Bryant McKinnie To Ravens

[The Raven]

[quote name='Mick0311' timestamp='1314288361' post='763805']


I have to disagree with you a bit. I have always read the "Ray will whip him into shape" as more of a "Ray will motivate him to be a better player", rather than a physical or verbal motivation. That being said, it doesn't matter what side of the ball he is on. When he sees Ray Lewis at practice, in the locker room, in the weight room, in the film room, and in the game working his butt off, it's hard to have motivation and discipline problems around someone like that. Usually the guilt takes over for not working as hard and you pick up your play. Ray is inspirational, we all know that. I think he fosters an environment that makes you not want to let someone down; because you know, no matter your age or experience, you are in the presence of one of the greatest ever, and that is motivation.
[/quote]

While Ray does have an impact on motivation and inspiration to players, his impact is not as great as it seems. Gaither has work ethic issues, he was a Raven. Ellerbe has/had maturity issues/work ethic issues, he's a Raven. Even Suggs had an issue with weight in the 2009 season... Ray does not automatically make everybody work hard. Ray and Reed do not automatically inspire players, at least, their effect is not as great as people assume.

[FerrariFan87]

I think a line of McKinnie-Grubbs-Birk-Yanda-Oher is as formidable as any in the league IF Mount McKinnie is motivated and in shape.

[colljb9]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1314283480' post='763699']
Not a fan of his motivation issues, I dont wanna see us [i]give him [/i]the job at LT, I really hope he does better than Oher would have.

I think this confirms that the organization thinks Oher is a RT, but an elite one. [/quote]

I agree here, i said a similar thing in the grubbs vs yanda argument but we can't penalize Oher saying he's not as good as we want him to be just because he cant play 2 different positions at an elite level like grubbs cant. Grubbs plays left guard at a very good if not elite level, so if Oher plays RT at an elite level why the heck do we want him at LT? As someone mentioned his rookie year he was the second best RT in the league..as a rookie. I dont want a guy like that who solidifies an entire side of the line switching back and forth, i want him at RT only. Just because Vonta leach is big and can hit people and has great awareness you dont see us trying to switch him to linebacker. The only question i have ever had for the front office and ozzie smith is while they thought Oher could make the switch in the nfl (which i have no problem with it was a terriffic idea by the front office), if he played at such an elite level at RT...why not try to address the LT position in the draft instead (but that may be due to the fact there's just not that many quality LT out there).

[Bltravens]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1314290057' post='763843']
I think a line of McKinnie-Grubbs-Birk-Yanda-Oher is as formidable as any in the league IF Mount McKinnie is motivated and in shape.
[/quote]
In shape and healthy it looks like a very solid Oline. However we dont know what we're going to get from McKinnie and we dont know how long Birk's knee(s) hold up. Last quarter of last year he was getting next to no push on DTs.

[colljb9]

[quote name='RoflDogs' timestamp='1314288333' post='763803']
There are 3 really good LTs coming out of next year's draft too (Datko, Kalil, Martin)
[/quote]

Only problem is really good LTs dont last till pick 32, we're either going to have to trade up to at least the top 15 and pretty much do what the falcons did by hurting their 2011 and 2012 round picks for one player. Now if we have the confidence we really dont have many holes and can use a draft to do this its worth it, but if not...our big 2 defensive guys arent getting any younger and we will need replacements

[NextManUp#52]

Has anyone seen McKinnie yet? He came in to take his physical, no pictures? Has he shown up in Owings Mills today? Where/how is this 6'8" 350 pound man hiding? Seriously, I'd be interested in seeing how he looks, but nobody has posted a picture/video of him since he signed, or maybe I missed it.


If McKinnie is indeed going to play LT, what is the chance he can be ready for the Steelers in just 17 days? His readiness could become a problem, I have to imagine that Oher will play LT tonight, and if the Ravens are unsure of whether McKinnie is going to be ready by Sep 11, than I'd imagine they will want him to get reps in last preseason game at LT as well. So will Oher be getting ready for RT in practice only? Could be an issue.

I am done with the doom and gloom, and must say that I feel great about the Ravens turning a unit (O-Line) that looked about as bad as it could be, into a potential strength, in the matter of 10 days or so. A starting unit of LT McKinnie LG Grubbs C Birk RG Yanda RT Oher has the potential to be a top line in terms of both run blocking and pass protection, and guys like OT Levoir, OT Harewood, OT Reid, OG Cousins, and one or two of our young center prospects, should provide solid depth.

