O-Line

[plesiosaur]

To this Ravens fan, the most important parts of the the team are the lines.

So I figure that we ought to try to keep the o-line intact as it is. The most important part of the lines is that they're able to play as a unit (like the d line),
so I'm hoping that Gaither'll be there, as well as everyone else. Anyone see any problems at this point with the o-line, assuming Gaither stays (or d-line)?

[Ed_Reed20]

Assuming Gaither returns, I'll be comfortable with the o-line. I STILL can't get over how they couldn't generate a surge against Indy last season and there were times when they struggled mightily in pass protection but the future is certainly bright for the unit.

The team just needs to draft a center for the future.

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='plesiosaur' date='17 May 2010 - 08:58 PM' timestamp='1274147899' post='411133']
To this Ravens fan, the most important parts of the the team are the lines.

So I figure that we ought to try to keep the o-line intact as it is. The most important part of the lines is that they're able to play as a unit (like the d line),
so I'm hoping that Gaither'll be there, as well as everyone else. Anyone see any problems at this point with the o-line, assuming Gaither stays (or d-line)?
[/quote]

Our O-Line has such tremendous talent... two hugely gifted tackles in Oher and Gaither, Grubbs and Yanda are excellent guards, and Birk is a experienced, intelligent center.

The only issue I see is Birk's age. And the amount of money our two gifted tackles will eventually command.

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='17 May 2010 - 09:05 PM' timestamp='1274148314' post='411135']
Assuming Gaither returns, I'll be comfortable with the o-line. I STILL can't get over how they couldn't generate a surge against Indy last season and there were times when they struggled mightily in pass protection but the future is certainly bright for the unit.

The team just needs to draft a center for the future.
[/quote]

I just don't understand how the Colt's weak, undersized defense that is consistently mediocre against everyone else possesses such a problem for us.

[berad]

No problems really, young, talented, and (mostly) experienced across the board. The exception, age-wise, is Matt Birk, of course. People have already mentioned him, though.

They excel in run-blocking, everyone has seen our backs reap the benefit of that. In pass-blocking, though, they are only mediocre; 36 sacks and 72 QB hits is about middle of the road, slightly below-average, in the NFL.

They gave up bunches of sacks when playing teams with strong pass-rushes: 3 against the Vikings, 3 against the Packers, 4 against the Raiders, 6 in two games against the Bengals, 9 in two games against the Steelers; [b]that's 25 sacks in seven games![/b]

Other times, they totally negated certain players and teams: Elvis Dumervil was a non-factor, James Harrison didn't get a sack, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis went sack-less, Cleveland had the 8th most sacks in the NFL but only got to Flacco 3 times in two games.

The Ravens OL needs to become more consistent in pass-blocking. I, of course, want Gaither to stay in purple. There's no way we can negate teams with heavy-duty pass-rush without him.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' date='17 May 2010 - 10:41 PM' timestamp='1274150496' post='411151']
I just don't understand how the Colt's weak, undersized defense that is consistently mediocre against everyone else possesses such a problem for us.
[/quote]

It baffles me too.

A radio host once talked about their quickness working in their favor as far as plugging holes which can neutralize the Ravens' power running game.

Hopefully, Flacco figures them out in time the way Peyton has seemingly done with the Ravens.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' date='17 May 2010 - 09:41 PM' timestamp='1274150496' post='411151']
I just don't understand how the Colt's weak, undersized defense that is consistently mediocre against everyone else possesses such a problem for us.
[/quote]

Probably a combination of speed and lack of consistency picking up the blitz.

[gixxerhoff750]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' date='17 May 2010 - 10:05 PM' timestamp='1274148328' post='411137']


The only issue I see is Birk's age. And the amount of money our two gifted tackles will eventually command.
[/quote]

I thInk Birk was a good pick. He's consistant and that's what u need an a offensive line. Check out is numbers.

http://www.nfl.com/players/mattbirk/profile?id=BIR643699

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='gixxerhoff750' date='18 May 2010 - 12:09 AM' timestamp='1274155768' post='411187']
I thInk Birk was a good pick. He's consistant and that's what u need an a offensive line. Check out is numbers.

http://www.nfl.com/players/mattbirk/profile?id=BIR643699
[/quote]

What numbers are we supposed to be looking at? NFL.com doesn't post statistics like pancake blocks, sacks allowed or blocking metrics.

