O-line, 07' Vs. 08' Have They Improved?

[march4superbowl]

Our Defense racked up 32 sacks last season, and Our Offensive Line surrendered 39 sacks with a lack of experience, and the leader J.O. sidelined with a painful giant toe. Now after the proven departure of Ogden the team has to mold young talent into the wall our future QB will battle beside. Will they do a better job this season protecting our Quarterback? Whoever that may be.

[raven43]

I'd like to be optimistic and say yes, but the fact of the matter is the O line's lack of experience is not exactly an advantage that they have over defensive linemen. I think all of our starters are starting in different positions thatn they were last year, if they were even starting. All in all the O-line was bad last year due to injuries. This year we could have the same , if not worse, results. But this time due to lack of expereince. Hopefully the line will get better in time though, because from what has been said, there is some real talent hidden in there.

[FerrariFan87]

That's the most pressing question coming into Training Camp besides, of course, who our starting QB is going to be... This will be a very interesting camp this year to say the least.

[jnyU]

Hey, Flynn is gone so that's a big step in the right direction. The oline could be anywhere from very good to very bad. Just have to wait and see.

[raven43]

Hey, Flynn is gone so that's a big step in the right direction. The oline could be anywhere from very good to very bad. Just have to wait and see.

I don't understand how getting rid of Flynn was a step in the right direction. He was a consistent veteran and one of the leaders of the offensive line. In fact I think he only got cut because of a failed physical.

[heapitup247]

We can only hope theyve improved, but i cant say losing Ogden and Flynn are gunna help. Ogden sat out alot in the season, and Flynn was the leader. Sack count isnt the biggest teller in an offensive line. If troy smith starts over Boller id say the sack count would be down some. It also doesnt take into effect run blocking.

[foreversunny23]

i was under the impression flynn just didn't have the skills to stay competitive. sure he was a great leader, but there were other guys with more talent than him.

[jnyU]

Uh, have you guys watched any games in the 5 years? Flynn has been terrible, like a turnstyle in the middle of the line, usually getting dumped on his butt or guys just running by him. Our QB's have been quitting the league because of him. Jason Brown should change all that, he looks like the real deal.

[neepo13]

I think we are going to have some growing pains up front early next season but I also think that we will see alot of progression as the season goes on. All of them have had some in game experience. The thing now is for guys who are changing positions to get used to their new positions and for all of them to develop chemistry.

[neepo13]

I don't understand how getting rid of Flynn was a step in the right direction. He was a consistent veteran and one of the leaders of the offensive line. In fact I think he only got cut because of a failed physical.

There is a reason that he hasnt been signed by anyone else yet. His skills have definitly declined and it showed last year. I cant count the number of times, he was blown up last year and allowed a defender a free lane to the QB. He also wasnt helping us in the run game. McGahee's best runs and most production came when he was bouncing runs to the outside.

[berad]

There is a reason that he hasnt been signed by anyone else yet. His skills have definitly declined and it showed last year. I cant count the number of times, he was blown up last year and allowed a defender a free lane to the QB. He also wasnt helping us in the run game. McGahee's best runs and most production came when he was bouncing runs to the outside.

SO TRUE!

I remember in the San Fran game it was kinda funny how he was getting man handled. His body couldn't keep up I guess. And we need someone fresh and strong at C, especially within our divisional games. Casey Hampton two times a year and now Shaun Rogers in Cleveland

[raven43]

well, then that explains it

I'm no too good at evaluating offensive line talent, since they don't really provide stats for them. Plus I can't really watch most of there games becasue I live in Pennyslvania. God, I hate Steelers fans...

[rayvenfan_52]

SO TRUE!

I remember in the San Fran game it was kinda funny how he was getting man handled. His body couldn't keep up I guess. And we need someone fresh and strong at C, especially within our divisional games. Casey Hampton two times a year and now Shaun Rogers in Cleveland

Its a good thing the Bengals dont have any guys with BIG names on their DLine.

[BigRavensFan]

There is a reason that he hasnt been signed by anyone else yet. His skills have definitly declined and it showed last year. I cant count the number of times, he was blown up last year and allowed a defender a free lane to the QB. He also wasnt helping us in the run game. McGahee's best runs and most production came when he was bouncing runs to the outside.

Quoted for truth!

We can only hope the new o-line will impress this year.

[geo]

Its a good thing the Bengals dont have any guys with BIG names on their DLine.

Rigth, but they seems to do very good when they meet us... 5 wins in the last 6 games, and in at least their last 3 wins, it was their D vs our O there was the matchwinning factor, not Palmer, 85 or housemama.

[CareerCreature]

Odgen is a bigg loss.

[Bazard]

In my opinion the line will be much better than last year for a couple reasons.

1. John Matsko is a much better coach than Chris Forrester. Better Coaching = Better Play unless they have no talent which i know is not the case.

