Clarence Brooks

Clarence Brooks was one of six assistant coaches retained by head coach John Harbaugh in 2008. “C.B.” is in his fifth year with the team leading the Ravens’ tough defensive line. Baltimore’s vaunted defense – having finished sixth or better in total defense for six consecutive seasons – ranked second against the pass (179.9 ypg) and third in the NFL in rushing defense (81.4 ypg) in 2008. The Ravens’ defense finished second overall in 2008 (261.1 ypg) and has not permitted a running back to hit the century mark in 35 contests (entering 2009).

2005-08: (with Baltimore) 2008: Defense ranked second overall and third against the run, all without the team’s second all-time tackler, and starting NT Kelly Gregg, who missed the entire season due to a knee injury...DT Haloti Ngata was a second-team AP All-Pro and Pro Bowl first alternate...Top reserve DT Dwan Edwards also spent the year on IR (back)...DT Justin Bannan filled in admirably for Gregg, posting a career-high 56 tackles and his firstcareer INT...Team did not allow a 100-yard rusher, extending the streak to 35 straight games.

2007: Defense ranked second against the rush and sixth overall in total defense…The dynamic duo of Gregg (111) and Ngata (94) notched 205 tackles, surpassing DEs Michael McCrary (103) and Rob Burnett’s (97) team-record 200 by a D-line tandem in 2000…The DL recorded 11 of the 32 sacks posted by the Ravens…Gregg made a career-high 111 tackles, adding three sacks, while earning his second-straight USA Today All-Joe honor…Ngata, in his second year, produced another stellar season with career highs in tackles (94) and sacks (three), also making the All-Joe Team…Pro Bowler Trevor Pryce started two of five games and was placed on IR with wrist/ chest injuries after posting 19 tackles and two sacks…DT Dwan Edwards saw action in all 16 games, starting 14, replacing the injured Pryce, and posted a career-high 58 tackles, while adding one sack and one INT.

2006: The defense ranked first in points allowed (201), including just 64 (9.1 ppg) in the final seven games…The Ravens were also first in total defense (264.1 yards); first inside the 20 (33.3% TDs allowed); fewest third downs converted (28.8%) and fewest first downs permitted (236); first in take-away/giveaway ratio (+17), second in take-aways (40 to Chicago’s 44); first in INTs (28, including five TDs); and second in sacks (60 to San Diego’s 61)…Swarming “D” swept the Steelers for the first time in franchise history, posting a 58-7 point difference, including a 27-0 shutout (11/26) at home and a 31-7 Christmas Eve dominance at Heinz Field…Stunning Pittsburgh fans and the Steelers, the Ravens posted 14 sacks and held their rival to a total of 84 combined rushing yards in the two games…Pryce registered 13 sacks – including 6.5 in the last six games – and a team-best 73 QB hits to lead the Ravens’ strong pass rush…Gregg led the DL with 101 tackles and returned a fumble vs. Oak., a career- and franchise-long 59 yards…Ngata started all 16 games, snagging the first INT of his rookie NFL career at Tampa (9/10) off LB Bart Scott’s deflection, returning it 60 yards…Ngata was named to the NFL’s All-Rookie Team.

2005: The defense excelled, finishing second overall in the AFC and fifth in the NFL…Starting RBs were held to under 100 yards 12 times and under 65 yards eight times…The 4.6 yards allowed per play was third in the NFL…Baltimore allowed the fourth-fewest first downs in the AFC (17.7 per game)…Baltimore’s pass defense was stout, allowing just 185.3 ypg, ranking fourth in the AFC and eighth in the NFL…Finished first in the AFC and second in the NFL in yards per pass play (5.63)…Defense allowed just 284.7 yards per contest, and the best effort came against the Jets (10/2), giving up only 152 yards on 48 attempts…Ravens defense finished third in the AFC in third-down efficiency, allowing opponents to convert on just 36.1% of their opportunities…Baltimore allowed 4.6 yards per play, ranking second in the AFC and third in the NFL – Steelers (4.45).

2000-04: (with Miami) Under Brooks as Miami’s DL coach, the Dolphins’ defense recorded at least 44 sacks three times and averaged nearly three sacks a game over a four-year span…The Dolphins finished in the top five in run defense two years straight (2002-03).

2004: DL recorded 28 of 36 sacks…Ranked second in NFL passing defense (162 ypg) and tied for second in the NFL in points allowed per game…Miami executed the second-most three-and-out series (58) in the league.

2003: Pro Bowl DE Adewale Ogunleye’s 15 sacks and Jason Taylor’s 13 gave Miami the top sack tandem in the NFL…The defense allowed a run average of only 90.8 ypg.

2002: Miami was second in the AFC and tied for fourth in the NFL with 47 sacks, third-highest total in club history…The DL accounted for for 41.5, including 18.5 by Taylor and 9.5 by Ogunleye, making them the most productive sack tandem in the NFL…Taylor’s total led the league and tied a franchise single-season record…Dolphins tied for fifth in the NFL in run defense (97.1 ypg).

2000: DEs Trace Armstrong and Taylor combined for 31 sacks, ranking the duo first in Dolphins history and first in the NFL

1999: (with Cleveland) Defensive line coach.

1993-98: (with Chicago) Team averaged 34.2 sacks per year.

1995: Ranked fifth against the pass.

1993: Ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards allowed and third in passing yards.

1994: Ranked fifth in the league in passing yards.

1990-92: (with University of Arizona) DL coach and instrumental in its “Desert Swarm” defense, which led the nation in scoring defense (1992).

1981-89: (with Syracuse) Tutored OLBs for the first six years...Named DL coach for final three...He worked in Dallas’ training camp as part of a minority coaching fellowship program in 1989.

1976-80: (with Massachusetts) First full-time coaching post came in 1976, overseeing the DEs.

College: Was a guard at the University of Massachusetts from 1970-72 and team captain in his final season…Earned All-Conference and All-East honors on the O-Line…Earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Personal: Attended New Bedford (MA) HS where he lettered in football and track and field…Clarence and his wife, Justa, have a son, Jason, who joined the Ravens’ coaching staff in 2009, and a daughter, Adrienne.