The Ravens' linebacking unit, which will bear much of the defensive burden in containing Cincinnati Bengals running back Corey Dillon on Sunday, will attempt to do so with a mishmash of experience, ability and personalities that has thus far helped the team's defense survive the loss of Ray Lewis.
In outside linebackers Peter Boulware and Cornell Brown along with inside linebackers Ed Hartwell and Bernardo Harris, the experience ranges from seven professional starts by Hartwell to 84 by Harris.
The pedigree goes from a first-round draft pick in Boulware to a player who was out of football last year in Brown. And the personalities include the easygoing, quiet nature of Hartwell on one end of the spectrum to the loud and jovial Brown on the other, with Boulware and Harris falling somewhere between.
"It's the exact opposite of what we had the last few years," said Boulware, reflecting on his time with Lewis and former Raven Jamie Sharper. "Now we just have a bunch of guys coming from different directions. But at the same time, I think that is what's making us [linebackers] good and good as a defense. We may not have played together long or be the most talented of groups, but we're going to fight and play until the end."
So far, that has been enough to keep the run defense, which was the best in the NFL in recent years, fifth in the AFC.
"Everybody understands their role and plays to it," linebackers coach Mike Smith said. "Bernardo's done a wonderful job coming in here and knew exactly what his role was going to be. Eddie's played well, and his football is all in front of him.
"Cornell's out of the league and back this year and has been a great addition with the players. He's got a great personality and is good for morale and in the meeting rooms, plus he's been productive. And Peter comes across as very reserved Monday through Saturday, but on Sunday he is a warrior. Guys look to him for certain virtues as well."
In the four games minus Lewis, Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor was the only player to top 100 rushing yards against the Ravens, and that came in a losing effort. The defense has allowed the opposing team's leading rusher an average of 85.5 yards a game.
Things have not been perfect, as evidenced by Atlanta rookie T.J. Duckett's 75 yards through the teeth of the Ravens' defense on Sunday, but it hasn't been a disaster, either.
"To be able to put three different types of guys in there this year with one guy that had been starting, we've been able to play pretty well," Brown said. "That says a lot about us as a team and the coaching staff as well.
"You've got different personalities and different games. Each person brings something different to the table, and that is a benefit for us as a defense and the team."
In short order, the Ravens look to get savvy and sure tackling out of eight-year veteran Harris, athleticism and sideline-to-sideline speed out of Hartwell, grunt work and consistency against the run from Brown and continued explosive pass rushing from Boulware.
In some form, Lewis possessed all those attributes.
"Since Ray has been down, it's been a big difference because that means everybody has to step their game up," Brown said. "In that aspect, everybody has been able to count on each other. It's taken all four of us to play really well together."
The unit will get one of its toughest challenges from Dillon. The Bengals' leading rusher ended the Ravens' defense's 50-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher last December.
Dillon and Taylor, in fact, are the only players to rush for 100 yards against the Ravens in the past 63 games including playoffs.
"He [Dillon] is just a very good running back," said Boulware, who could be the only defensive player on the field who played significantly in that game a year ago. "He's got power and speed, but he's the type of guy that's just determined that you are not going to stop him or slow him down.
"It wasn't acceptable for a guy to get 100 yards on us. We played a great defense that game but Corey Dillon is a great back. If anybody was to get it, he deserved it."
Dillon has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of his past four games, and Cincinnati coach Dick LeBeau said this week that he will continue to feature his Pro Bowl back despite quarterback Jon Kitna's four touchdown passes on Sunday.
Dillon will be facing linebackers who say they are feeling more comfortable playing with each other every week.
"The thing that is important to us is that they communicate football all the time," defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. "When we do that, it helps us play together better."
NOTES: The Ravens downgraded cornerback Chris McAlister (ankle) from questionable to doubtful for Sunday's game and declared quarterback Chris Redman (back) out. Defensive end Michael McCrary (knee) was downgraded to doubtful, and tight end John Jones (knee) was downgraded to questionable. Lewis (shoulder) remains doubtful. None of the players practiced yesterday. ... Safety Will Demps was fined $5,000 by the NFL for a uniform violation in Sunday's game. ... Defensive lineman Kelly Gregg was fined $5,000 for a leg whip Sunday.