Our Options At Offensive Tackle

[BAL_Hawk]

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.

I don't think that we need to get worried about Gaither or Terry... yet. An MRI on Terry revealed a sprained knee. Gaither is suffering from a sprained ankle.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...NFL&id=4497

These are the same injuries that Ngata has. None of them are serious. They may miss the first two preseason games in the worst-case scenario. We need to remember that these are BIG guys, and these are common injuries for men of their stature (especially when they're trying to get back into football-shape). The only player that I would worry about is Terry but not because of the sprain. He has shown a history of injuries.

[meckman71]

I would leave our guards and center alone I know 2 rookies at tackle is not acceptable BUT we need our interior linemen where they are I would put our center 3 against almost anyone. They need to be left there to continue gelling. I played lineman all through college you need to know without thinking what the 2 men beside you are going to do. You cant do that if you are hopping around from spot to spot. We need 2 vets to plug into the tackle positions RELIABLE VETS not necessarily Pro Bowl vets. If we do this then the outside rush will be the only thing you have to worry about. If you start shifting the interior line like we did all last year you will have as many holes as a cheese grater, like it did last year. Thst will mean RB's/TE's staying in to block on 80% of passing, not a winning formula.

[BAL_Hawk]

I would leave our guards and center alone I know 2 rookies at tackle is not acceptable BUT we need our interior linemen where they are I would put our center 3 against almost anyone. They need to be left there to continue gelling. I played lineman all through college you need to know without thinking what the 2 men beside you are going to do. You cant do that if you are hopping around from spot to spot. We need 2 vets to plug into the tackle positions RELIABLE VETS not necessarily Pro Bowl vets. If we do this then the outside rush will be the only thing you have to worry about. If you start shifting the interior line like we did all last year you will have as many holes as a cheese grater, like it did last year. Thst will mean RB's/TE's staying in to block on 80% of passing, not a winning formula.

Exactly. They need to keep the interior line strong and get by on the edges this year. Luckily, I think that Cameron understands that. All in all, I think that we will be great if Gaither can get healthy. I never had much confidence in Terry.

I think that Cousins is going to be an all-pro RT in the future, so I'm not opposed to starting him. He's nasty and plays with an attitude.

[RavensIQ]

Exactly. They need to keep the interior line strong and get by on the edges this year. Luckily, I think that Cameron understands that. All in all, I think that we will be great if Gaither can get healthy. I never had much confidence in Terry.

I think that Cousins is going to be an all-pro RT in the future, so I'm not opposed to starting him. He's nasty and plays with an attitude.

Took the words right out of my mouth. I love everything about Cousins, his attitude, his toughness and how he looks for fights. Thats what you want from all of your linemen. I hope he challenges whoever for the starting RT spot this year. Still gotta lot of training camp left and he's only gonna get better/stronger with coach Matsko.

[Bazard]

The Offensive Line will be fine these have not been serious injuries camp is not to tough if it were the regular season most of these players would be playing including Gaither, Cousins, Reed, Ngata, and Williams we have a little more than a month to go before the season even start.

The Reason Harbaugh is having such a demanding camp on these lineman is so that they can be even meaner and nastier their were times when we were soft last year and a camp like this does nothing but piss them off to the point where they don't take S*** from anybody why do you think Todd Heap of all people are getting into fights.

Right now Harbaugh is trying to give the players all the same anger management problems that Orlando Brown, Bart Scott and Chris McAlister have and then he is going to Harness it and unleash it on Sundays.

[Ravenoid]

Took the words right out of my mouth. I love everything about Cousins, his attitude, his toughness and how he looks for fights. Thats what you want from all of your linemen. I hope he challenges whoever for the starting RT spot this year. Still gotta lot of training camp left and he's only gonna get better/stronger with coach Matsko.

You're scaring me IQ. You're giving me hope. Yes I LUV our interior linemen. May be the best group in football. Also Cousins has proven to be tough at tackle, strong and smart. If he can maintain he'll come in to his own in about the 8th or 9th game. If Slaughter & Gaither can man the left side and keep our QB upright most of the time MAN! I'M GETTING EXCITED NOW!

[RavensIQ]

You're scaring me IQ. You're giving me hope. Yes I LUV our interior linemen. May be the best group in football. Also Cousins has proven to be tough at tackle, strong and smart. If he can maintain he'll come in to his own in about the 8th or 9th game. If Slaughter & Gaither can man the left side and keep our QB upright most of the time MAN! I'M GETTING EXCITED NOW!

