Before the 2009 NFL draft, many NFL experts were predicting that the Baltimore Ravens would grab a receiver early, such as a Hakeem Nicks (UNC), Kenny Britt (Rutgers), Percy Harvin (Florida), or even a Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland). However, that didn’t work out, but I know the Ravens aren’t complaining. Oddly enough, almost every one of those receivers is playing well - except for Heyward-Bey - but the Ravens’ first round pick, Mississippi offensive tackle/movie star Michael Oher, is having a tremendous year. According to Pro Football Focus.com, a website where a group of analysts study game-film to see who is really playing well, Oher is one of the best offensive tackles in the league.

He’s started all 11 games, impressive for a rookie, and he has only had two in which he really struggled (Cincinnati, Minnesota). He was the Ravens first pick, taken 23rd overall. Since he’s played so well, one of the Ravens key rookies who gets overshadowed is cornerback Lardarius Webb. Because Oher is the subject of the movie “Blind Side“, he is not just famous with Ravens fans, but with NFL fans and people all over the world because of his story. Webb, however, isn’t that. At 5′10″, 179 pounds, he’s not the most intimidating defensive presence on the field, but he’s played tremendously well all season long.

He didn’t even see any action until coming in against the Minnesota Vikings in a 33-31 loss in Week 6. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks as the 22nd best cornerback in football, and considering the fact that there are 64 starters, along with a ton of competent No. 3’s, and this kid is a rookie third-round pick out of Nicholls State, that’s extremely impressive, and you could really argue he’s having an even better year than that. He really started making an impact in an upset win over the previously undefeated Denver Broncos, 30-7. Not only did he play well as a corner, he returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown, which made it 13-0, and really gave the Ravens a huge momentum advantage - as if they hadn’t had one already.

In a 17-7 loss to Cincinnati the next week, there weren’t many positives. Quarterback Joe Flacco played his worst game of the year, the Ravens couldn’t run the ball because they were behind all day, and thus, couldn’t utilize Ray Rice, and the defense got off to a horrible start. But Webb played a tremendous game. He didn’t start, but he came in late, and was great. He showed brilliance in run support, and did a good job in coverage, too. In fact, after the Bengals scored 14 points in the first two drives, they scored just three the rest of the game, and Webb was certainly a big part of that. Against the Browns the next week, he played well again (and yes, I am aware, it is the Browns).

He was very good in coverage, and was impressive enough for the commentators, Ron Jaworski, Mike Tirico, and Jon Gruden, to notice how well he was playing. He struggled a bit against the Colts (who doesn’t?), but came back and played his best game of the year against the Steelers. In fact, late in the game, he almost had an interception, but it was just out of his outstretched right hand. The more I watch him play, the more I’m convinced that he can be the best cornerback in a Ravens uniform since Chris McAlister, who made three Pro Bowls in ten seasons. When Webb came into Baltimore, he made it clear that his “idol” is current Ravens safety Ed Reed, who’s having another very impressive year.

And with what I’ve seen from Webb, I’m convinced he can become a Pro Bowl cornerback - heck, he can even play safety. He’s been more consistent than Domonique Foxworth, and flat out better than fellow CB’s Chris Carr and Fabian Washington, and even Dawan Landry (even though he leads the team in interceptions, he’s pretty bad in coverage. When quarterbacks throw his way, they are 21-of-28 with a rating near 100). Since Washington is on injured reserve, and Foxworth has been good, but not great, Webb has played like a No. 1 corner, and with the way he played in the preseason, some Ravens fans expected it - maybe not this soon, though.

At draft day, when the Ravens took Webb, ESPN’s Mel Kiper compared him to All-Pro Colts safety Bob Sanders. Some call him a “poor man’s Bob Sanders”, and those comparisons are certainly valid. Kiper said he didn’t know the difference between Lardarius and Sanders: “You say Lardarius Webb, I say Bob Sanders.” Both guys are small. Sanders is shorter (5′8″), but weighs much more (206), while Webb is 5′10″, 179. Both are solid in run support, but also good in coverage, and overall, have the potential to be top flight defensive backs. The only impediment for Sanders? Health.

Some people doubted his character coming out of college. In fact, he had to transfer because he “violated team rules”, which could mean a variety of things. But now, he seems to have an extremely good head on his shoulders. On the year, he has 20 tackles, one sack, 25 kick returns, 674 yards (26.96 average), and a touchdown.

But even that doesn’t tell the story.