As the Ravens work through their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this offseason, safety **Dawan Landry **has emerged as a vocal leader in only his third season.
Without decorated defensive backs Ed Reed, **Samari Rolle **or **Chris McAlister **attending many of the voluntary sessions, Landry is adamant about taking more of a leadership role despite his relatively youthful status.
So much so, in fact, that head coach **John Harbaugh **made a point of singling Landry out after practice last week, on a day when he wasn't even scheduled to address the media.
"[Landry] has been tremendous this spring," Harbaugh said. "He's made every single workout, hasn't missed a lift, hasn't missed a run. When you watch him play out here, you see that he's game.
"He's playing fast, he's all over the field, he's taking charge of that secondary back there, and he deserves special mention."
Landry's breakout is noticed to the average practice viewer through his constant banter in the secondary.
Working with a makeshift mix of cornerbacks and safeties, it is the Ama, La. native's southern drawl that is audible over much of the din.
"With those guys not here right now, I take it upon myself to communicate with the guys," Landry said. "With a lot of young guys around, I have to put that responsibility on my shoulders."
Landry, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, is used to dealing with weighty responsibility.
The Ravens drafted him 146th overall in 2006 with the expectation to making him into a starter opposite Reed, the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The Georgia Tech alumnus stepped right into his role, starting 14 games his rookie season and leading all rookies with five interceptions.
The next year, he only improved, blossoming into the hard-hitting prowler the Ravens envisioned. In two seasons, Landry has amassed 152 tackles and four sacks.
"He's like an old pro out there, and we expect great things from him," said defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. "He's going to be a [great player]. I could see him playing 10, 12 years. He's one of those kind of guys."
Coincidentally, Landry wasn't even judged to be the best safety in his family coming out of school.
His brother, LaRon, was selected in the first round by the Washington Redskins last year (sixth overall). The Ravens are happy to have the elder sibling on their roster.
"We kid him all the time, we always claim that we're going to trade him for LaRon Landry, but, he really is great," Ryan continued. "He's really been tremendous."
Landry admitted that he's having fun with his expanded role. In addition, the new upbeat tempo of the Ravens' offense under coordinator **Cam Cameron **keeps him on his toes.
"It's keeping us really fast right now," said Landry. "It's really keeping up the pace of the game. Coach Cameron has those guys playing really fast right now and that's helping us right now."
But it isn't only Cameron's coaching that has helped Landry prosper.
Harbaugh was also quick to point out secondary coaches **Mark Carrier**, one of four defensive coaches to hold over from former coach Brian Billick's regime, and **Chuck Pagano **for their guidance.
Pagano - who spent the 2007 campaign as defensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina after two years under Rex Ryan's brother, Rob, with the Oakland Raiders - is one that sees a special talent in Landry.
The defensive coaching staff charts what they call "hustle plays," which consist of plays like touching the ball carrier or attempting to strip the ball, and Pagano has logged a full stat sheet for Landry.
"When you talk about guys being professional, it's day in and day out showing up and working hard at it," Pagano said. "Dawan hasn't missed a day. He's great in the classroom, asking the right questions, and then on the practice field, he's at the top with those hustle plays.
"At the end of the day, he's got more numbers than anyone else."
For Landry, building on the past two years is a simple equation. It's about out-working his opponents, his brother and even his teammates.
A typically soft-spoken guy, Landry is letting his hard work do the talking on the field.
"I just want to get better each and every day," he said. "That's the way I'm approaching it."
