O-line: Is this the worst group we've ever had?

[Ravenseconbeast]

This is what we have as our starting line-up as we speak:

[b]Oher(LT?)- Bobbie(another old x'ed out player) - Birk(old)- Yanda - RT(some random undrafted rookie)[/b]


McKinnie's overweight and old. (Even with losing weight he is terrible)

Jah Reid is injured, Osemele is injured (both 2nd time being injured).

Gino (as suspected) is in no man's land eating up the roster spot.



How can we possibly keep ourself on field with this group? As bad as last year's O-line was, we got much much worse from last year.

That talk about 'trying' no-huddle offense is completely out of the door. Considering how fast this offense is going to be taken out of field. So now we are back to doing the same offense scheme we are used to seeing: Killing time, run-run-throw-kick.


This is definately NOT what I was expected to see when Ozzie promised to upgrade our O-line (#1 priority)

[ROH522155]

I think it's going to be better than expected. Turn the clock back to training camp 2008 and you'd find threads identical to this one and things worked out pretty good then.

[The Raven]

Oh noo... The oline looks bad after the first day of camp. We suck so much we're not gonna win any games. Lets just throw in the towel guys.

It's not time to be concerned just yet. We have time.

And actually, the no huddle could help the offensive line perform even better.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='ROH522155' timestamp='1343409642' post='1104165']
I think it's going to be better than expected. Turn the clock back to training camp 2008 and you'd find threads identical to this one and things worked out pretty good then.
[/quote]
I remember the panic after 2007, but 2007 was injury riddled and guys were playing out of position. 2008 we had Gaither, Grubbs, Brown, Yanda and Anderson. Our Oline was pretty good that year for having a bunch of fresh babies on it.

[Ravens4Real]

On paper, at this point in time, the O line is not where it needs to be to win in the playoffs and def. not the SB. Mckinnie is really going to throw off our season plans if he decides to stay away from football.

[The King]

It looks pretty bad right now, but even if it's as bad as it works it's still ridiculous to call it the worst group we've ever had. It was pretty terrible back there in '96 and '97, and we had some ups and downs between 2000 and 2008. It might be the worst group we've had in teh Harbaugh era, but worst of all time is a bit of a stretch.

I still want to believe in Oher, and Yanda is a great player. Williams looks like he'll step up to be the starter at LG and do the job pretty well. The real weak spot, if McKinnie gets dropped as I believe is increasingly likely, the only real weakness is at RT. That could be a big problem, but we can work around it.

[justifythegame]

I think the OL is going to be as good (or bad depending on how you look at it pass vs run) as they have been the last few years. A few injuries now doesn't mean they wont be ready to go during the season either. We aren't going to have the best OL in football, thats for sure...and we never have. But they will still play good imo. We don't have great pass protectors, but we have excellent run blockers. We may have lost grubbs but we signed bobbie williams...who though old, is capable of playing at the same level (the only downside being we might only get a year or 2 out of him). Matt Birk is old, he can't handle elite tackles like Wilfork, but i would still rank him in the top 10 to 15 centers in the nfl, he can still play well against most DLs. I trust what ozzie is doing like opting for Birk and passing on Jason Brown...who ended up regressing and playing horrible the last few seasons on the Rams. We are set at RG. I don't know about you guys but the limited time Jah Reid has played...he has looked really good to me. I think if given a chance he could make for a really good RT. Cameron has said Oher has been getting alot better, how he does at LT remains to be seen. And i see Osmelie becoming a starter at LG or LT by his 2nd season. The young C we drafted might be the future at C and if he is not they will take another look in a future draft. I think ozzie is doing what he is doing best, getting the best bang for the buck and having a mix of veterans and young future starters. They might not be an elite group but i think they will do enough to make the team competitive. Like previous seasons, they might leave something to be desired in pass protection (tho its not like Flacco throws as many times as Drew Brees), but i think they will do a really good job opening holes for Rice.

