FanHouse Tom Zbikowski

Mixed Martial Arts is usually the domain of Michael David Smith and Josh Alper, but strictly speaking, this story isn't so much MMA-related as it is Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan making fun of rookie safety Tom Zbikowski, who once moonlighted as a professional boxer.

Everybody knows MMA is nothing like boxing, but Ryan uses the reference when describing Zbikowski and fellow rookie safety Haruki Nakamura.

The Ravens scouts do extensive research on all of their draft picks, but it was easy to assume rookie safeties ... Zbikowski and ... Nakamura would both be physical. ...

"We call them the mixed martial arts safeties," ... Ryan said. "We might not be able to cover anybody, but we're going to beat up somebody."

It's joke, but there's a lot of truth to what Ryan says. Not so much with Zbikowski and Nakamura -- neither player has yet to see the field in a NFL game -- but the Ravens' defensive philosophy in general. And for the last eight seasons, it's been pretty effective.

Of course, outside of Will Demps, most of the Ravens can cover, too. Ray Lewis, who is known more for flapping his gums and making big hits, is probably one of the best pass-covering middle linebackers in NFL history.

The two rookie safeties will primarily see playing time on special teams since Ed Reed is still, well, Ed Reed and Dawan Landry is drawing rave reviews after a solid start to his career. If nothing else, Zbikowski and Nakamura will provide valuable backup should the Ravens get into an on-field scuffle.

Baltimore Ravens 2008 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (18): Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware
Round 2 (55): Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers
Round 3 (71): Tavares Gooden, LB, Miami
Round 3 (86): Tom Zbikowski, S, Notre Dame
Round 3 (99): Oniel Cousins, G, UTEP
Round 4 (106): Marcus Smith, WR, New Mexico
Round 4 (133): David Hale, T, Weber State
Round 6 (206): Haruki Nakamura, S, Cincinnati
Round 7 (215): Justin Harper, WR, Virginia Tech
Round 7 (240): Allen Patrick, RB, Oklahoma

The Good: Ozzie Newsome pulled off the best deal of the entire draft when he got two threes and a four to move down to Jacksonville's spot in the first round. It gave him the ability to go and get whoever he wanted as evidenced by the deal back up for Flacco in the first round. I'm not sold on him but it was a bold move to get the guy you wanted. Gooden and Zbikowski will help a defense that's getting old and both should make Rex Ryan a happy man when he sees them in action. While neither Cousins nor Hale figure to start, they'll both add depth to a young, intriguing line.

The Bad: The Rice pick got rave reviews but I'm not a fan of it. Rice is tough as hell but he'll need to show a lot more as a receiver and pass blocker to make up for subpar physical tools. Neither receiver will offer much help to Flacco or whoever precedes him as the team's quarterback, though Smith gets high marks for special teams work.