I'm getting pumped too! Everyday closer to the 1st pre-season game I get antsy and all excited about football. Your exactly right about holding down the left side. We have a tremendous Interior Line(i agree one of the best, which no one gives them credit) all we need is decent play from our left tackle, which Gaither has already proven he can deliver. He did his thing last year for the most part and he is at least 100x better this year. Remember, if we can somewhat hold our own against the Baltimore Ravens DEFENSE then the other teams will be that much easier. The great part is we still have A LOT of camp left and we're only gonna get better.

When the Real Ravens come flying out of the tunnel, with the players running behind them, with the smoke going followed by Ray Lewis going crazy. AHHHHH i can't wait. Bengals don't stand a chance!!

[BloodRaven]

Gaither doesnt have to be Ogden, he just has to keep maturing. hes already our biggest and fastest lineman, and seemed to be the only one who held his own on one-on-one drills.

Cousins doesnt look like a RT to me. Too small and doesnt have the power or blocking range, he looks more like a nasty pulling guard type. (I still dont know why we didnt pick Carl Nicks)

[jravens13]

Im not too worried that both Terry and Gaither went down....just look at the bright side they had this injury in training camp and can rest during the preseason....had they went down in the first week or two of the regular season they could have missed substantial time

I think harbaugh should just take it easy on the linemen because its so easy for a 300 pound mans legs to get caught up in the scrum and training camp is great but it doens't count in the win/loss column

[Raven07]

this is what Harbaugh had been saying all along, when he was saying about rotating players around at different positions, versitility is a key factor in which Harbaugh continually stressed and now we're seeing why he stressed it so much. Though most of the injuries suffered during camp so far have been minimal and not too severe, everytime a player goes down with a injury, no matter the severity, always arises the same old everlooming question of Depth and "do we have the players capable to fill in and perform well?" type deal.

this is the time in which the Team and coaches really get a good look at the overall depth on the team, at the positions that need it most, its a chance for the other players to showcase what they have, what they have to offer this team, and what they can do out there on the football field. It is then, in which really says alot about the type of decipline a player has, what type of drive, what type of motor, what type of versitility they all could potentially offer us out there if need be.

As of right now, the Team has had a good camp, when a player has gone down to injury, another has stepped in and filled the void and played/practiced with some great speed and athletism that got to have at least a few people out there saying we've got something here. Sure there are a few bumps and mis haps in the road to success, thats to be expected, its the ability to overcome and find ways around those challeges in which truly define a team. The Back up players may not have the same athletism as the starters out there, but they can surely learn to do and/or adjust to be just as good.

[BloodRaven]

How is Slaughter looking? is he getting beat? hows his anchor? I read hes really quick and explosive, but has small legs and didnt always finish his blocks.

[BAL_Hawk]

Gaither doesnt have to be Ogden, he just has to keep maturing. hes already our biggest and fastest lineman, and seemed to be the only one who held his own on one-on-one drills.

Cousins doesnt look like a RT to me. Too small and doesnt have the power or blocking range, he looks more like a nasty pulling guard type. (I still dont know why we didnt pick Carl Nicks)

Cousins is 6'5. You don't have to be huge to be successful at RT. Personally, I have a feeling about him. I think that he could become one of the best right tackles in the NFL if he works. From what I understand, he's already a road-grader. He just needs to work on protection.

[Redreed]

Cousins is 6'5. You don't have to be huge to be successful at RT. Personally, I have a feeling about him. I think that he could become one of the best right tackles in the NFL if he works. From what I understand, he's already a road-grader. He just needs to work on protection.

Dude, I can appreciate your optomisim, I really can. But this dude hasn't stepped foot on the field yet. He's never had a bad day at the hands of an all-pro and had to bounce back. Hell, he's only doing a decent job blocking our back-ups at DE this far in camp. Just too early to say he could be one of the best tackles in the NFL, don't ya think?

[Bullrush]

Here we go again. Cousins suffered an MCL sprain in his right knee.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles...ports080108.txt

What are these guys doing out there that? I mean is Harbaugh throwing tomahawks at them that they keep getting hurt? I can't wait for our first regular season game when we line up with Kracalik and Slaughter as our starting tackles (assuming they stay healthy of course). Ugh.

[MDmid14]

How is Slaughter looking? is he getting beat? hows his anchor? I read hes really quick and explosive, but has small legs and didnt always finish his blocks.

