NFL teaching Kruger to manage time well

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Paul Kruger, in his first year as a professional athlete, said the gift of time can be a double-edged sword.

"It is different. It is definitely different," said the former Ute standout, a rookie linebacker/defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens. "You learn how to waste your time or make use of your time. It is easy to waste your time."

Kruger, 23, certainly had more time on his hands earlier this season than he cared to have. He did not see game action in several contests early in the 2009 campaign. Off the field, he has gone out to dinner with friends on the team and said he enjoys the social aspect of the pro lifestyle.

But why was he not playing early on?

"I don't know. I think the coaches would be better to ask about that," said Kruger, without being rude. "Sometimes it gets you down when you are not playing."

But as the Ravens get ready to play Saturday at Indianapolis in the AFC playoffs, Kruger has become at least a small cog in a defense that consistently ranks among the best in the NFL. The Timpanogos High graduate from Orem played in his first NFL game on Oct. 4 at New England. Kruger played in eight of 16 regular-season games, with one start, and he returned his first career interception for 26 yards to set up a game-winning field goal in the Ravens' 20-17 overtime win at Pittsburgh on Nov. 29.

"Initially, he did not play a lot," Eric DeCosta, the director of player personnel for the Ravens, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "Midway through the season, he got his chance and he came up big. He basically won the Pittsburgh game with an interception in overtime. That was really one of the key plays to our whole season."

"It was huge," Kruger said of the play against the defending Super Bowl champions. "I was pretty pumped up to be in that game."

The Ravens' All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, a Salt Lake native and Highland High graduate, has been impressed with Kruger. "It is tough to come in and start right away," Ngata said. "He did a great job of being patient and watching (outside linebacker Terrell) Suggs. He won the Steelers game for us with that interception. That was huge. He could be a great player in the years to come."