Head Coach John Harbaugh officially announced the signing of Jason Babin Wednesday afternoon, saying he'll take Terrell Suggs' roster spot after Suggs tore his Achilles in the season opener and was placed on injured reserve.
It'll be a quick turnaround for the veteran outside linebacker. He should practice Wednesday after some paperwork goes through and Harbaugh said he has a chance to play Sunday versus the Raiders.
"[I] like the way he plays, like his style, like his mentality – tough, smart, hard-playing guy," Harbaugh said. "I think he said it best, his resume is the tape."
The production is evident. Babin, 35, is a two-time Pro Bowler (2010-11), who has 64.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in 146 games (94 starts) during 11 seasons.
He put up 18 sacks in 2011 with the Eagles, the third-most in the NFL that season. He also had 30 tackles and three forced fumbles that year.
The Houston Texans originally selected Babin in the first round (27th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 267-pounder has played for seven teams: Houston (2004-06), Seattle (2007-08), Kansas City (2008), Philadelphia (2009, 2011-12), Tennessee (2010), Jacksonville (2012-13) and the Jets (2014).
Last year, he played in all 16 games, including four starts, and recorded 35 tackles, two sacks and 14 quarterback hits. Harbaugh said the Ravens watched his preseason tape with the Jets this year "very carefully."
"He looked like he'd fit us well," Harbaugh said.
Babin said he's not worried about the Jets' release, saying he hasn't played for a team of the Ravens' caliber. He's only been to the playoffs once. The Jets, he indicated, are between a win-now and rebuild mindset. Now he joins a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
"I don't think I could have drawn it up any better," Babin said. "I've always watched them play, and I've always admired how they played, the style they play and just everything about them. So, to be a part of this defense is really special to me."
Babin thinks it won't take any time at all to get on the field. At this point, he said it's more about terminology. For now, Babin said he expects be to put in situations "where I can do what I do best, and that's just 'Go.'"
"It's not like I haven't played any football," Babin said. "I basically had a bye week last week – early bye week – so I'm ready to rock-n-roll."
Don't expect Babin to step in and be an immediate starter, however. The Ravens are expected to go with Elvis Dumervil and Courtney Upshaw as their starters, and Babin could provide a strong pass-rushing presence in certain situations with Suggs out. Rookie Za'Darius Smith will also factor into the equation.
"Obviously, those other guys will step up into expanded roles – if you want to call it that – the guys who've been here," Harbaugh said. "And [Babin will] provide us another player at that position who's a very good player."
Harbaugh said the Ravens won't "change everything" with Suggs out. He said the smartest way to address the situation when such a key player is lost is to add a player that fits into what the team does, both schematically and philosophically, instead of changing the system.
Harbaugh said Dumervil is "definitely capable" of playing on first and second down, and will do so.