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='gixxerhoff750' date='17 May 2010 - 11:09 PM' timestamp='1274155768' post='411187']
I thInk Birk was a good pick. He's consistant and that's what u need an a offensive line. Check out is numbers.

http://www.nfl.com/players/mattbirk/profile?id=BIR643699
[/quote]

Haha what numbers?

I agree about Birk though, I wasn't trying to knock him. He's old, but he's tough and very skilled, with tons of experience. He's the perfect center for our line, considering how young and inexperienced the rest of our guys are.

That said he does get overpowered sometimes by some of the really huge and strong NTs and DTs.

[Milton145]

I want better pass protection.

[BloodRaven]

Still seems weird we paid Birk instead of Jason Brown.

[baltravens]

[quote name='BloodRaven' date='17 May 2010 - 11:55 PM' timestamp='1274158505' post='411207']
Still seems weird we paid Birk instead of Jason Brown.
[/quote]

Brown's stance was he wanted some type of position-situated pay, and I am glad we shipped someone out who was so young and did not want to put the team first. Birk is an excellent stop-gap measure because we will undoubtedly be looking to draft a center within a couple of years since his age will become more of an issue.
Birk -- better demeanor and command than Brown; Brown good riddance on a much poorer team. You see, he got what he deserved when at his position he put money first. Why? I will never know.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' date='17 May 2010 - 09:05 PM' timestamp='1274148328' post='411137']
Our O-Line has such tremendous talent... two hugely gifted tackles in Oher and Gaither, [b]Grubbs and Yanda are excellent guards[/b], and Birk is a experienced, intelligent center.

The only issue I see is Birk's age. And the amount of money our two gifted tackles will eventually command.
[/quote]

I'm not sure I'd call Yanda an "excellent" guard, but he is good. In my opinion, he's the weakest link on the offensive line. That's not a knock on him, like I said he's good, just not on the level of Grubbs, or Oher and Gaither at their positions. But hey, as long as he doesn't play right tackle for us, I'm happy.

[flynismo]

Love our line, especially the left side with Oher and Grubbs (memories of Ogden and Mulitalo, anyone?).

For the record, I'm glad we let Brown go. His attitude stunk, and showed it when he talked down about us. Not to mention if we paid him what he wanted, we'd have like a $30M offensive line in a couple years.

[Clutch Ravens]

Honestly, the only thing we really need on our offensive line is a young center to be groomed under Birk. I would say Hale was meant for that purpose but the guy's already, what? 27?

I'd love for us to draft Mike Pouncey next year, primarily due to him being a very talented G/C type, added to by the fact that his twin Maurkice plays for the Steelers.

[Catfish81]

Do we need a new topic about our O line and Gaither everyday?

[lowrider]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='18 May 2010 - 02:37 AM' timestamp='1274164661' post='411224']
I'm not sure I'd call Yanda an "excellent" guard, but he is good. In my opinion, he's the weakest link on the offensive line. That's not a knock on him, like I said he's good, just not on the level of Grubbs, or Oher and Gaither at their positions. But hey, as long as he doesn't play right tackle for us, I'm happy.
[/quote]
I was reading Espn the magazine, and there was a statistic that put Yanda in the elite category for run blocking. I'll have to go back and check it out and you'll have to take my word for it (which I completely understand if you don't), but he is a fantastic run blocker. Pass blocking, i'm not sure where he stands, but now two years after his big knee he will healthier and will be easier to see his potiential.

On Birk, center is a position where age doesn't effect play as much. I don't think he is going to be a pro bowl center that he used to be, but if he is solid like he was last year; our line will have very few holes.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='lowrider' date='18 May 2010 - 09:41 AM' timestamp='1274190117' post='411243']
[b]I was reading Espn the magazine, and there was a statistic that put Yanda in the elite category for run blocking. I'll have to go back and check it out and you'll have to take my word for it (which I completely understand if you don't), but he is a fantastic run blocker.[/b] Pass blocking, i'm not sure where he stands, but now two years after his big knee he will healthier and will be easier to see his potiential.

On Birk, center is a position where age doesn't effect play as much. I don't think he is going to be a pro bowl center that he used to be, but if he is solid like he was last year; our line will have very few holes.
[/quote]

I read the article too and here's an expert of it and some other interesting material on Yanda.([url="http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/the-hlog/2009/08/06/when-healthy-ex-hawkeye-marshal-yanda-of-iowa-has-built-a-good-nfl-reputation"]Link[/url])

According to KC Joyner's blocking metric, Yanda was run-blocking at a Pro Bowl level back in 2008 before going down.

