Yanda At Tackle?

[The Raven]

I'm gonna start by saying that Yanda is a all pro, all universe player at guard. After this season, he proved himself probowl worthy as RT. Just watch the wild card game, every time Hali was lined up on Yanda, Yanda DESTROYED him. Even in pass pro. I think he pancaked him once, but I cant find the clip. So, to my point, do you think we could actually draft a guard like say, Pouncey, if we are unable to resign Gaither? This is just an idea folks, I too would much rather see Yanda at guard.

What do you think?

Our line could look like this:

Oher Grubbs Birk Pouncey Yanda

Of course, this would be last ditch if we were unable to resign Gaither. It would hopefully be an upgrade over Chester at RG.

[Ed_Reed20]

I'd prefer it if the team either drafted or signed a free agent LT, moved Oher back to RT, and shifted Yanda to RG. Or they could draft a RT and keep Oher at LT.

Yanda may have fared well against Hali in the play-off game and had a solid season at RT. But he'd help the team even more at RG in my opinion.

[yakraven]

If forced to, Yanda will get even better at RT this year after playing there last year.
I'd rather have him at RG /w Gaither at RT, or flip Oher and Gaither and I'd be even happier.
But we still need a RG AND a RT from the draft or FA. Chester is too light to play RG.
I think we also need to draft a center replacement and I really like the guy from Syracuse.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1299884742' post='652185']
I'd prefer it if the team either drafted or signed a free agent LT, moved Oher back to RT, and shifted Yanda to RG. Or they could draft a RT and keep Oher at LT.

Yanda may have fared well against Hali in the play-off game and had a solid season at RT. But he'd help the team even more at RG in my opinion.
[/quote]

oh no doubt! I agree completely. He's a fantastic guard, I thought that might be better than the OL of last season.

I'd prefer (if Gaither goes to FA) that we draft Derek Sherrod. He's huge, and there's a good chance he will fall to us. I thnk he and Oher could compete for the LT spot. I think Oher CAN play LT, he just needs another year to refine technique. This past season looks like it was a sophomore slump to me.

I just hope we can get some kind of mauler on the line, whether its getting Gaither back, or drafting somebody. I'd tired of watching soft o-line play. Where's the physicality?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1299886695' post='652219']
oh no doubt! I agree completely. He's a fantastic guard, I thought that might be better than the OL of last season.

[b]I'd prefer (if Gaither goes to FA) that we draft Derek Sherrod. He's huge, and there's a good chance he will fall to us. I thnk he and Oher could compete for the LT spot. I think Oher CAN play LT, he just needs another year to refine technique. This past season looks like it was a sophomore slump to me.[/b]
[b]
I just hope we can get some kind of mauler on the line, whether its getting Gaither back, or drafting somebody. I'd tired of watching soft o-line play. Where's the physicality?[/b]
[/quote]

I've been warming up to the idea of drafting Sherrod.

I'm not convinced Oher can play left tackle. He struggled at LT filling in for Gaither in '09 and looked pretty bad there at times this past season.

Oher and Yanda are maulers but sadly, neither was able to play their best position last season. I wouldn't describe Grubbs as a mauler but he can still move people.

[hawkprey]

My hopes are still on Harewood turning into a pro. But Yanda should to much better with some quality help on that side.

[The Raven]

I'd love to see Harewood develop into a starting quality RT. The bad part is that the odds are stacked against him. He's got size though, if he can compete, I'll be happy.

[justifythegame]

Yanda is not an all pro at all, his pass protection is especially questionable. However he is a very good run blocker inside. He is definitely a solid starter in this league at guard. And Yanda at T is a completely different story all together, he is downright mediocre. He has decent plays sometimes but he has a lot more bad plays, he is slow and can get beat by 34 DEs let alone LBs coming of the edge and hitting flacco all yr. I didn't watch the cheifs game much because i knew we would win, but i was under the impression Hali lined up on the other side...i wouldn't even know why he would be lined up against Yanda to begin with, whatever the case i wouldn't rate Yanda at T based on 1 game. My opinion of him was based on his season at T last year during the regular season.

Some ravens fans overrate Yanda, but im surprised how they underrate Ben Grubbs. If you wanna mention the term all-pro, Grubbs definitely belongs in the conversation. He is a phenomenal run blocker and pass protector and quietly does his job without any of the hype.

