Baltimore Ravens defensive end Michael McAdoo hasn't played in a football game, besides his short stint in the Ravens preseason last year, since Nov. 28th 2009 and he is itching to get on the field.
Recently in a story on BR.com McAdoo expressed his excitement at playing some real football again.
"Actually suiting up and putting on those shoulder pads, it’s going to be a little different for me," McAdoo said. "I’m not going to say it’s going to take a long time for me to get back in it, but there are rust spots when it comes to actually competing."
He only got to play in garbage time of one preseason game last year but McAdoo did, however make the best of his short stint on the field, registering a strip sack on one of his only pass rushing attempts.
"I take a lot from that play," McAdoo said. "For me to go out there and get a sack when I hadn’t played in a whole year, it meant a lot to me. But I can’t bank on that. That was a preseason game and I need to prove what I can do in a game that does count."
It will be very interesting to see how his skills translate onto an NFL field. Standing at 6'7" and weighing in the mid 250 lbs. range he is an intriguing prospect. It was thought that he should put on some weight before this season ans hopefully he has. The Ravens could use any boost they can find in the pass rush with out all pro Terrell Suggs on the field.
McAdoo has made every meeting and thinks he is ready to take it to the field.
"I’m very comfortable now that I know the plays and know where I’m supposed to be," McAdoo said. "It puts me in a better position. I can show the coaches that I know what I’m doing."
"I feel like I have a lot of athletic ability," he said. "You can’t teach height and speed. I knew I had to get bigger and stronger and that won’t be a problem."
A little confidence never hurt anyone right?