2. Players That were moved around were moved to their natural positions with Jason Brown at Center, Grubbs at Left Gaurd and Yanda at Right Gaurd that instantly makes a better interior instead of having Chester at center.

3. The young players got a chance to play and learn from it.

4. The Young guys got to go through an offseason conditioning program.

5. The play calls will be made using the strenghts of the o-line.

With those things in mind i have no choice but to believe that the line will be better but the only question is really when will their chemestry form none of the players on line are used to playing beside each other yet and that may be a problem.

[justifythegame]

Flynn was the worst player on our OL not to mention one of the worst Cs in football. I watch a lot of football games, and i just haven't seen a center get pushed around and knocked back on his back as easily as Flynn. Why do you think our QBs always get injured? Finally getting rid of Flynn is a step in the right direction. If we didn't have a new coaching staff, i dont think we could've even gotten rid of him. But the loss of ogden, Gaither who is still not ready to be a starter imo, having no starting caliber RT period on the roster and an unproven Yanda at guard tells me this OL will perform even worse that last year (if that is even possible). Better make sure we have 3 or 4 QBs on the depth chart, we will need them. Thats not to say they won't improve, but that might just take a few years. Drafting a good starting RT in the first round was crucial and would've helped us a great deal, but we didn't. Especially with the potential we had in Troy Smith. When are we gonna learn? You have to put great players around a young QB to make them successful. Not the other way around. I think Flacco is a great player, but i just hope we dont ruin his potential by throwing him behind a terrible OL. Let Boller take the hits for the next year or two while OL improves first.

[march4superbowl]

My opinion, the O-line will suprise the league with thier young but talented group. At LT Gaither is a powerful offensive tackle who possesses an ideal combination of size and athleticism . I know no one wants to compare him to Ogden, which is understandable. But I think in a year or so he'll be a pro bowl caliber player. By his side you have Ben Grubbs An elite, durable athlete who plays with tenacity and intelligence. He was the top-rated interior lineman on the Ravens’ draft board in 2007 and played in all 16 games, starting 12. -At center Jason Brown will be a leader, a former tar heel who Started 36 consecutive games at center, Allowing only 3 sacks in his career w/ NC, including 0 in his final 2 seasons, while participating in 2,631 plays in 44 career games. Also had 142 Knock-down blocks as a senior. he should bring consistency and tenacity to the Ravens’ offense. -Marshall Yanda is a smart and versatile athlete who saw action in 16 games last season, including 12 starts. He made his 1st-career NFL start at RT and helped protect Kyle Boller, allowing him to complete 65.7% of his passes, in the 20-13 win in game 2 vs. the jets in which the O-Line did not allow a sack. -At RT Adam Terry is a Big, active lineman with good balance and technique and looks to anchor the right side with some punishing blocks to open lanes for a consistant ground attack. So all of these guys gained some experience last season and helped protect our QBs, allowing them time to complete a franchise-record 341 passes (61.2%) for 3,308 yards. This is why I think the O-Line has improved. And what better way to get ready by practicing against the best defense, that should bring these young guys along.

[neepo13]

Flynn was the worst player on our OL not to mention one of the worst Cs in football. I watch a lot of football games, and i just haven't seen a center get pushed around and knocked back on his back as easily as Flynn. Why do you think our QBs always get injured? Finally getting rid of Flynn is a step in the right direction. If we didn't have a new coaching staff, i dont think we could've even gotten rid of him. But the loss of ogden, Gaither who is still not ready to be a starter imo, having no starting caliber RT period on the roster and an unproven Yanda at guard tells me this OL will perform even worse that last year (if that is even possible). Better make sure we have 3 or 4 QBs on the depth chart, we will need them. Thats not to say they won't improve, but that might just take a few years. Drafting a good starting RT in the first round was crucial and would've helped us a great deal, but we didn't. Especially with the potential we had in Troy Smith. When are we gonna learn? You have to put great players around a young QB to make them successful. Not the other way around. I think Flacco is a great player, but i just hope we dont ruin his potential by throwing him behind a terrible OL. Let Boller take the hits for the next year or two while OL improves first.

I disagree on a couple of points. Yanda isnt exactly green in the gills. He started a couple of games for us last year at RT and didnt do to bad, I thought he did better then Terry. G is naturally easier to play the T, so he should be improved from last year because he's playing an easier position and he's got some experience under his belt. I think LG, C, and RG will be solid once those guys develop some chemistry. I dont think Gaither is going to be good intially but experience is apart of that development and the more he gets the better he will be. We should have benched Ogden late last year and allowed Gaither to step in then to that experience. I agree about Terry. I think we will still have to look for a RT early next year but we are moving the right direction. I dont think we will be as bad upfront as we were last year. I expect them to get better as the year goes along and chemistry develops.