No. 52 At It Again

After 12 seasons of leading one of the NFL's premier defenses, preparing for success is a habit linebacker Ray Lewis knows as well and pursues as fiercely as opposing running backs. Coming off of a 13-3 season in which the Ravens' defense proved to be the league's best, he knows that business as usual is the best course of action.

Finishing last season with a team-best 164 tackles and a career-high five sacks in 2006, Lewis continues to show the dominance displayed when he twice was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

"In each season I've been in Baltimore, every time he's come into camp I say to myself, 'Man, that guy's in shape and ready to play," linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald said. "Honestly, every year I see him, he takes it to a different level. That's surprising because a guy his age that has his kind of accomplishments, he comes ready to play."

Lewis's dogged pursuit of excellence, as well as a promising mix of talent and experience, has Lewis primed for a run at a Super Bowl.

Sprinting through tackling drills and going over defensive schemes, Lewis defines this team's goal with blatant clarity.

"We're not looking past any team, but the bottom line is Arizona for us," Lewis said, with an eye on Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. "We're not caring about anything else right now. Playoffs are cute; it's great to make it there, but we don't want to be sitting at home. I've been on both ends of the spectrum, and it doesn't feel good."

Despite the optimism heading into training camp, Lewis and the Ravens know a number of challenges remain, most prominently replacing the production of All-Pro linebacker Adalius Thomas. Thomas, who finished last season with 106 tackles, parlayed his versatility and athleticism signed a free-agent contract with the Patriots during the offseason.

Jarret Johnson, in his fifth season out of Alabama, looks to step into Thomas's role at outside linebacker. As a veteran familiar with the system, Johnson has transformed himself from a defensive end into a linebacker.

Working to add run-stopping and pass coverage elements to his skill set, Johnson looks ready to take on the majority of the duties created in Thomas' absence.

"Jarret Johnson is doing a great job, but he has a hell of a job ahead of him filling the shoes of someone it might take a couple of guys to fill," Fitzgerald said. "But let me tell you something about him, I'm not concerned."

In the first two days of camp, Johnson has done well in both covering running backs in the flat and meeting lead blockers squarely to plug running lanes, two important tasks in complementing rush linebacker Terrell Suggs.

With the experience Johnson has through his years with the Ravens, Johnson may not look to Lewis for guidance as a rookie might, but he can certainly look to the middle linebacker as a source of confidence.

"JJ's been here," Lewis said. "That's one thing about [the Ravens]. If we lose one guy, we replace him with another. It doesn't matter. No matter who we replace, when you come in, we have a certain standard and a certain way we play and JJ's been here the whole time. JJ knows our standard. He's a very smart person, and he loves the game of football.

"I don't think there will be any adjustment."

With the question looming around training camp (including on the front of linebacker Bart Scott's t-shirt), "What's better than #1?" Lewis, Suggs, and Scott seem determined to find out whether the answer is being No. 1 two years in a row. At this time next season, Johnson may be asking to borrow Scott's shirt.

Terry Foy is a freelance writer that has contributed to Inside Lacrosse and InsideLacrosse.com.