE: “Next Man Up!”

When we consider NFL rosters, the star power of any team attracts our attention. They are the eye candy and it’s names like Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry that capture our minds and elevate our interest. But the best teams have depth and GMs across the league will tell you that one of their most crucial offseason projects is to build the roster from the bottom up.

Even though the 53-man roster is initially set in September, it does have some fluidity. Injuries and attrition set in; the latter triggered by players who don’t perform to the team’s level of expectation. As for injuries, the desired depth ideally can help sustain a level of play until the starter heals. And when called upon you will inevitably hear the oft-used cliché, “next man up” bantered about.

On Monday night, upon a national stage, the Ravens next man up was Malik Harrison.

Harrison was asked to step in for the injured All Pro Roquan Smith. Smith patrolled an area of the field that had been a major weakness in coverage prior to the game in Pittsburgh. But adjustments and personnel changes made to the back end of the defense seemed to help the intermediate middle, and Roquan had his best game of the season against the Steelers. But he also pulled a hamstring and missed the entire fourth quarter.

Harrison, the former Ohio State Buckeye was the Ravens 2020 third-round pick. Coming out of OSU, Harrison was lauded for his athleticism but that hasn’t really manifested itself at the NFL level. Despite his draft status he’s largely been a special teams player and a situational linebacker who has struggled in space. But no one has ever doubted his work ethic, availability nor his physicality. And that showed up in spades on Monday night.

Malik Harrison got the defense’s highest @PFF grade vs. the Chargers. pic.twitter.com/yBMzchiA5G

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) November 26, 2024

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“Knowing that there was a possibility that ‘Ro’ [Roquan Smith] was going to be out, I just had the mindset that I was going to go out there and start. I just prepared my ass off all week.” ~ Malik Harrison

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After a slightly rocky first series, Harrison found his groove and played extremely well, receiving top grades among all Ravens defenders from Pro Football Focus. In total Harrison had 50 defensive snaps during which he made 11 tackles, 8 stops and added another special teams tackle to go with 23 special teams reps.

Players embrace the status of next man up like a badge of honor. It represents an opportunity to prove to their coaches and teammates that they can perform when called upon. Malik did exactly that and then some on Monday night at SoFi Stadium. And now here’s another honor he can embrace – the Jimmy’s Famous Seafood Big Crab Cake as the Ravens unsung hero for Week 12.

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“It is, but I can handle it. I’ve been doing it for the last three years, so whatever they want me to do, I’ll do it.” ~ Malik Harrison on if it is tough to balance playing the edge as well as off the ball

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[Ravens Stock Report for Week 12]

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/11/27/the-big-crab-cake/harrison-fills-in-admirably/