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1299960785' post='652711']
Yanda is not an all pro guard, his pass protection is especially questionable. However he is a very good run blocker inside. He is definitely a solid starter in this league at guard. And Yanda at T is a completely different story all together, he is downright mediocre. He has decent plays sometimes but he has a lot more bad plays, he is slow and can get beat by 34 DEs let alone LBs coming of the edge and hitting flacco all yr. I didn't watch the cheifs game much because i knew we would win, but i was under the impression Hali lined up on the other side...i wouldn't even know why he would be lined up against Yanda to begin with, whatever the case i wouldn't rate Yanda at T based on 1 game. My opinion of him was based on his season at T last year during the regular season.

Some ravens fans overrate Yanda, but im surprised how they underrate [b]Ben Grubbs[/b]. If you wanna mention the term all-pro, Grubbs definitely belongs in the conversation. He is a phenomenal run blocker and pass protector and quietly does his job without any of the hype.
[/quote]

Fans just seem to expect that from him now.

He's been playing at an exceptional level since day 1.

[The Raven]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1299960785' post='652711']
Yanda is not an all pro at all, his pass protection is especially questionable. However he is a very good run blocker inside. He is definitely a solid starter in this league at guard. And Yanda at T is a completely different story all together, he is downright mediocre. He has decent plays sometimes but he has a lot more bad plays, he is slow and can get beat by 34 DEs let alone LBs coming of the edge and hitting flacco all yr. I didn't watch the cheifs game much because i knew we would win, but i was under the impression Hali lined up on the other side...i wouldn't even know why he would be lined up against Yanda to begin with, whatever the case i wouldn't rate Yanda at T based on 1 game. My opinion of him was based on his season at T last year during the regular season.

Some ravens fans overrate Yanda, but im surprised how they underrate Ben Grubbs. If you wanna mention the term all-pro, Grubbs definitely belongs in the conversation. He is a phenomenal run blocker and pass protector and quietly does his job without any of the hype.
[/quote]


1. Didn't Peter King name him an AP Tackle this season? Yeah, he did, look it up.
2. Did you watch the Chiefs game? If its ever replayed, watch him. He pancaked Tambi Hali at least once. Watch the steelers games. What did Woodley do? Nothing.

Btw, does anyone know a website that lists OL stats? I was trying to find how many sacks Yanda allowed opposed to other RTs.

[berad]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1299962286' post='652722']
[b]1. Didn't Peter King name him an AP Tackle this season? Yeah, he did, look it up.
[/b]2. Did you watch the Chiefs game? If its ever replayed, watch him. He pancaked Tambi Hali at least once. Watch the steelers games. What did Woodley do? Nothing.

Btw, does anyone know a website that lists OL stats? I was trying to find how many sacks Yanda allowed opposed to other RTs.
[/quote]

He also left Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed entirely off the list... take whatever Peter King says with a grain of salt, he's a columnist, not an analyst.

Yanda played well but he wasn't an AP all-pro. That's the one that usually sticks with players.

[izvoodoo]

I would rather just sign a RT for a fair price. Oher can play LT, he just needs coaching. In his defense, he almost always better in the 2nd half than in the first. And sometimes joe held the ball for too long.


People have to except that the teams that have the fewest sacks are because they have offenses designed to limit sacks. Michael Oher will most likely be better than Matt Light, but still have more sacks simply because the AFC north has better pass rushers and because the patriots offense is designed to limit sacks.

[flynismo]

Yanda is HIGHLY overrated by ravens fans. He's an above average guard. Average, at best, OT.

[JEEPercreepermd]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1300051770' post='653290']
Yanda is HIGHLY overrated by ravens fans. He's an above average guard. Average, at best, OT.
[/quote]
Agreed. I think it's just the fact that he was an emergency move to RT and he competed and played fairly well. He's definitely not the long term answer at RT. If it's re-signing Gaither and moving Oher back to RT, or keeping Oher at LT and signing/drafting a RT they need to get better there and move Yanda back to his strength at RG.
Poor offensive line play IMO was a HUGE contributing factor to the Ravens offensive struggles in 2010. They couldn't run the ball and it showed. Now granted there were a list of other things that contributed to it as well, but to me the struggles of the Oline were at the top of the list and magnified everything else.

