Ravens Sign OT Mark Levoir

[mhead66]

"By Aaron Wilson, Times Staff WriterCarroll County Times


OWINGS MILLS -- The Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms with former New England Patriots offensive tackle Mark LeVoir today, according to his agent, Eric Metz.

The Ravens tried out LeVoir and former Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Jason Murphy today.


LeVoir, 29, was claimed off waivers by the Patriots from the St. Louis Rams three years ago.

Originally signed by the Chicago Bears as a rookie free agent in 2006 out of Notre Dame, the 6-foot-7, 310-pounder played in 32 games, including two starts over three seasons in New England.

LeVoir reportedly refused to take a paycut in New England, leading to his release."

[url="http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/sports/ravens/ravens-ravens-add-offensive-tackle-mark-levoir/article_502d4fea-cb7c-11e0-ae10-001cc4c03286.html"]http://www.carrollco...1cc4c03286.html[/url]


NFL.com says that he's started 2 games in his 5 seasons.

[url="http://www.nfl.com/player/marklevoir/2506695/profile"]http://www.nfl.com/p...2506695/profile[/url]

[Alexir]

Oneil Cousins has started more games than that...

[T-ray]

I don't know about that signing... wish I could tell you that improves us, but I just can't. He's not starter material, and I would even go so far as to say he's not backup worthy either.

[xxhighriser]

[quote name='T-ray' timestamp='1313881246' post='758388']
I don't know about that signing... wish I could tell you that improves us, but I just can't. He's not starter material, and I would even go so far as to say he's not backup worthy either.
[/quote]
based on his resume or based on what you've seen from him? cus i highly doubt the FO just goes after him of all linemen left for no reason.

[mhead66]

What's bizzare is that the article says Levoir wouldn't take a pay cut, so he was released by the Pats.

Unfortunately, according to this link, he was only scheduled to make $690,000 this season with New England. Asking a 5 year vet to take a cut below that... sadly, it doesn't say much for his value...

[url="http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/mark-levoir/"]http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/mark-levoir/[/url]

[T-ray]

[quote name='xxhighriser' timestamp='1313881467' post='758392']
based on his resume or based on what you've seen from him? cus i highly doubt the FO just goes after him of all linemen left for no reason.
[/quote]

A variety of factors. I watch the Pats a ton and see him in games and I just don't think he measures up to be anything other than a second coming of Cousins. Thats just my opinion though. However, isn't it strange how he was making only 690,000 dollars this season and the Pats asked him to take a pay cut?? That would mean he'd only be making minimum haha. Thats pretty bad.

[Ngata92NT]

I hope people don't start overreacting to this signing. Obviously Ozzie doesn't think that this guy will be the answer to all of our problems at OT, probably just trying to add an extra body into the mix. I noticed that Jah Reid played almost the entire game yesterday, maybe we just need someone to take reps in the game or insurance in case Reid gets hurt. Besides Harewood, who else do we have to play? We've also moved Cousins to OG, removing him from the mix. I don't think this signing means much of anything really, Levoir will probably not outplay Reid or see any playing time in the regular season.

Also, I'm sure we signed him for cheap. It shouldn't prevent us from going after a better OT after teams start cutting down their rosters.

[xxhighriser]

[quote name='T-ray' timestamp='1313881660' post='758395']

A variety of factors. [b]I watch the Pats a ton and see him in games and I just don't think he measures up[/b] to be anything other than a second coming of Cousins. Thats just my opinion though. However, isn't it strange how he was making only 690,000 dollars this season and the Pats asked him to take a pay cut?? That would mean he'd only be making minimum haha. Thats pretty bad.
[/quote]
ok cool, i can respect that. i just didnt know if you were saying that based on him not being a big name free agent

[jimmysmith3]

Ya just insurance since we only have 3 tackles on the roster. Probably just the best Tackle that Ozzie could sign for the vet minimum. Nothing to panic about here, Oz is still looking. Once the Ngata contract is finished then we can start to speculate.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' timestamp='1313881804' post='758398']
I hope people don't start overreacting to this signing. Obviously Ozzie doesn't think that this guy will be the answer to all of our problems at OT, probably just trying to add an extra body into the mix. I noticed that Jah Reid played almost the entire game yesterday, maybe we just need someone to take reps in the game or insurance in case Reid gets hurt. Besides Harewood, who else do we have to play? We've also moved Cousins to OG, removing him from the mix. I don't think this signing means much of anything really, Levoir will probably not outplay Reid or see any playing time in the regular season.

Also, I'm sure we signed him for cheap. It shouldn't prevent us from going after a better OT after teams start cutting down their rosters.
[/quote]

This. We need depth at Tackle. I don't think anyone is expecting him to be the starter, but if someone gets hurt now we have an experienced backup. He has good size and can probably fill in if needed.

[TDubbs]

Huge guy... experienced veteran coming from a great organization. Nothing more then a quality depth signing.

[PuRock]

Eh. Just a big OT. Nothing wrong with adding another potential body to the mix.

[ed.s52]

If this means we will NEVER put Cousins at RT, I'm all for it.

[Gordo52]

Ozzie knows what hes doing.

