Ravens Sign Former Bengal OG Bobbie Williams

[Ravenseconbeast]

I still wish we drafted Bobby Massie (ole miss) instead of Gino Grokowski.

Im hearing he is a complete stud right now in Arizona Cardinal's camp

[NaveSenrag]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1339197894' post='1087238']
[b][font=trebuchet ms, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#4b0082]what does this signing say about our present situation on the O-line? why can't our FO just groom and then thrust and trust our young bucks in the game? we keep signing all of these old cats! smh![/color][/font][/b]
[/quote]
Using old cats to train the new kids and only putting the new kids in when they're ready is the difference between a team that never has an off year and a team that goes from superbowl contenders to the first pick of the draft.

[rmw10]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1339255922' post='1087379']
I still wish we drafted Bobby Massie (ole miss) instead of Gino Grokowski.

Im hearing he is a complete stud right now in Arizona Cardinal's camp
[/quote]

Massie is a full-blown RT. We already have Reid, Oher, and potentially Osemele at RT. There was no need for him. Gradkowski is being groomed to be the future C, where Massie will not be playing.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1339255922' post='1087379']
I still wish we drafted Bobby Massie (ole miss) instead of Gino Grokowski.

Im hearing he is a complete stud right now in Arizona Cardinal's camp
[/quote]

Where would he play? RT? Uhh, Oher? Reid? Even Osemele? I'm not an Oher fan and still think getting Gino is better for the line than getting Massie.

[Dubs]

Thats rough to Gradkowski - I absolutely love him, he is gonna be a very unheralded player i suspect and one of the more consistent centers in the league. Massie could be good also but I think it was the perfect pick for us.

On topic I like the signing, especially if it comes down to a situation where someone needs to be just thrown in for a couple of games . Plus he should help/mentor KO and Gradkowski along with the others

[tigerave]

Must have gotten him cheap,Hes pretty old.

[DieHardRavensFan52]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1339182088' post='1087146']
[u][color=#0084b4][b]Baltimore Ravens[/b]‏[/color][s][color=#66b5d2]@[/color][/s][b][color=#0084b4]Ravens[/color][/b][/u]
The [url="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23Ravens"][s][color=#66b5d2]#[/color][/s][b][color=#0084b4]Ravens[/color][/b][/url] have agreed in principal to a 2-year deal with 12-year veteran guard Bobbie Williams.

He ended on IR last year, previously of the bengals.

Does this say anything baout Osemele or Reid? or purely adding depth?
[/quote]Way too early to say anything about Osemele, if he's healthy he's a good run blocker. Veteran addition like Williams might hel anchor the young guys.

[Free Agent]

In 2010, [url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/06/14/2010-pass-blocking-efficiency-guards-and-centers/"]PFF graded Bobbie Williams[/url] as the top, yes, the top pass blocking guard in the NFL. That was just two seasons ago. I'm hopeful he can get back to that 2010 form. If so, we could have picked up a very good, although very temporary, replacement to Ben Grubbs. Hopefully he can man the position for a season or two, until Osemele is ready to start.

[Radinho84]

solid depth. nothing more-nothing less...

[1/28/01]

Original Gangsta!

[ThePurpleWall]

[quote name='tigerave' timestamp='1339363558' post='1087699']
Must have gotten him cheap,Hes pretty old.
[/quote]

what?

[757RavensFan]

Well since it's been revealed that KO will be out until training camp, I'm convinced this was an emergency need signing and not for just depth!

[itsteekay]

[quote name='Radinho84' timestamp='1339581756' post='1088926']
solid depth. nothing more-nothing less...
[/quote]

[b]1. Bobbie Williams[/b]
How Bobbie Williams has avoided the Pro Bowl in the last couple of years is beyond all of the team here at Pro Football Focus. All he does is consistently put in strong seasons as both a run and pass blocker where even this year (as the best player on an improved team and offensive line) he didn’t receive credit for his borderline All-Pro calibre season, leading us to conclude that some players are destined to never receive the kudos their performance merits. In the last 2 seasons (by our grading system) Williams has only put in 2 truly poor games (W14 this season at Minnesota and W5 of 2008 at Dallas), a quite remarkable achievement for any player, especially given the lack of continuity on the Bengals line these past two years. Even though he is getting on in years, he should still have some good years left in the tank and would be an asset and upgrade to most teams in the league if the Bengals don’t give him the contract he deserves. Williams is the marquee unrestricted free agent on the offensive line this year.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2010/02/18/2010-free-agency-interior-offensive-line/