[lowrider]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='18 May 2010 - 10:42 AM' timestamp='1274193772' post='411267']
I read the article too and here's an expert of it and some other interesting material on Yanda.([url="http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/the-hlog/2009/08/06/when-healthy-ex-hawkeye-marshal-yanda-of-iowa-has-built-a-good-nfl-reputation"]Link[/url])

According to KC Joyner's blocking metric, Yanda was run-blocking at a Pro Bowl level back in 2008 before going down.
[/quote]
Sweet, thanks for the backup. Also, Yanda is more set for a guard, and I think it was a bit of stretch to make him play tackle last year some when Gaither was out. So I can understand why he didn't appear to be that good last year, along with recovering from a horrible knee injury.

Every year, our youthful offensive line gets better. The depth we have at o line is encouraging. I'd like it if the Ravens kept Gaither, even if it was for one more year, then we find a replacement. I'm not sold on Cousins yet. Even though Gaither has a bit of an ego, he is still a stud of linemen when he plays. With him our line is complete.

[Ngata92NT]

I was very impressed with Yanda this year, he's an exceptional run blocker. He's not as great as pass blocking but he's pretty solid.

Not everyone on the line needs to be pro-bowl or all-pro. Yanda is a very good guard who doesn't break the bank and gets the job done.

Plus if one of those damn squealers ever comes at our line with a taser we know Yanda will be fine at least haha.

[plesiosaur]

Good article on Yanda. I kind of always forget that Birk is our center. I agree that we need to start looking for a "center of the future(?)" but am glad that Birk's gonna have his brain preserved for the Ravens to use later.

[Ravenmore74]

I think that Grubbs is the best Offensive player we have in a Raven uniform.
Having the 2 tackles 2 guards, Matt Birk and then Chester coming off the bench seems like a no brainier.
That is 6 able bodies and what about the backups?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='18 May 2010 - 10:40 PM' timestamp='1274236822' post='411712']
[b]I think that Grubbs is the best Offensive player we have in a Raven uniform.[/b]
Having the 2 tackles 2 guards, Matt Birk and then Chester coming off the bench seems like a no brainier.
That is 6 able bodies and what about the backups?
[/quote]

Really? The best offensive [i]player[/i]? Grubbs is a talented player and one of the team's best recent draft picks but there are at least four players on offense I'd put ahead of him .

[Ravenmore74]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='18 May 2010 - 09:49 PM' timestamp='1274237352' post='411726']
Really? The best offensive [i]player[/i] Grubbs is a talented player and one of the team's best recent draft picks but there are at least four players on offense I'd put ahead of him .
[/quote]
In terms of overall value.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='18 May 2010 - 11:35 PM' timestamp='1274240131' post='411749']
In terms of overall value.
[/quote]

How so?

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='18 May 2010 - 10:35 PM' timestamp='1274240131' post='411749']
In terms of overall value.
[/quote]

There's absolutely no question that Rice is the most valuable player on offense, especially considering that we're paying him in peanuts and handshakes.

The only ones I could see competing with Rice is the Flac Daddy or Oher, but I think Rice gets the nod considering how much he carried this team this year.

[Catfish81]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' date='18 May 2010 - 11:06 PM' timestamp='1274242015' post='411772']
There's absolutely no question that Rice is the most valuable player on offense, especially considering that we're paying him in peanuts and handshakes.

The only ones I could see competing with Rice is the Flac Daddy or Oher, but I think Rice gets the nod considering how much he carried this team this year.
[/quote]

Boldin 3 Pro Bowls, Rookie of the year. I'm not trying to make this a whose better but for people who didnt watch him in Arizona, you're in for a treat.

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='Catfish81' date='18 May 2010 - 11:18 PM' timestamp='1274242703' post='411782']
Boldin 3 Pro Bowls, Rookie of the year. I'm not trying to make this a who's better but for people who didn't watch him in Arizona, you're in for a treat.
[/quote]

I've seen a little bit of Boldin from watching a few cardinal's games but I'm excited to see what he can do now that he's in an offense with an established running game.

It's a little early to be crowning him MVP though.

[flynismo]

Flacco needs to grow out the beard a little. He should not touch a razor from Tuesday til after the game each week. Get the whole gritty vet thing going for intimidation purposes. Psychological warfare man.