[jimmysmith3]

[quote name='ed.s52' timestamp='1313885026' post='758429']
If this means we will NEVER put Cousins at RT, I'm all for it.
[/quote]
Hahaha, I couldn't agree more.

[flynismo]

Who?

[SecretAgentMan]

Free Agent Checklist
CB check Jimmy Smith
HB check Ricky Williams/ Anthony Allen
SS check Pollard
LB check Kindle and Kruger are stepping up, meaning we won't need another linebacker till next year
WR check Lee Evans
FB check Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeach
OT check, this guy
QB nope, not yet
C check if Rabach stays healthy.

[xxhighriser]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1313890397' post='758529']
Free Agent Checklist
CB check Jimmy Smith
HB check Ricky Williams/ Anthony Allen
SS check Pollard
LB check Kindle and Kruger are stepping up, meaning we won't need another linebacker till next year
WR check Lee Evans
FB check Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeach
OT check, this guy
QB nope, not yet
C check if Rabach stays healthy.
[/quote]
I definitely believe Tyrod could be the backup. Everyone is making it seem like he is the starter and has to be ready by week 1, which is not gonna be the case. Joe doesn't go down often so i think Tyrod has a lot of time to improve on his mechanics and understanding for the game. So far i'm impressed with him enough to give him a shot.

[reediddy]

Maybe this guy can somehow compete for LT and move Oher back to RT? I still don't understand why the coaching staff tried to fix something that wasn't broken, when we had Oher at RT. He was MAULIN people. He is an average LT, hands down. Put him back where he can succeed

[SecretAgentMan]

They say Willie Colon is good, Oher is better at RT. I hope he can mentor Oher, and Oher could be a good LT, and Reid can learn from hi. Too.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1313892575' post='758572']
They say Willie Colon is good, Oher is better at RT. I hope he can mentor Oher, and Oher could be a good LT, and Reid can learn from hi. Too.
[/quote]
Colon? Didn't he just sign a 5 year deal with Pitt?

[POE]

A little off topic but I thought Ramon Harewood looked pretty good on the left side last night. Granted he was going against some backups but looked strong. I'm not saying anything bad about Oher cause I feel he is solid but Harewood, if healthy, could be a promising back up in case of injury and maybe more if he can continue to improve.

Mark Levoir seems like a solid pickup. Nothing spectacular but definitely a guy that can provide competition and depth. I have always felt that all of these big olineman can be good if put in the right situation and at the right position. Either way it works out I believe that our oline will produce when it matters and depth was the big issue and this signing helps that out.

[PuRock]

[quote name='POE' timestamp='1313894250' post='758595']
A little off topic but I thought Ramon Harewood looked pretty good on the left side last night. Granted he was going against some backups but looked strong. I'm not saying anything bad about Oher cause I feel he is solid but Harewood, if healthy, could be a promising back up in case of injury and maybe more if he can continue to improve.

Mark Levoir seems like a solid pickup. Nothing spectacular but definitely a guy that can provide competition and depth. I have always felt that all of these big olineman can be good if put in the right situation and at the right position. Either way it works out I believe that our oline will produce when it matters and depth was the big issue and this signing helps that out.
[/quote]

Considering how raw he is, just getting on the practice field this week missing most of TC and the season last year, he looked pretty good. I'm hoping to go back and rewatch how he did specifically.

[sozo91]

Might be of interest: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QviSo2F9jJQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QviSo2F9jJQ[/url]

General consensus from Pats forums indicates that he is a solid player, but probably would have missed the 53 man roster due to Maneri's performance as of late. He also worked out as guard in the preseason, so I think he might be a versatile player.

[JoeCool#5]

Regardless of the Pats asking Mark Levoir to take a play cut, they obviously thought some what highly of him , in order to give him the responsibility to protect Tom Brady's back. Worse case scenario, he provides much needed depth to a injury plague line. Best case scenario, we have a new LT and move Oher back to RT.

[indianstick]

This is def a move for depth..im glad cousins did good at rg, he looked a lot more natural at that position especially on run blocking. He could end up being someone who can step into that position if someone goes down.

I am glad that reid improved from week 1. It looks like with two more weeks he might be ready to start for us and i think this move proves that the coaching staff is expecting him to be ready to start week 1, but i wouldn't be suprised if we got another olineman after final cuts

[The Raven]

Camp body. He might amount to something, but I don't think he will. He's depth. Idk if he's quality depth, but he's depth. He's worth a look, and thats what camp is for.

[PurpleReign92]

If this Levoir can play back up left tackle then this is good enough for me...

[stan]

I don't believe Oher will be moved to right tackle. He is getting paid too much. Levoir is servicable and probably can hold his own at right tackle otherwise he would never have been on the Patriots' roster at all. I think this guy just over valued himself and got cut. We need an experienced veteran right now. I aggree he isn't King Kong but is servicable. We might be pleasantly surprised because I think that is all we need at RT. As long as he is better than Harry Swayne. UGH!

[stan]

Just watched the video on Levoir. I didn't know he played left tackle protecting Brady's blind side. The Pats have a plethora of tackles. They didn't need him. May have been a numbers game situation like he isn't Pro Bowl material. OK. Now I'm a little more positive on this guy. He might have a break-out season if he gets a chance to start.