[scrock]

[quote name='NextManUp#52' timestamp='1314299914' post='764012']
[b]Has anyone seen McKinnie yet? He came in to take his physical, no pictures? Has he shown up in Owings Mills today? Where/how is this 6'8" 350 pound man hiding? Seriously, I'd be interested in seeing how he looks, but nobody has posted a picture/video of him since he signed, or maybe I missed it.[/b]


If McKinnie is indeed going to play LT, what is the chance he can be ready for the Steelers in just 17 days? His readiness could become a problem, I have to imagine that Oher will play LT tonight, and if the Ravens are unsure of whether McKinnie is going to be ready by Sep 11, than I'd imagine they will want him to get reps in last preseason game at LT as well. So will Oher be getting ready for RT in practice only? Could be an issue.

I am done with the doom and gloom, and must say that I feel great about the Ravens turning a unit (O-Line) that looked about as bad as it could be, into a potential strength, in the matter of 10 days or so. A starting unit of LT McKinnie LG Grubbs C Birk RG Yanda RT Oher has the potential to be a top line in terms of both run blocking and pass protection, and guys like OT Levoir, OT Harewood, OT Reid, OG Cousins, and one or two of our young center prospects, should provide solid depth.
[/quote]

Reports said he would be available for interview after the game tonight even though he's not expected to play, we'll see if that actually happens and video would be online here

[FlaccosFlock]

[quote name='RoflDogs' timestamp='1314288333' post='763803']
There are 3 really good LTs coming out of next year's draft too (Datko, Kalil, Martin)
[/quote]

I would throw in Zebrie Sanders in there, who I think can play left or right tackle at the next level. I like Datko and Kalil a lot though.

[Runnin Raven]

I think we need to take McKinnie's twitter account away. Dude doesn't need any distractions.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Runnin Raven' timestamp='1314302356' post='764066']
I think we need to take McKinnie's twitter account away. Dude doesn't need any distractions.
[/quote]

He's a big, big twitterer. If you take that away, he'll probably have temper tantrums. Keep him happy.

[The Raven]

Oher and Reid are looking pretty rough tonight from what I've seen. I just got home from practice so I've missed a bit. I'll say one of Orakpo's sack looked to just be a team fail, as Oher looked at the inside gap, and never even looked at Orakpo. The blocking scheme probably would have worked had their DB not blitzed as well. That's just a protection scheme fail. It looks like this signing is a good idea. I dont know what happened to Oher though, he looked pretty good the past two games. I guess we just met a strong tandem in Orakpo and Kerrigan. Off topic, I think Orakpo and Kerrigan are the next great OLB tandem, the next Harrison/Woodley imo.

[lowrider]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1314321275' post='765202']
Oher and Reid are looking pretty rough tonight from what I've seen. I just got home from practice so I've missed a bit. I'll say one of Orakpo's sack looked to just be a team fail, as Oher looked at the inside gap, and never even looked at Orakpo. The blocking scheme probably would have worked had their DB not blitzed as well. That's just a protection scheme fail. It looks like this signing is a good idea. I dont know what happened to Oher though, he looked pretty good the past two games. I guess we just met a strong tandem in Orakpo and Kerrigan. Off topic, I think Orakpo and Kerrigan are the next great OLB tandem, the next Harrison/Woodley imo.
[/quote]
Just be happy you didn't watch the whole game. it was really frustrating. I mean the Redskins did play well but our offensive line showed inconsistency and made mental mistakes. We should not be playing like that against the Redskins. I think the McKinnie thing was a distraction. Heres to hoping he can pull this offensive line together and provide some consistency and leadership. And we need Yanda and Birk back. That would help a lot too.

[colljb9]

[quote name='lowrider' timestamp='1314328909' post='766375']
Just be happy you didn't watch the whole game. it was really frustrating. I mean the Redskins did play well but our offensive line showed inconsistency and made mental mistakes. We should not be playing like that against the Redskins. I think the McKinnie thing was a distraction. Heres to hoping he can pull this offensive line together and provide some consistency and leadership. And we need Yanda and Birk back. That would help a lot too.
[/quote]

Just to let you know the redskins have actually made improvements to their defense. They got one of the better nose tackles in the nfl in barry cofield and are quickly rising with one of the best pass rushing outside linebacker tandems in the nfl. This was a good defense in spots and there were tough assignments for the ravens OL to pick up. That being said they were still inconsistent and need to pick it up but some starters were out so i look for it to get way better.