[baltravens]

NO WAY JOSE!!!
Move Yanda back to guard and decide what we are going to do with Oher or DRAFT/SIGN A RIGHT TACKLE. I am a purist and we cannot cut corners to reach the Super Bowl and put the Squeelers in their place.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1300051770' post='653290']
Yanda is HIGHLY overrated by ravens fans. He's an above average guard. Average, at best, OT.
[/quote]


Yup, pretty much... Majority of the fans outside B-more never even heard of him. He needs to stay in Guard and improve. Oher needs to get some work done (even at RT, he needs to stay consistent), and replacing LT....well thats another story.

[RoflDogs]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1300051770' post='653290']
Yanda is HIGHLY overrated by ravens fans. He's an above average guard. Average, at best, OT.
[/quote]

You're crazy. Yanda played at an elite level at RT this season

[The Raven]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1300051770' post='653290']
Yanda is HIGHLY overrated by ravens fans. He's an above average guard. Average, at best, OT.
[/quote]

He's average? He destroyed Hali, while Oher allowed Hali to get what, 3 sacks? If my memory serves me well, he also held Woodley to only 1 sack in three meetings. It may have even been less.

[berad]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1300225859' post='654611']
He's average? He destroyed Hali, while Oher allowed Hali to get what, 3 sacks? If my memory serves me well, he also held Woodley to only 1 sack in three meetings. It may have even been less.
[/quote]

He did not destroy Hali... In fact, he rarely saw Hali on his side and, when he did, he got help from a back or TE, most of the time. [color="#0000FF"][url="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d92589/Wild-card-Playoffs-Ravens-vs-Chiefs-highlights"]Watch the highlights[/url][/color], again...

Most notably, instances at...

0:10 when he lets #96 around him, had Flacco not released and completed the ball to Heap so soon, it would have been a sack. On a third down.

2:27 #92 breaks him down and beats him around the edge. Had Flacco not shiftily stepped up in the pocket and gotten the ball to Heap, again, it would have been an easy sack. Third down, again.

4:11 Hali and Yanda alone. Third down. Hali beats him easily and has a free run at Flacco. Hali hits Flacco as he's throwing, knocking the ball short of Ray Rice, running in stride - would have had a first down inside the two yard line or a touchdown.

Yanda played well. But he is not "elite" nor "All-Pro"

These are, of course, just highlights and don't show the whole game - but they detail some of the more important ones.

[TDubbs]

I love Yanda as our guard, we were downright lucky to get him where we did in the draft. However, I just dont see him as a tackle he doesnt have the size or pass protecting ability. I have huge confidence in Oher as a LT. He needs to reallly hit the film and weight room, but if anyone can do it he can for sure.

[RoflDogs]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1300228590' post='654629']
He did not destroy Hali... In fact, he rarely saw Hali on his side and, when he did, he got help from a back or TE, most of the time. [color="#0000FF"][url="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d92589/Wild-card-Playoffs-Ravens-vs-Chiefs-highlights"]Watch the highlights[/url][/color], again...

Most notably, instances at...

0:10 when he lets #96 around him, had Flacco not released and completed the ball to Heap so soon, it would have been a sack. On a third down.

2:27 #92 breaks him down and beats him around the edge. Had Flacco not shiftily stepped up in the pocket and gotten the ball to Heap, again, it would have been an easy sack. Third down, again.

4:11 Hali and Yanda alone. Third down. Hali beats him easily and has a free run at Flacco. Hali hits Flacco as he's throwing, knocking the ball short of Ray Rice, running in stride - would have had a first down inside the two yard line or a touchdown.

Yanda played well. But he is not "elite" nor "All-Pro"
[/quote]

I thought the KC game was one of his meh games with 1 other one that I can't remember atm, but most of the other games, he played at an elite level

[justifythegame]

