Our Options At Offensive Tackle

[BloodRaven]

OK Adam Terry and Jared Gaither are injured and will be out for an unspecified amount of time.

Right now our starting team looks like this:

LT Kracalik LG Grubbs C Brown RG Yanda RT Cousins

Kracalik should be playing NT or something. I would rather the more athletic Cousins played LT, even Hale would make a better LT. Each of our 3 QBs will get "sacked" over 5 times each over a single practice, maybe next week Joe Reitz will be lining up at LT.

So the good news is Ozzie is on the phones...

There is talk about a possible trade for Jags 2nd round pick LT Khalif Barnes, a quick footed finesse blocker. Hes currently in a position battle with Richard Collier as Collier fits the Jags physical mauling line mentality better. Collier was also named the starter after minicamp and Barnes is on the final year of his contract and isnt likely to get an extension.

I like Barnes and I hope its true, he would fit our new zone scheme and well worth a 2nd pick.

Oh yeah, Ogden has ruled out making a return.

[Corvus]

Khalif Barnes would definitely be a good pickup, I would be more than willing to give up a 2nd rounder next year for him.

Another possibility would be moving Yanda back to right tackle like he played last year. I know our line last year was pretty rugged and not solid really, but Yanda did a decent job as a rookie manning the spot and he did it most of the season last year. We have a lot more depth on the inside of the line, so worst case scenario with Gaither not coming back anytime soon and us not being able to snag Barnes, our line could look like:

LT Cousins LG Grubbs C Brown RG Hale/Chester RT Yanda

[BloodRaven]

^thats really not pretty, that looks like a 50 sack unit, but if worst comes to worst we always have the Troy Smith rollout.

Also an update on the Jags talk, if Barnes (who is back in first team) projects as their starter we could be getting Richard Collier instead, he is dominating in their camp and looks like Flozell Adams, huge, powerful and takes great angles. Not a downfield blocker though.

Theres also the Bills Jason Peters who is holding out (and who the Bills might not be able to afford but still unlikely to trade) or more likely his backup Kirk Chambers who is solid if unspectacular.

We could get 11 year Texans LT Ephraim Salaam cheap, hes lost his starting job to rookie Duane Brown.

Bengals RT Willie Anderson would be nice, who at 33 is now a backup to Stacey Andrews, Im not sure if they would trade to a division rival though...

In Ozzie we trust...

[ROH522155]

do u really think ozzie would give up picks for an 11 year pro and a 33 year old who lost his starting job??

[foreversunny23]

it didn't seem like Gaither's injury was too serious. he'll probably be out for a week. Terry's seemed more serious. He could well be out for the season.

i'm against putting Yanda back in RT. When I saw him play last season, he struggled against the faster pass rushers. Plus Grubbs/Brown/Yanda seems to be solid right now so there's no need to shuffle that group.

Hopefully Cousins, Hale, or Reitz can step up. Cousins from what i read seemed to be very physical in the minicamps. The energy he has sorta reminds me of Gooden. He could do well as a tackle.

[BloodRaven]

do u really think ozzie would give up picks for an 11 year pro and a 33 year old who lost his starting job??

Those are just options, the bottom line is behind Kracalik, there is nobody... the injuries have highlighted a glaring lack of depth. Even if Gaither comes back can he play? can he start and sustain? we're in a bad position and might have to trade for players.

[Toyota35]

How has Cousins looked at training camp? I haven't heard good things about him lately, stuff like he looks completely lost or he should be on a practise squad. I do know he has a nasty attitude and athleticism, so he wouldn't be a terrible option at RT.

[b-morebrotha]

I like the trade idea we have a good relationship with the Jags and Del Rio. Ozzie spends his draft picks well for the most part lets get one of those dudes

[RavensIQ]

Personally I hope Ozzie strikes a deal with Jacksonville and we somehow get Khalif Barnes on our team. In my opinion he's a top 10ish LT and he's only 26. Do some research on him I think you might be surprised. How much do we have to give up to get him....Now that'sthe question.

[BloodRaven]

^it sound like he might be unwanted, besides, nobody can afford two starting quality LTs, whoever loses will want a trade.

former Browns backup LT Nat Dorsey is also available, maybe a RT?

[b-morebrotha]

Personally I hope Ozzie strikes a deal with Jacksonville and we somehow get Khalif Barnes on our team. In my opinion he's a top 10ish LT and he's only 26. Do some research on him I think you might be surprised. How much do we have to give up to get him....Now that'sthe question.

I just fished around the Jags message board (which sucks BTW) and they are chatting about it too. But they are understanding how we'd come to talk of a trade but they want the farm for either one if them and some are like don't even do it cuz they need 2 viable tackle's.

For a 2nd rnder thats a fair trade, i think...actually Collier went undrafted so a 4th or 5th rounder is an option

[BloodRaven]

Looks like we got somebody...

from baltimoresun.com

Offensive tackle update

Adam Terry is walking around without the use of crutches, but the team is still in the market for adding a free agent to add depth after losing Terry (sprained left ankle) and Jared Gaither (injured right ankle) for what appears to be an extended period of time.

Speaking to the media for the first time since Sunday, coach John Harbaugh acknowledged that general manager Ozzie Newsome and director of pro personnel George Kokinis have been working on drafting a list of potential free agents.

The Sun's Mike Preston then asked Harbaugh a series of questions regarding the position. Here is the exchange:

Preston: "John, do you have a time frame for bringing in a tackle?"