[lowrider]

[quote name='colljb9' timestamp='1314329287' post='766423']

Just to let you know the redskins have actually made improvements to their defense. They got one of the better nose tackles in the nfl in barry cofield and are quickly rising with one of the best pass rushing outside linebacker tandems in the nfl. This was a good defense in spots and there were tough assignments for the ravens OL to pick up. That being said they were still inconsistent and need to pick it up but some starters were out so i look for it to get way better.
[/quote]
I'm aware that the redskins defense is tough. They got a pretty good secondary and a very solid defense overall. But the offensive line in the first half just was terrible. Second half was better, but we are playing the one team that gives it to us every year in week one. We can't come out and play like we did tonight. The defense too. Didn't get that much pressure on the qb like I was expecting and we gave up big running plays. We did not play up to our potential.

[Ed_Reed20]

I haven't been keeping up with Ravens news the past few days and was somewhat surprised to see "Ravens" next to McKinnie's name on Rotoworld a little while ago. As they said, if McKinnie is in shape and motivated, this could be a huge signing.

Long-term though, I'm wondering if the team will ever go into a season intending to play Oher at LT again.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1314369606' post='767193']
I haven't been keeping up with Ravens news the past few days and was somewhat surprised to see "Ravens" next to McKinnie's name on Rotoworld a little while ago. As they said, if McKinnie is in shape and motivated, this could be a huge signing.

Long-term though, I'm wondering if the team will ever go into a season intending to play Oher at LT again.
[/quote]

I don't think so. He looks lost out there and doesn't have a LT mentality.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1314369793' post='767198']

I don't think so. He looks lost out there and doesn't have a LT mentality.
[/quote]

Agreed. Depending on how McKinnie plays this season, the organization may have to draft a LT early next year.

[PurpleReign92]

This was the Ravens Blockbuster move. I think this offensive line with Oher back at Right tackle will put fear in the hearts of Belichick and Ryan...

[scrock]

Harbaugh said he had a conversation with McKinnie, he is a good guy, smart, he's been working out, he's been dieting, eating riight, etc

Also, I heard someone say that McKinnie will be a quick study and be ready to go for the season opener

McKinnie - Grubbs - Birk/Mattison - Yanda - Oher

thats a helluva OL right there, I think Oher will be a Pro Bowl player every year at RT

[Natty Boh]

Love this signing and its not a desperation move. If they signed him the day after he was cut, that would be desperate but they waited until he showed them he was getting back in shape.

[mhead66]

On Ravens Insider, Kevin Van Valkenburg wrote an article about McKinnie signing.

He says it was done because Oher was never going to be a Pro-Bowl LT, that RT without Oher was a disaster, and that - long term - paying Oher at RT would be cheaper, because LT's make significantly more. He said moving Oher to RT needed to be permanent.

However, within the article, Van Valkenburg is [b]very[/b] pessimistic about McKinnie, about his ability to contribute - especially in time for Pittsburgh.

Some of the lowlights:

"At worst, the Ravens must figure they can bring McKinnie along slowly, get him on a steady diet of baked chicken and steamed broccoli, and ask him to provide depth for the first four weeks of the season... I think asking him, just three weeks from now, to slide laterally and block James Harrison every time Flacco drops back to pass is borderline insanity, but we'll see what the Ravens' plans are. Maybe it was just as insane to ask Jah Reid to block LaMarr Woodley."

"I'd be stunned if McKinnie suddenly turned into a savior. There is a reason he sat on the open market for three weeks after the Vikings cut him. Players in decline don't typically reverse that process after nine years in the league. But with a better fitness program and (you'd hope) a better attitude, who knows."

Of course, I don't see any other option, unless McKinnie totally fails in practice / vs. Atlanta. Yanda + Oher at RT solidifies that side, but who else would play LT? LeVoir? Cousins?

