Before the start of the regular season, Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley said he had set his ambitions on being named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The first-round draft pick is making a strong argument for that honor.
Mosley was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October, a month in which he made 42 tackles, the third most in the league.
For the season, Mosley is the Ravens' leading tackler with 73, three more than veteran middle linebacker Daryl Smith.
The former Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American from Alabama has intercepted two passes and has six pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
"C.J. understands what the linebacker position is about," retired former Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis recently told The Baltimore Sun in this article. "Forget mistakes; the kid just finds the football. He has a great knack. He makes the game simple. It's early. You really don't want to put crazy pressure on him.
'His upside looks like it could be tremendous. If he doesn't make plays on those screens against Indy, they're out of the gate. He was a ball hawk in college, and he's picking up where he left off."
awilson@baltsun.com
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