Ravens' Zbikowski gets an even better shot at being noticed tonight
Tom Zbikowski understands the lack of appreciation for special-teams players.
"I still go home and get asked if I'm still playing football," the former Buffalo Grove High School and Notre Dame star and second-year pro with the Baltimore Ravens said with a laugh.
"I'm actually having a pretty decent year right now. I'm playing well, but that's the way it goes."
People can see for themselves at 7:30 p.m. today on Monday Night Football when the Ravens visit the Cleveland Browns.
They will just have to make sure they keep an eye on special teams with Zbikowski squaring off against dangerous return specialist Joshua Cribbs.
The good news for the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Zbikowski is his peers have been watching closely. As a result, he's a special-teams nominee for the 2010 Pro Bowl in Miami and on the fan voting ballot at nfl.com.
The backup free safety is a starter on all four special teams - punts, punt returns, kickoffs and kickoff returns - and sees action in up to 30 plays a game.
"It's been fun," Zbikowski said. "I'm paying my dues on special teams right now before I get a chance to get more time on defense.
"Whatever role it is, I'll play to the best of my ability. It's working out pretty well."
A year ago Zbikowski was second on the Ravens in special-teams tackles with 23 and returned 2 kickoffs. He had 3 kickoff returns for a 22.7-yard average in the playoffs.
Zbikowski hasn't returned any kicks yet this year but has a variety of roles for head coach John Harbaugh, who also spent nine years as the Philadelphia Eagles' special-teams coordinator.
"It's a tough, gritty job and you really aren't going to get much recognition," Zbikowski said. "Honestly, nobody really cares. Obviously, coaches and players are the only ones who pay attention to special teams.
"It's a big part of the game."
And delivering a few shots on a kickoff is no problem considering Zbikowski has never been afraid to slug it out in the boxing ring.
"It's a natural fit for me," Zbikowski said. "But a competitor like me isn't going to be happy until I'm starting on 'D' and have a big role."
Zbikowski has gotten some defensive snaps in goal-line situations and said he had a couple of blitz opportunities against the New England Patriots.
Backing up five-time Pro Bowl selection and 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Ed Reed has been a good education for Zbikowski. He also has benefitted from playing with middle linebacker Ray Lewis and working with defensive backs coach Mark Carrier, the NFL defensive rookie of the year with the Bears in 1990.
"It's tough because you see some of the guys starting at safety and say, 'Geez, if I was on another team I'd be playing,' " Zbikowski said. "The value of learning from these guys has been unbelievable. It's good just to listen to those guys."
And Zbikowski knows a Pro Bowl selection would go beyond the fun in the sun of a midwinter trip to Florida. It could be a boost toward achieving his ultimate goal.
"If you can't play on special teams," Zbikowski said, "how are you going to play on defense?"