He looked as polished as a rookie to be honest with you. Made some plays, but looked a little off timinig wise and skill wise. Though thats easily explainable with him laying concrete just a few days ago instead of being in camp. All-in-all not a bad choice if injuries continue, but we need to look into getting some more help. Not sure about the tackles on free agency, but we might want to look into other options fairly quickly before we have some major issues.

[BloodRaven]

^if its a sprain then its only a few weeks.

I hope our boys can do the same in the regular season, put some big hurt on Marvel Smith, Levi Jones, Joe Thomas etc etc

[RavensIQ]

^if its a sprain then its only a few weeks.

I hope our boys can do the same in the regular season, put some big hurt on Marvel Smith, Levi Jones, Joe Thomas etc etc

Please take out Joe Thmoas in the 1st quarter of the 1st game. PLEASE. Browns don't deserve that much talent.

[blackfeather]

He looked as polished as a rookie to be honest with you. Made some plays, but looked a little off timinig wise and skill wise. Though thats easily explainable with him laying concrete just a few days ago instead of being in camp. All-in-all not a bad choice if injuries continue, but we need to look into getting some more help. Not sure about the tackles on free agency, but we might want to look into other options fairly quickly before we have some major issues.

That loss of timing was the job he had pouring concrete last week.... It really messes up the timing....

[BloodRaven]

Please take out Joe Thmoas in the 1st quarter of the 1st game. PLEASE. Browns don't deserve that much talent.

Hey, at least he isnt in front of Roethlisberger.

[catty112]

From what I heard about our interior 3, if we can get our tackles to step up to at least mediocrity I think we will be alright at line. And oh yeah now that our LBs don't have to back up into coverage so much, maybe we can unleash Bart Scott on Big Gay Ben?

edit: again*

[MDmid14]

From what I heard about our interior 3, if we can get our tackles to step up to at least mediocrity I think we will be alright at line. And oh yeah now that our LBs don't have to back up into coverage so much, maybe we can unleash Bart Scott on Big Gay Ben?

edit: again*

hahahahahahaha I sure hope so.

[rayvenfan_52]

I would love to see Ben Worthlessburger being hit by Bart Scott 1 more time.

There we go. Now it doesnt sound as bad.

[RavensIQ]

I would love to see Big Gay Ben off his feet then straight on his back again...

Probably not the best way to phrase it...

[BloodRaven]

Probably not the best way to phrase it...

I am so glad their are no Steelers on this forum

[RavenNuts]

Injury smack is pretty bad. Karma has a way of circling back to bite those who do things like that.

[BloodRaven]

I think belief in karma is as bad as people with pre-game rituals. All it does is breed anxiety.

[catty112]

Hey i never said i wanted him to get injured I just want Bart to bring the wood

[RavensIQ]

I think belief in karma is as bad as people with pre-game rituals. All it does is breed anxiety.

Yeah it does take its toll on you after awhile. If I'm watching the game at home and the Ravens screw up or the other team is just working us I switch TVs and watch the game in a different room. Sometimes I try and make negotiations with my TV during commercials (like somehow it's gonna make an impact on the game) and other times I'm beating the S*** out of it. I don't know how many times I've come close to breaking my TV because of Boller. Sometimes I just want to throw my TV out the window. I swear I'm Bipolar on game day. If we're taking a beating and people try to talk to me I flip out on 'em but as soon as we score a TD I'm back to being cool. If it's down to a last minute drive to win the game or a last second field goal and I'm watching the game with friends I'll rush and put on all my ravens gear, wrap myself in a ravens blanket, lock myself alone in a room and start trash talking the tv like I'm in the game. Last year was brutal. Hopefully this year will be less stressful, because my heart can't take the Boller blues anymore.

[raven43]

Dude when I'm watching games and it comes down to like a last minute drive, I'm prayint to god we score and I seriously look like a littel girl. I remember during the Bengals and Patriots games I was on the phone with one of me homies and every time I talked I was almost screamin. At the end of both those games i was cursin like a lot. I have my own stuff I wear durin games. I wear a jersey (depending on the color jersey the team's wearin) two ravens necklaes, a mask, a ravens construction hat, a "fear the raven" towel and my dancin ravens frog(wich I make sing after every score) If things Are goin wrong I tilt my hat a diferent way and turn the logos on the necklaces around and wait to see if somehthing goes right that way. If they do, I don't move. At all. I guess I barely got the tilt in my hat right last year......

[Drkraven]

I refuse to post during a game because I just may spike the laptop. Injury smack is always bad.