Carl Lewis, they aren?t.
When it comes to running speed and techniques, Ravens defensive tackles Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata?s aren?t going to be mistaken for any world-class sprinters. Still, Lewis would have a hard time being as entertaining as Ngata and Gregg have been the first two weeks of the season. Each has come up with long-distance returns, sometimes hilarious, off turnovers in wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders.
Recommended Stories
Each went nearly 60 yards but failed to reach the end zone. Gregg, listed at 6 feet, 310 pounds, has an idea for he and Ngata (6-4, 340).
“We?ll pitch it earlier,” Gregg said. “Give it to Ed [Reed, safety], or [linebacker Adalius Thomas], or Ray [Lewis, linebacker] or those guys. They can punch it in. We definitely can?t. We?re 0-2.”
Ngata got things started in the season opener against the Buccaneers when he pulled in his first interception since high school. The Ravens? 2006 first-round draft pick transitioned from receiver to runner fairly smoothly, but after about 30 yards, he lost some steam. When he got to the 5-yard line, the big man unceremoniously waltzed out of bounds. In total, it was 60 hard-earned yards.
“That?s the longest I?ve ever run on a football field,” Ngata said after the game.
Gregg?s recent run provided the latest highlight of large men on the loose. Against Oakland on Sunday, Gregg scooped up a fumble forced by linebacker Terrell Suggs and scampered down the sideline with a series of blockers. Once Gregg passed the 20-yard line, Lewis tried to take the ball from the gasping Gregg, to no avail.
The runs have become the source of great amusement among the team. Linebacker Bart Scott said Gregg showed the greater finesse of the two.
“Well, I grade him a lot better than Haloti,” Scott said. “Ray almost tried to snatch the ball from him ? I guess since he was running out of gas. But Kelly went out of bounds, not on his own, but he fought. … I give him a B-plus. I give Haloti a B-minus. Kelly has short legs. He has a little more balance.”
