Cawtious

Good one!

I am looking forward to how Joe's utilization of the new receivers will go, and how that will augment our offense. It will be interesting to see, as well, how much the prohibition of the cut blocks will affect our back's abilities to break runs beyond the second level. The adjustments in blocking schemes and our line's ability to hold blocks with that particular tool being taken away. Who is going to emerge as our starting RB is another topic of great interest! Pitta and how he rebounds from two seasons of difficult injury is something I am quite interested in, as well as Max Williams and how his season will shape up. Much to look forward to and a lot of interesting story lines for this year.......

Stanley is the second most talented based on what, exactly? I will believe that to be so when I see him against the best the NFL has to throw at him. He's definitely talented, but I don't know if I'd hand him that already JMHO. He's got the potential.......

I don't disagree. We'll see a fierce battle for the LG starting position.

Good to hear that Jeremy is ready to compete. There is going to be a very heated competition on the offensive line. Yanda and Wagner are the only "locks" I see in this group.

I agree it doesn't make sense for him to be taking reps at LG. Does Harbs comments this morning giving you any additional thoughts on this?

Stanley is getting how many reps at LG? In OTA's the reports are he is not getting reps at that position. As far as the difference for the lineman in or out of pads is pretty marginal. They go hard with or without pads. It's what they do. I don't see Stanley at LG to be honest. I think he would be getting reps there if he was being considered for it. Jensen is over at RG with Yanda not present, but that means very little. Urschel has been getting the reps at LG primarily, so that is a bit telling. Harbs comments about expecting Stanley to start is his expectation of a guy drafted in the first round. It doesn't necessarily mean that the job is his. It means he is expected to compete and win the job. If he doesn't, it doesn't necessarily follow he supplants Urschel or Jensen at LG. Nobody is going to relinquish their job to him just because he's a first round pick. I understand the expectations, but the man has to live up to it. It's not a guarantee that he emerges as the starter.

I think they are. They get a per diem and a certain amount of $$$ per day at camp, I believe

I wonder if the players will lose out on their pay for those days. May not be a big deal to the vets who are under contract and making big salaries. Would hurt the UDFA's and the others, though. Anybody know how that works?

You've got a 25 year old 4th year guy who proved he can get the job done when he got his chance. He can play guard, center, and also took 92 reps last year as a tackle in the preseason. The answer to LG is staring us right in the face. Stanley has great feet and length. He's a consummate LT. He looks a little light in the upper body to be effective inside. He needs some time and development with his strength before you shove him inside. I don't think we need to look for "the new kid in town" for LG. We've got a mauler with a nasty streak and a great motor.

It is a contract year for Jensen. Last year as an ERFA. He will be a RFA next year. Sitting either he or Wagner this year would definetly be a tough thing to do. I think the guy on the ropes is really Monroe. Our new LT is going to have to prove himself to unseat any veteran. i understand the politics and $$$ of a first round pick and the expectations....it kinda goes without saying. I look forward to the competition that will occur. Man vs. Man.....may the best man win!

So a players cost to the team is a determining factor if they start or not? I can see that as a part of the equation. They have a short time to demonstrate themselves as a better player than a player who is a "known quantity". I think fans often see "new" as "better" too often. Just my opine.

I do so love how the assumptions that a drafted player will always displace a starter.

That's right. He did take a bell ringer in the 3rd pre-season game, I believe. He turned an ankle when he was rolled up on in a college game. He had a carryover elbow issue from HS, but he was pretty much bullet-proof his last two years in college. He missed one game in two years due to an ejection from a game. I follow D2 pretty closely, especially the RMAC and the lineman in that group. I would not waste a second round pick on a guard. A fifth or sixth rounder would probably do. If Urschel or Jensen get dinged, we could go out on the market and obtain a guard. The thing about depth (quality depth) is how hard it is to keep it around. Urschel and Jensen are starter quality players. Pick high in the draft for a guard, and sit one or both.......you are going to have agents knocking on doors asking about letting them explore other playing opportunities. Players with recognizable talent arent' going to remain on the pine for the sake of guaranteeing depth for a club for long. Jensen is an ERFA this year and then he is a FA. He isn't going to want to sit and miss out on building a case for a good contract next year. Urschel and Jensen could start week 1 for just about anyone if called upon........and play well. Just my take on it!

