OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Imagine being Baltimore Ravens rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb.
Your team is in a must-win situation and, because of an injury to Fabian Washington, is most likely turning to you to make your first NFL start in the biggest game of the season.
On top of that, the game is televised nationally in prime time and it’s against your most heated rival in the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nervous?
"No pressure," Webb said. "These guys prepared me for these days. They told me the day was going to come. So each week I was just preparing, trying to get better each day, not each week. So the time has come."
Webb has not been officially named the starter, but he's been brought along slowly for this very moment. The third-round draft pick opened a lot of eyes in training camp and in practices but just began to earn playing time in sub packages following the bye week.
Now with Washington out for the season with a knee injury, Webb is expected to go from a nickel and dime cornerback to an every-down player the rest of the season.
"He’s got cornerback skills, but I like some other things; I like some intangible things about him," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "He’s a competitive guy, but he’s got a lot to learn."
Webb will not have an easy assignment Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s receiving corps is one of the most disciplined in the league. It’s also a veteran group that consists of two former Super Bowl MVPs in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, and an electric rookie with deep speed in Mike Wallace.
Ward said he’s been impressed with what he sees on tape from Webb, but the Ravens defense should expect a lot of balls being thrown in the rookie’s direction.
"He’s flying around to the football and he likes to play physical," Ward said. "So he’s a great, young talent. But we definitely want to see if we can try to exploit that side of him not having experience."
Your team is in a must-win situation and, because of an injury to Fabian Washington, is most likely turning to you to make your first NFL start in the biggest game of the season.
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D. Jay Talbott/Icon SMILardarius Webb will likely be tested often by the Pittsburgh offense.
Nervous?
"No pressure," Webb said. "These guys prepared me for these days. They told me the day was going to come. So each week I was just preparing, trying to get better each day, not each week. So the time has come."
Webb has not been officially named the starter, but he's been brought along slowly for this very moment. The third-round draft pick opened a lot of eyes in training camp and in practices but just began to earn playing time in sub packages following the bye week.
Now with Washington out for the season with a knee injury, Webb is expected to go from a nickel and dime cornerback to an every-down player the rest of the season.
"He’s got cornerback skills, but I like some other things; I like some intangible things about him," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "He’s a competitive guy, but he’s got a lot to learn."
Webb will not have an easy assignment Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s receiving corps is one of the most disciplined in the league. It’s also a veteran group that consists of two former Super Bowl MVPs in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, and an electric rookie with deep speed in Mike Wallace.
Ward said he’s been impressed with what he sees on tape from Webb, but the Ravens defense should expect a lot of balls being thrown in the rookie’s direction.
"He’s flying around to the football and he likes to play physical," Ward said. "So he’s a great, young talent. But we definitely want to see if we can try to exploit that side of him not having experience."
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after three seasons covering the Cleveland Browns for the Columbus Dispatch. He also covered the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Cavaliers at the Dispatch. Walker grew up in Hyattsville, Md., before attending Temple University, graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in communications and mass media. He resides in the Cleveland area.