[quote name='RoflDogs' timestamp='1300250187' post='654805']
I thought the KC game was one of his meh games with 1 other one that I can't remember atm, but most of the other games, he played at an elite level
[/quote]
Wow, so at first we have 1 guys talking about how Hali got "destroyed" by Yanda and how it was one of his best games ever (calling him and ALL PRO) and after berad pulls out the tape you got another guy saying Yanda was elite in all the games EXCEPT that game. All i did was yell at the TV when #73 got beat every game and Flacco got hit, sacked, or forced to dump the ball off. Oher had some pretty bad games as well but at least he was starting at his spot for the first time in his 2nd yr. Yanda was so bad at one point, Cam Cameron switched the line up for a game or two bumping Yanda back inside and starting Cousins at T.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1300551992' post='656441']
Wow, so at first we have 1 guys talking about how Hali got "destroyed" by Yanda and how it was one of his best games ever (calling him and ALL PRO) and after berad pulls out the tape you got another guy saying Yanda was elite in all the games EXCEPT that game. All i did was yell at the TV when #73 got beat every game and Flacco got hit, sacked, or forced to dump the ball off. Oher had some pretty bad games as well but at least he was starting at his spot for the first time in his 2nd yr. [b]Yanda was so bad at one point, Cam Cameron switched the line up for a game or two bumping Yanda back inside and starting Cousins at T.[/b]
[/quote]

I'm pretty sure that switch was to get Chester out of the starting lineup and use him as a 6th o-lineman again.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1300551992' post='656441']
Wow, so at first we have 1 guys talking about how Hali got "destroyed" by Yanda and how it was one of his best games ever (calling him and ALL PRO) and after berad pulls out the tape you got another guy saying Yanda was elite in all the games EXCEPT that game. All i did was yell at the TV when #73 got beat every game and Flacco got hit, sacked, or forced to dump the ball off. Oher had some pretty bad games as well but at least he was starting at his spot for the first time in his 2nd yr. Yanda was so bad at one point, Cam Cameron switched the line up for a game or two bumping Yanda back inside and starting Cousins at T.
[/quote]
Yanda is an All Pro at RG, not RT. At RT he's a decent player but not the calibre he is at RG. But he wasn't as bad as you make him sound all year.

And like ER20 said it was to get Chester the hell out of the starting lineup so that we could attempt to run the ball to the right side.

[justifythegame]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1300557864' post='656474']
Yanda is an All Pro at RG, not RT. At RT he's a decent player but not the calibre he is at RG. But he wasn't as bad as you make him sound all year.

And like ER20 said it was to get Chester the hell out of the starting lineup so that we could attempt to run the ball to the right side.
[/quote]
Yanda is not an all pro RG. He wasn't even close for the all pro team. Im not about sit here and trash talk yanda at guard because he is a very good guard. We have no desire to get another guard because he should be a great starter for 10 yrs. But Ben Grubbs is struggling to even get mentioned in the same league as the great all-pro's in the nfl and putting yanda in there is laughable because then your standards are extremely low. While yanda is a great mauler inside he isn't a complete player in terms of situations you need him to pass protect.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1300663277' post='656968']
Yanda is not an all pro RG. He wasn't even close for the all pro team. Im not about sit here and trash talk yanda at guard because he is a very good guard. We have no desire to get another guard because he should be a great starter for 10 yrs. But Ben Grubbs is struggling to even get mentioned in the same league as the great all-pro's in the nfl and putting yanda in there is laughable because then your standards are extremely low. While yanda is a great mauler inside he isn't a complete player in terms of situations you need him to pass protect.
[/quote]
Grubbs was a 2nd team Pro Bowl player in 2009, and the same year was Len Pasquarelli's(ESPN writer) All Pro LG, as well as Pro Football Weekly's All Pro selection at LG. So clearly he is getting mentioned. Yanda at RG in 2009 was playing at an extremely high level, and inside he doesnt face teams premier pass rushers and seldom gets beat by teams DTs and 34 DEs. Yanda got beat plenty at RT that isnt in question, but you lump it all together like Yanda is the same player at RT like he is RG.

[BloodRaven]

Yanda wasn't perfect, but he had a long stretch where he nullified pass rushers who were supposedly too good for him to handle.

[RoflDogs]

Yanda totally owned Woodley, you can't deny that

[justifythegame]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1300669050' post='656999']
but you lump it all together like Yanda is the same player at RT like he is RG.
[/quote]
no i certainly did not, i just went out of my way in my last post to make that clear. i watch a ton of OL play in the nfl and there are a huge number of guards i think are great in the league and i wouldn;t even label them all pros but they certainly deserve it more than yanda

[gregreid5]

I did a mock draft on another message board and castonzo somehow fell to 26 so I took him. I like Yanda MUCH better at guard. He struggled this year against the steelers