Untrue. He had a single injury, a Jones fracture to his left foot. He had apnea problems his second year. No longer a concern. His NFL career he has only had the single injury.

That is very true. This is a condition of what the league is. A player coming off their rookie contract or ERFA especially. Honestly, a player rarely gets a chance at two large paydays in a career. They get one. If they are a lower round draft pick and haven't received a large signing bonus, they are going to look for the payday. I am sure most would like to begin and end a career with a winning organization, such as the Ravens. But if we have a stable of great talent, you are going to lose them because the market value of the player (depending on position) is going to drive their worth. Having young talent, and ERFA's locked down that have good talent is a great business move. If you can keep that trend rolling, you can keep the shelves stocked for less $$$ and afford to pay the key players market value. The rest you may have to part with because of the numbers game. As long as Oz can keep coming up with high output players at value pricing for 1-4 years of their careers and then let others shell out the green when payday rolls around......the formula can continue to work. Yanda and Osemele are a good example.

They'll be another guy added to this list by the end of the year from 2013. Ryan Jensen.......His first two seasons were lost to injury and illness. Last year he showed well after getting his feet wet in his first two starts. Some folks are slating him a backup. I don't think that's how it will go for him.

I hope you mean Urschel.....

Jensen was ready last year. Urschel was as well. I don't see a drop off from either guy from the finish of last season. Both went into the off season healthy. Both seem to have a very good work ethic. I think Urschel will battle for and maybe win the starting Center job. I think the LG is Jensen's job to keep/lose. I would imagine we pick up another G in the draft with a compensatory. Seems to be a trend. The Myers deal didn't pan out last year, so another developmental Guard is going to be necessary. Jensen is in the last year of his ERFA. If he has a great year, (assuming he is the starter), he could be headed for his payday. It will be interesting to see if they like him enough to lock him down. Urschel has come into his own at Center. I don't see him as the nasty LG that Jensen is. He's got skills, but I don't think he flashes as aggressive and athletic as Jensen. I think that is what we really need next to Monroe or ? at LT. Man vs. Man.........may the best man win!

I think as Joe's recovery and effectiveness goes, so will the fate of the team this year. I am not always in the camp of "quality of drafted players" making a huge impact on the team in their first season with the team. Adjustments in the running game (blocking schemes) due to cut block rule changes are going to be needed. I don't see the ground game (or anyone else's ground game) improving drastically because of it. I am cautiously optimistic about ours improving. If Joe comes back strong, and can avoid injury.......we will have a better than average chance at a winning record. I think we have many of the tools we need for our OL to be dominant with one more piece added to the puzzle (LT, whether that is a healthy Monroe, a FA home run, or a very solid draft pick). I'll feel a lot better when we see how Joe's doing early in the season, and if we can get out of OTA's without train wreck injuries.

Jensen was picking up a twist. He recovered from getting beat and shoved his man to the ground. The Rams player engaged with Hurst saw his teammate go down behind Hurst and shoved Hurst over him into Joe. It's football. Looking for someone to blame on an injury is asinine. I think we need to stop railing on this completely. What exactly will it change? Nothing.

I think we hang onto him until camp and see what shakes for LT (Draft, Free Agency).

Length... perhaps. Footwork? You need to watch him more closely. He's got very good feet. Playing tight Tackle in college demanded it, as they shifted him based on where their tight end lined up. I still believe he locks down the LG position. Urschel just doesn't have the nastiness and mauler mentality that Jensen does. Urschel will be the consummate Center with more work. Really like him there.

With Jensen at his last year as an ERFA, I am certain a backup role will not sit well with him. My guess is he goes all in at LG and steamrolls the competition. If they have any inkling of having him play Tackle, they should give him substational reps during OTA's at that position.

I would think they'd have to drop some weight on him. It was his position in college, and was dominant while doing it. He has good footwork and lateral speed. I am sure if he was tasked to do it, he would do an effective job. I would hope that make up their minds and place him at a position and let him develop at it. They've kept him jumbled around in positions for the past two years. The game he had to jump into the tackle position last year, he had not practiced it at all in camp. He took 92 snaps in that game and faired pretty well. If they focused him on the tackle position, I am sure he would show a very solid ability to play it.