Sleeker Edwards Starts

It took a little basketball to get Dwan Edwards into football shape. Actually, it was a lot of basketball and some subtle changes in his diet that caused Edwards to drop 25 pounds and completely re-shape his body.

The once 315-pound defensive tackle is now a sleeker 290-pound tackle/end combo, and the Ravens are taking notice. Already this season, Edwards has seen extended action with Baltimore's sub package, registering four tackles.

But, now that he is stepping into a starting role this weekend for the ailing Trevor Pryce, whose broken wrist will sideline him for three to five games, the fourth-year veteran is ready and eager for a new challenge.

"Everything I've been working for is right here now," said Edwards. "I'm in the starting role. Let's go get it, see what I can do."

The Ravens have been waiting for this former second-round draft pick to blossom ever since he was selected 51st overall in 2004. Edwards got off to a slow start, but steadily improved throughout his career. He spent his rookie season as an inactive scratch for all but four contests, and then played in only 20 games over the next two years.

The Oregon State alumnus seemed to get into a rhythm as the 2006 season waned, totaling nine tackles over the last six games of the year, including a playoff matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.

"There's a maturation in this league, there really is," said head coach Brian Billick. "I think the weight he dropped and the weight he is playing at now, he's much more comfortable. I think that had a lot to do with it. At some point you just grow into it, and he's definitely done that for us."

Edwards attributes much of his breakthrough to his slimmed-down stature. A former Montana high school basketball star - he averaged 22 points a game as a senior - Edwards went back to the court, joining five-on-five pickup games at local Baltimore-area gyms.

"Basketball has always been a sport I love," he explained. "I played in high school, played intramurals in college. I have to be careful because of injury, but it's always been a great way for me to stay in shape."

In addition, Edwards cut out drinking sugary juices and sports drinks, instead picking up a water bottle to hydrate.

The plan originally was to earn a spot on the sub package, just to gain a more active role in the rotation. Sure, starting would be ideal, but even Edwards admits that being stacked behind Kelly Gregg, Haloti Ngata and Pryce doesn't' exactly make it easy to get to the first team.

That had become a theme throughout Edwards' career. When he came into the league, Edwards sat behind Anthony Weaver and Marques Douglas. Then Maake Kemoeatu, a rookie free agent, emerged in 2005 when Douglas signed in San Francisco.

The departures of Weaver and Kemoeatu in 2006 were answered by the addition of Pryce through free agency and Ngata in the draft.

"I played behind Kelly, Weaver, Kemo and now Trevor," said Edwards. "Those guys all commanded high dollars from other teams. I had to wait my turn, and that's just how it was. It motivated me and allowed me to get better. I learned a lot from all those guys, so I'm as ready as I've ever been."

Edwards turned heads during a strong preseason, and has already impressed in the Ravens' first two weeks, even using his superb hands and newfound speed to shed a blocker and deflect a low extra point attempt in the season opener against Cincinnati.

"I feel so much faster, so much quicker than I've ever felt," he stated. "Even watching on film, it's amazing, [you can] tell the difference between last year and this year."

His fellow Ravens have noticed too, and they aren't expecting a drop off in production this weekend against the Arizona Cardinals.

"He made a commitment in the offseason to really get on the field and show why we picked him in the second round," said linebacker Bart Scott. "He's lost a lot of weight. He has a non-stop motor and he's been playing some solid football for us."

Even when Pryce does come back from his injury, Edwards doesn't expect to change his approach to the game. It's been the same throughout his career.

"In the NFL, you are always one play away from being a starter and this incident proves it exactly – here I am," he said. "You've got to take the same approach and study film and know you're plays and you're ready to go.

"I had a great preseason and good couple first games, and I'm just looking to build on that and keep getting better," Edwards continued. "Hopefully I'm playing my best football toward the end of the year."