ALL IN THE DETAILS
MIKE WALLACE HELPS LEAD THE RECEIVERS By Megan Boyle
receivers like Breshad Perriman, Chris Moore and Quincy Adeboyejo under his wing and preaches the importance of those extra catches, taking care of your body and going hard in practice. “If my teammates need help, I’ll help them,” Wallace says. “It’s a young group. I have a little bit more experience, obviously, so if they need to know anything, they know they can always come to me.” A nine-year veteran, Wallace has had a successful professional career. Contributing to his success, one could say, is the way he approaches his profession.
In the spring, and with Baltimore’s veteran receiver Steve Smith Sr. newly retired, Mike Wallace vowed he would step up and take that leadership role Smith Sr. once held. Wallace is a man of his word. “His work ethic has been second to none,” wide receivers coach Bobby Engram declares. “He is more of a vocal guy right now, because we lost Steve. He’s accepted that role. He’s a competitor, and guys respect him; he’s tough.” If you ask Wallace about his lively voice in the receivers’ meeting room, he’ll clarify that he has always been that way – it’s just more noticeable now.
“I give Mike a voice in the room so that it’s not always coming from me, the coach, but it’s coming from your fellow teammates and guys that have been doing it,” Engram says. “I tell the younger guys, ‘Follow them. They’re going to lead you in the right direction.’” It’s not uncommon to see Wallace with one of the younger receivers, whether that be staying after practice to take extra reps on the JUGS machine, or in the classroom discussing routes. He swoops
“Everything about the receiver position is detailed,” Engram explains. “We have to be where we’re supposed to be and be there on time, because the quarterback is relying on us. Mike understands the big scheme of the offense. So, it’s not just, ‘What’s my route?’ but ‘What is everybody
doing on this play, and how do I fit in?’ I appreciate that as a coach.” Wallace’s attention to detail has allowed him to continually keep the game new and exciting with each passing season. After nine years in the league, the Pro Bowler is aware that there will always be fresh talent circulating throughout the league. He has found that this simple – yet integral – part of the game has allowed him to conquer any doubt that swirled around his performance over the years. “It’s tough to get up every single day and do this job. It’s physically challenging, mentally challenging,” Wallace confesses. “There are always situations, like when young guys come in, so you have to stay on top of your game. That’s always a challenge to just try to out-do the next guy. I do my best to look it in the face and tackle whatever comes with it.” Wallace acknowledges that throughout a pro career, one will experience the
His work ethic has been second to none. - Bobby Engram
Wide Receivers Coach
But, a vocal presence like his is exactly what the Ravens’ young receiving corps needs. 22
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ups and downs of the game: dropped passes, missed blocks, wrong routes run. However, Wallace always has the confidence that he will overcome any obstacle. He says it’s a trait he gets from his father, that it’s in his DNA. “I’ve always been confident,” says Wallace. “My dad is like that. I get it from him.” Confidence is just one facet of Wallace’s dynamic personality, and sometimes it can get misconstrued as boldness. “I love that the organization, in particular Coach John Harbaugh, allows players to have a personality,” Engram confides. “We allow them to be themselves.” Harbaugh confessed in a press conference that the Mike Wallace that people on the outside world think exist, simply isn’t there. He’s not selfish or brash – he’s simply a leader. “Maybe it is a good lesson for all of us in life – this idea of judging people and 24
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circumstances, especially from afar, when you have never met the person before, or you have never been in their shoes, or you don’t know what they are dealing with,” Harbaugh resounded. “Mike Wallace has been nothing but a leader, he has been nothing but positive and nothing but energetic. I love when he walks out to practice. He pumps me up. He is confident, he wants the ball, and he wants to play. But when things don’t go well, he is the biggest supporter of just improving and having each other’s back.” Now in his second year as a Raven, Wallace is that leader and supporter for his teammates on and off the field. He notices if the receiving room is too tense or subdued, and takes it upon himself to strengthen the mood – noting that’s what Steve Smith Sr. always did. Wallace seeks out those little nuances, those details, that can help improve a person. After all, the details are very important to his position.