Matt Birk

[Va BeaCh RaVeN]

After losing a very good center last year in Jason Brown (Casey Hampton's Daddy), I was completely BUMMED. So we brought in 2 time All Pro, 6 time pro bowl center Matt Birk from the Minnesota Vikings. I was very happy with this move and it cured my temporary dismalness of not having a Jason Brown anymore. We all have hyped up our line to be elite, and I have to admit I thought our line was very very good.

After these ups and downs of this season, I've seen Grubbs hold his own consistantly, Gaither has performed well when not injured.(with the exception of Clay Matthews abusing him over and over) Michael Oher, a Mauler from birth...just some rookie mistakes and room for improvement via film, technique, etc. Yanda/Chester......ehhh I dont really know what to say about either of those, I prefer Yanda because I used to follow him when he played for Iowa. But MATT BIRK, I've seen him get abused MANY TIMES and it's every game. What is this man's problem? I used to see him dominate the front for the vikings, and it's irratating me. Does anyone else think he's playing like an absolute flip flop from his Minnesota days.

By the way, Whats the Blood all about on his nose? Does he do that himself before every game? It's always cut open.. : /

[RavenFanFromPackerLand]

i've noticed it too..what was the reason we got rid of brown?

[Va BeaCh RaVeN]

[quote name='RavenFanFromPackerLand' date='13 December 2009 - 12:48 AM' timestamp='1260683325' post='310294']
i've noticed it too..what was the reason we got rid of brown?
[/quote]

He took the money and went to St Louis.

[reediddy]

[quote name='RavenFanFromPackerLand' date='12 December 2009 - 09:48 PM' timestamp='1260683325' post='310294']
i've noticed it too..what was the reason we got rid of brown?
[/quote]

he was a free agent and the rams outbid us for him so we let him go, bad decision

[Fred Sanford]

His nose has a cut which keeps forming scar tissue, which is easily broken open again each week with the contact an o-lineman takes.

I like Birk. He's the smartest guy on the team, cool in interviews, doesn't run his mouth like Jason Brown did, and makes good line calls.

Also, the only times this year anyone got dominated were Tamba Hali vs. Gaither, Clay Matthews vs. Gaither, and Ben Grubbs vs. GB. I'm not seeing everyone holding up and Birk putzing it all up like you suggest. I do remember Jason Brown being a strong liability in pass protection though.

In the Chiefs game, Birk and Chester combined for blocks from the 10, pushing their guys into the endzone on a 10 yard McGahee TD. Few notice such things, nobody pointed it out but me, and when the team struggles as a whole we point the finger at Matt Birk? Lay off him, lay off Flacco and everyone else.

Birk for half the price of Brown? No brainer. Either one's three steps up from Mike Flynn.

[TSizzle00]

The middle of the Oline has been a bit weaker but Im not sure who to point the finger at.

[Ravens549]

Yeah, to be honest, I have not been following Birk a whole lot. I hav been too absorbed by the 'performance' of our qb, rb, and wr's. But, I have noticed a couple times that he does seem to get pushed around a bit.
I do also agree our line was a bit better last year.

[Ravens549]

[quote name='RavenFanFromPackerLand' date='13 December 2009 - 12:48 AM' timestamp='1260683325' post='310294']
i've noticed it too..what was the reason we got rid of brown?
[/quote]
He and Boller are trying to make a run to the Super Bowl with the Rams.

[Mahatma_Sloth]

i will just say that it is of just as great importance that we find a center to grow with Flacco as it is a WR.

i thought it was funn how J Brown was talkin smack about Boller and then had to give him snaps again. awkward.....

[Ravens_Fan13]

Birk is a 12 time pro bowler and the smartest guy on the line...please tell me you arent blaming this guy?

[Ravens549]

[quote name='Ravens_Fan13' date='13 December 2009 - 12:37 PM' timestamp='1260725835' post='310449']
Birk is a 12 time pro bowler and the smartest guy on the line...please tell me you arent blaming this guy?
[/quote]
Not blaming so much as do you think he is better than Brown?
It was ridiculous what St. Louis gave Brown though.

[Bltravens]

Like many people pointed out we got a smarter albeit less athletic and less strong C for half the price of Brown, and a better pass protector than Brown. He got insane money from the Rams for being a run blocking C. But maybe thats why Jackson has had a rebirth year in St Louis. Either way his price tag was way too high for his actual value, and considering the FA we had last off season he was #3 or #4 on the priority list behind Suggs and Lewis.

[RoflDogs]

Birk has been solid overall, Chester was blowing all season

[Ravens_Fan13]

[quote name='Ravens549' date='13 December 2009 - 01:39 PM' timestamp='1260725988' post='310453']
Not blaming so much as do you think he is better than Brown?
It was ridiculous what St. Louis gave Brown though.
[/quote]

Well i dont have anything bad to say about Birk's performance this year. But i do agree with losing brown he was a young stud on the line and i'm worried when Birk will retire.

[Guest RBates]

Matt Birk about a C+ or b- this year so far. Not all that impressed after the Jason brown era but a very serviceable guy. Smartest guy on the line y'all kill me, acting like you know them personally. What makes him the smartest? The college he attended.

[lgcs27288]

[quote name='RBates' date='13 December 2009 - 07:53 PM' timestamp='1260752022' post='311573']
Matt Birk about a C+ or b- this year so far. Not all that impressed after the Jason brown era but a very serviceable guy. Smartest guy on the line y'all kill me, acting like you know them personally. What makes him the smartest? The college he attended.
[/quote]

Well he did attend Stanford, that aside calling out what the defense is showing to Flacco and such.

[McBoller]

[quote name='Ravens549' date='13 December 2009 - 12:39 PM' timestamp='1260725988' post='310453']
Not blaming so much as do you think he is better than Brown?
[b]It was ridiculous what St. Louis gave Brown though.[/b]
[/quote]
and we all see where that got them.

[ravensfan160]

I hated losing Brown like the rest of you but he was asking for far too much money. Birk is a stopgap until David Hale is ready to make the transition from guard to center. He is bigger and strong than Chester and will man the postion for the long haul. At least thats what it looks like right now unless they draft another center which is a possiblity.

My problem with Birk was the Steeler game. Birk was supposed to be an upgrade mentally over Brown but the Steelers still confused our o-line with their blitzes and got some free shots at Joe. Then again it was just the one game. Overall he's played well.

[Raven-In-ATL]

Birk has been in the league a long time. Athletes get older and lose the edge of their youth. I think thats what we're seeing here. Still a good player but cut the man some slack hes been taking hits for a long time that will wear on you over the years.

[shaikh015]

I really like What Matt Birk has done to our O-line. He is one of the substantial leaders of this ball club a good on field mentor to our young O-line players much like Ray Lewis for the defense...

[JohnnyBoy8102]

Birk went to Harvard not Stanford.

[BloodRaven]

He's not the reason we have pass pro issues.

[#1 D]

I like Matt's birk attitude, something to learn from. He's smart and talented, a family guy who can still get the job done @ a very high level.

But i cant stop thinking whats going to happen once Birk is gone, who will be our new center? draft pick, another FA acquisition, etc...?

[PuRock]

Birk was a great band-aid replacement for Brown. He helped fill the void but it isn't a long term solution. Another great asset of Birk is his mentoring of David Hale. The Jury is still out on Hale. He has the same attributes as Birk and they get along great.

But we need to keep our eyes open for the future as well.

Speaking of Band-aids. Birk really needs to solve his helmet issue and stop the bleeding or else he won't be around next year due to major blood loss.