[rmw10]

[quote name='itsteekay' timestamp='1339721711' post='1089948']
[b]1. Bobbie Williams[/b]
How Bobbie Williams has avoided the Pro Bowl in the last couple of years is beyond all of the team here at Pro Football Focus. All he does is consistently put in strong seasons as both a run and pass blocker where even this year (as the best player on an improved team and offensive line) he didn’t receive credit for his borderline All-Pro calibre season, leading us to conclude that some players are destined to never receive the kudos their performance merits. In the last 2 seasons (by our grading system) Williams has only put in 2 truly poor games (W14 this season at Minnesota and W5 of 2008 at Dallas), a quite remarkable achievement for any player, especially given the lack of continuity on the Bengals line these past two years. Even though he is getting on in years, he should still have some good years left in the tank and would be an asset and upgrade to most teams in the league if the Bengals don’t give him the contract he deserves. Williams is the marquee unrestricted free agent on the offensive line this year.

[url="http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2010/02/18/2010-free-agency-interior-offensive-line/"]http://www.profootba...offensive-line/[/url]
[/quote]

That was from 2010. He's recovering from a broken ankle, and he's 2 years older. Not saying he's bad, but that article overstates what he offers now.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='rmw10' timestamp='1339721920' post='1089953']
That was from 2010. He's recovering from a broken ankle, and he's 2 years older. Not saying he's bad, but that article overstates what he offers now.
[/quote]


[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva][size=3][left][color=#008000][size=1][b]Bobbie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals[/b][/size][/color][/left][/size][/font]
[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva][size=3][left][color=#808080][b]Age as of 1st September, 2012:[/b][/color] 35[/left][/size][/font]
[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva][size=3][left][color=#808080][b]Key Stat:[/b][/color] Only managed 575 snaps this season due to injuries and suspension.[/left][/size][/font]
[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Verdana, Geneva][size=3][left][color=#808080][b]Behind the Numbers:[/b][/color] We round out our Top 10 list at guard with a couple of guys who simply have to answer the question, how much have you got left in the tank? We start with Bobbie Williams who, after a late season ankle injury, only going on injured reserve in mid-December, is unlikely to sign early in the offseason. Undoubtedly entering the twilight of his career, Williams may still have a year or two left in the tank and even in limited game time this season, showed that quality. He graded out as our 10th-best run blocker in a season where most guards struggled in this regard. The Bengals proved unable to adequately replace him this season with both Mike McGlynn and Clint Boling struggling, Williams still has value to them and would be a decent stop gap for a number of teams.[/left][/size][/font]

[JO_75]

Saw on Rotoworld that Bobbie Williams was installed at Left Guard immediately when he joined the team. I think this is a good pick up but man I hope KO gets an opportunity to win the starting LG job and it isn't handed to Williams. In fact I was thinking KO was going to start immediately at LG but guess it's back to not letting our rookies play and just have them on the bench.

[The Raven]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1341791550' post='1096238']
Saw on Rotoworld that Bobbie Williams was installed at Left Guard immediately when he joined the team. I think this is a good pick up but man I hope KO gets an opportunity to win the starting LG job and it isn't handed to Williams. In fact I was thinking KO was going to start immediately at LG but guess it's back to not letting our rookies play and just have them on the bench.
[/quote]

It's called starting the player thats capable of starting. Its stupid to start the rookie if he's not capable of starting and playing well. Thats stupid! Thats how you lose games; starting players that shouldn't start. KO will have his opportunity, but he will have to earn it. He's not an established guard like Bobbie is. I like to avoid signing and starting vet stop gaps but I'd rather sign a vet than start a rookie that isn't ready.

[berad]

I was lukewarm on this pickup but I'm starting to like it more; especially after Williams gave a very Pollard-esque interview a few weeks ago, 'I like hitting and being physical'.

He's older but he could give us a solid year or two in the mold of Willie Anderson, Bryant McKinnie, etc

[ravefan52]

Competition and Depth

[GrimCoconut]

There's nothing wrong with having a guy learn behind a veteran for a year or a few games. What you need to consider is that Williams is proven in this league and KO isn't. You also need to remember Williams has had his share of injuries, so it is still possible KO can start this year, it just might not be the first game.

I like this move myself