Slimmer Edwards Quickens Pace

Dwan Edwards earned the nickname "Wiggle" his rookie season in Baltimore, but after dropping 20 pounds this offseason, he's feeling much less movement around his midsection.

Actually, the Ravens defensive tackle was given the moniker for a nifty move placed on an opposing offensive lineman in the 2004 training camp. It has stuck with the second-round draft pick so much that not a practice goes by without defensive line coach Clarence Brooks barking "Wiggle!" at least once or twice.

Brooks has been calling Edwards' name more often lately, as the four-year veteran is receiving increased time on the playing field. Edwards sees a direct correlation between the increase in snaps and decrease on the scale.

"It's amazing," he said after practice this week. "We watched some film of our game against the Giants [last Sunday, Aug. 19], and I watched some film of just myself from last year. I can't even believe the difference in how I looked and felt just getting to the ball. I'm a step and a half quicker off the ball than I used to be. It feels great."

But it wasn't that Edwards was guilty of a poor work ethic in his first three years as a Raven. Edwards simply made small changes in his everyday diet and his offseason workout routine, and the pounds fell off.

The Oregon State alumnus has steadily improved, stepping up to bolster the depth along the defensive line. He saw action in eight contests in 2006, posting 12 tackles while batting down a pass. Edwards' career high in tackles came two seasons ago, when he tallied 38 stops.

With the release of defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin, who signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers, the Ravens are looking for this to be Edwards' breakout campaign.

"Sometimes - linemen in particular - it takes a couple of seasons to get it right," said defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. "Here's a guy that's really transformed his body and is playing at a different speed than everybody else. He's had a great camp."

Edwards saw an opportunity to move into the Ravens' sub package, which is the first line of backups off the bench, and wanted to slim down to gain an extra step. Already, it has shown to the tune of 10 tackles in two preseason games, good for second on the team.

"I came in thinking I wanted to lose 10 [pounds], but that turned out to be 20," said Edwards, who credits his abstinence from sugary drinks like Gatorade or fruit juice and regularly playing pickup basketball this offseason for the change.

"Basketball has always been a sport I love," said the lineman. "I played intramural in college, and get in games at McDonogh, Merritt Athletic Center, the JCC just for fun. I have to be careful because of injury, but it's a great way to stay in shape.

It also doesn't hurt that Edwards and his wife Kelsey get a workout chasing two children under the age of 10 around the house.

"The kids are a whole other story," he continued with a smile.

Edwards is a patient man. Still, after three years of seeing spot duty, he is ready for a bigger role in the reigning top-ranked defense.

"It's definitely tough. You want to play; that's why you're here," he said. "But it's done nothing but motivate me to get better and push myself, and I'm expecting big things out of myself this year and for years to come."