[url="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/08/why_mckinnie_feels_like_a_shortterm_solution_to_a_longterm_p.html#more"]http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/08/why_mckinnie_feels_like_a_shortterm_solution_to_a_longterm_p.html#more[/url]

[scrock]

dont believe everything u read

honestly if he's in shape and he learns the system which he should be able to...it will take time for the OL to get familiar and for them to gel as a unit but I think McKinnie will be an improvement over Oher

[Thepurplehaze]

[quote name='mhead66' timestamp='1314414146' post='768286']
On Ravens Insider, Kevin Van Valkenburg wrote an article about McKinnie signing.

He says it was done because Oher was never going to be a Pro-Bowl LT, that RT without Oher was a disaster, and that - long term - paying Oher at RT would be cheaper, because LT's make significantly more. He said moving Oher to RT needed to be permanent.

However, within the article, Van Valkenburg is [b]very[/b] pessimistic about McKinnie, about his ability to contribute - especially in time for Pittsburgh.

Some of the lowlights:

"At worst, the Ravens must figure they can bring McKinnie along slowly, get him on a steady diet of baked chicken and steamed broccoli, and ask him to provide depth for the first four weeks of the season... I think asking him, just three weeks from now, to slide laterally and block James Harrison every time Flacco drops back to pass is borderline insanity, but we'll see what the Ravens' plans are. Maybe it was just as insane to ask Jah Reid to block LaMarr Woodley."

"I'd be stunned if McKinnie suddenly turned into a savior. There is a reason he sat on the open market for three weeks after the Vikings cut him. Players in decline don't typically reverse that process after nine years in the league. But with a better fitness program and (you'd hope) a better attitude, who knows."

Of course, I don't see any other option, unless McKinnie totally fails in practice / vs. Atlanta. Yanda + Oher at RT solidifies that side, but who else would play LT? LeVoir? Cousins?

[url="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/08/why_mckinnie_feels_like_a_shortterm_solution_to_a_longterm_p.html#more"]http://weblogs.balti...erm_p.html#more[/url]
[/quote]
I wouldn't be VERY Pessimistic about throwing him in there week 1, but it will be quite a gamble. I suppose we'll get a better look at McKinnie's current abilities next week. Then we can start calling for Ozzie's head (once again)...
Until then, at least we know we have 4/5 quality starters at OL.

[scrock]

[quote name='Thepurplehaze' timestamp='1314417365' post='768326']
I wouldn't be VERY Pessimistic about throwing him in there week 1, but it will be quite a gamble. I suppose we'll get a better look at McKinnie's current abilities next week. Then we can start calling for Ozzie's head (once again)...
Until then, at least we know we have 4/5 quality starters at OL.
[/quote]

and even next week how long will they leave him in for? probably 1 series along with the starters..i doubt they'd leave him in to get him work, and risk injury

[PurpleReign92]

Jah Reid is not going to start the season off against the "Steelers, " Enough said!
McKinnie on one side and Oher on the other. We Ready at Offensive line!!!!!

[BmoreRav]

Just came across an article that breaks down McKinnie's contract. [url="http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/ravens/ravens-breaking-down-bryant-mckinnie-s-million-max-value-deal/article_81710ad6-d0bf-11e0-a04b-001cc4c002e0.html"]http://www.carrollco...1cc4c002e0.html[/url]

[1/28/01]

[quote name='BmoreRav' timestamp='1314460445' post='768547']
Just came across an article that breaks down McKinnie's contract. [url="http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/ravens/ravens-breaking-down-bryant-mckinnie-s-million-max-value-deal/article_81710ad6-d0bf-11e0-a04b-001cc4c002e0.html"]http://www.carrollco...1cc4c002e0.html[/url]
[/quote]

"deal includes a $300,000 weight bonus" - thats just sad!!!

[Moderator 3]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1314460507' post='768548']

"deal includes a $300,000 weight bonus" - thats just sad!!![/quote]

Nah, that's just smart.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Moderator 3' timestamp='1314460635' post='768550']
Nah, that's just smart.
[/quote]

Of course...smart for the Ravens no doubt, but sad for McKinnie

[Bltravens]

[quote name='PurpleReign92' timestamp='1314452468' post='768440']
Jah Reid is not going to start the season off against the "Steelers, " Enough said!
McKinnie on one side and Oher on the other. We Ready at Offensive line!!!!!
[/quote]
our split back shotgun formation is going to include Leach or Williams in pass protection that entire game though.