Harbaugh:

[heapitup247]

I dont know if im all for barnes. I seem to recall him calling a police officer a KKK member or something along those lines. If he could shape it up id be all for it, but i dont want a distraction. Maybe for a later pick.

[b-morebrotha]

I dont know if im all for barnes. I seem to recall him calling a police officer a KKK member or something along those lines. If he could shape it up id be all for it, but i dont want a distraction. Maybe for a later pick.

I don't get the revelance i hope there's more to the story that you have an issue with cause thats nothing

[Ravenoid]

OZZIE & COMPANY NEEDS TO GET OFF THEIR DUFFS AND GET A FREAKIN TACKLE!!!

[Ravenoid]

<<<<<<<<<< JASON PETERS >>>>>>>>>.

COMMON!!! MAKE A TRADE!! DOOOOO SOMETHING THAT WILL MKE ME FEAL LIKE YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR CRYIN-OUT-LOUD!

[b-morebrotha]

OZZIE & COMPANY NEEDS TO GET OFF THEIR DUFFS AND GET A FREAKIN TACKLE!!!

<<<<<<<<<< JASON PETERS >>>>>>>>>.

COMMON!!! MAKE A TRADE!! DOOOOO SOMETHING THAT WILL MKE ME FEAL LIKE YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR CRYIN-OUT-LOUD!

Dude chillax this is the wizard were talkin bout here the deal's been done already they just need to pass physicals. Get yourself together man snap out of it

[BloodRaven]

^We'll get him, right after Peyton Manning and Randy Moss. C'mon man, Peters is one of maybe 5 elite LTs in the NFL. They wouldnt trade him for Ed Reed and a 1st rounder.

Ozzie picked up two tackles, we'll find out soon as they pass the physical.

[BaltimoreBulldog]

What teams are actually loaded at the Tackle spot?? I dont have time to research it, but if a team has 2 good starting tackles they are highly or actually not going to trade them away. Maybe someone has depth and we could pick up some backups(could be better then our starters). Im sure Ozzie will work something out with this

[POE]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/footbal...story?track=rss

It looks Oz and company have already started to add some depth to our injured O-line but their efforts don't look too promising. I still have faith they will make something happen.

[heapitup247]

I don't get the revelance i hope there's more to the story that you have an issue with cause thats nothing

the relevence is that hes been arrested. thats never a good thing because if you do it once it proves youre prone to doing it. Maybe its behind him.

[BloodRaven]

I would have rather we went for Welbourn, he might be 32 but you look at his body the guy looks after himself and has foot quickness to play both tackle spots, the guy is strong too.

So Chad Slaughter huh I remember he played backup LT/RT for the Raiders, dont really know how well he played so I pulled up his original scouting report:

Chad Slaughter, OT - Alcorn State

Ht: 6-8 Wt: 340 40-time: 5.50

Strengths: With big size and above-average quickness, Slaughter was among the most dominating linemen in I-AA for the past two seasons. Scouts are drawn to his athleticism as much as his size.

Weaknesses: Played in the SWAC, a I-AA conference which does not feature tough competition from top-to-bottom. Was not forced to go up against many intimidating pass rushers. Run blocking is a question mark, as Alcorn State ranked just ninth out of 10 teams in the SWAC in rushing offense last season.

Notable: A second-team All-American in 1999, Slaughter also earned All-SWAC accolades in both 1998 and 1999. Slaughter was also judged a third-team All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette. Alcorn State finished just 3-7 last season, including 1-3 in the SWAC Southwestern division. Braves ranked second in the league in total offense (357.0 yards per game), third in pass offense (256.3), ninth in rush offense (100.7), and fourth in scoring offense (26.7 yards per game).

Oh yeah, hes 30 and apparently shut out Michael Strahan of one game, depth at RT?

[bossman419]

well he certainly has the right last name for a lineman

[RavensIQ]

Wasn't he a starter for the Raiders magnificent 0-line these last couple of years

I hope he can step up if need be, hopefully Gaither and Terry will get their act together...im a lil skeptical having a Raider linemen on our squad.

[foreversunny23]

now that we signed Slaughter (heh love that name), does this mean we have to cut someone?

[POE]

Even though we signed him doesn't mean he will make the final cut. Correct me if i'm wrong though.

[Ravenoid]

Dude chillax this is the wizard were talkin bout here the deal's been done already they just need to pass physicals. Get yourself together man snap out of it

But dude, this is the group that passed on Ryan Clady. OK? Slaughter is the man now? Indeed.

[Ravenoid]

Dude chillax this is the wizard were talkin bout here the deal's been done already they just need to pass physicals. Get yourself together man snap out of it

Thanks b-morebrotha. I needed that.

[b-morebrotha]

But dude, this is the group that passed on Ryan Clady. OK? Slaughter is the man now? Indeed.

Thanks b-morebrotha. I needed that.

Slaughters no all-pro but the Oz may not even be done yet wheeling and dealing. I certainly didn't think they'd leave us hanging with cook krak and my Cousins.

I see your a Clady fan. Of course had Oz new we'd be missing 3 tackles instead off just missing 1 then we my have gone a different way w/ the draft but hind sight is 20/20 isn't it.

Hey no prob dude don't start worring unitll after the second pre-season game. Then panic lol

[Mahatma_Sloth]

well he certainly has the right last name for a lineman

or a sargent