[Moderator 2]

Oneil Cousins anyone?

[hawkprey]

Birk just had a procedure done on his legs and probably feels fresher this year than last year, where he missed time because of his knees in TC. Word on Oher is that he's understanding the game better and is Cam's pick to break out this year. Jack Cornell has impressed as a UDFA. Osemele will be a beast at LG once he is healthy (he will return to the field in a few days). The O-line has a lot of questions but some promise. At least it's better than the last few years when we KNEW the O-line would be sub-par.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Moderator 2' timestamp='1343411355' post='1104197']
Oneil Cousins anyone?
[/quote]

Why not? He could be an improvement over whoever our 5th string RT is lol

[cobrajet]

I admit things are looking a little discomforting right now, I will give you that, but then again these guys could step up. Things have a strange way sometimes of working out, even for the better.

[ellicottraven]

I think you are overreacting! I think with McKinnie perhaps not being at LT, I believe we actually upgraded our O-line for the future. Just think about it this way: If K.O or Jah Reid can lock down the RT spot and the one that is left over backs up Bobbie Williams this year, and Gino works behind Birk and learn well we will have this line in the near future:

Oher - LT
K.O - LG
Gino - Center
Yanda - RG
Jah Reid - RT

With this line, we will not only be young but strong and impressive as well! So please look at the bright side and don't be so glum!

[ravensfan2430]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1343411938' post='1104209']
Why not? He could be an improvement over whoever our 5th string RT is lol
[/quote]

honestly, I think Cousins was one of the worst linemen I've seen... on the Ravens

[PuRock]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1343409961' post='1104173']
I remember the panic after 2007, but 2007 was injury riddled and guys were playing out of position. 2008 we had Gaither, Grubbs, Brown, Yanda and Anderson. Our Oline was pretty good that year for having a bunch of fresh babies on it.
[/quote]

I was just about to say the same thing. But I see that you already beat me to this point. Deep breaths people.

I am a big proponent of giving major attention to the O-Line. I'm not the biggest fan of the line as it is right now. But I will withhold judgement until I see how this group pans out. They might very well surprise us like we were surprised in 2008.

[The Raven]

[quote name='ellicottraven' timestamp='1343412305' post='1104217']
I think you are overreacting! I think with McKinnie perhaps not being at LT, I believe we actually upgraded our O-line for the future. Just think about it this way: If K.O or Jah Reid can lock down the RT spot and the one that is left over backs up Bobbie Williams this year, and Gino works behind Birk and learn well we will have this line in the near future:

Oher - LT
K.O - LG
Gino - Center
Yanda - RG
Jah Reid - RT

With this line, we will not only be young but strong and impressive as well! So please look at the bright side and don't be so glum!
[/quote]

That line has the potential to be great, but that's all it is. Potential. If that ends up our line for the next 5 years or so we might be alright

[ROH522155]

Yes Cousins would probably make my Ravens all time scrubs team haha

[PuRock]

Also lets not write off Bobbie Williams as being old and ineffective. Reminds me a lot of the Willie Anderson signing a few years back. He could be a very solid rock in the line for us this year.

[Yum Chickens]

Wow. That's incredible. Panic is ablaze across our community it seems. Not one week ago did I hear people talking about the best O Line we've ever had.

After reading this, I looked up today, and the sky was in fact not falling.

I love how your description of a fourth round pick as "eating up roster spot"

Do you have the same opinion of LQ, Reid, or other reserves?

[Ed_Reed20]

I'll wait to see them in action for a few games before labelling them the worst.

[berad]

2010 was the worst in the Harbaugh era. Chris Chester was TERRIBLE.

It remains to be seen how this unit will do. But, seriously, it's the second day of TC, at least let them hit the field.

[mhead66]

[quote name='Yum Chickens' timestamp='1343413800' post='1104242']
Wow. That's incredible. Panic is ablaze across our community it seems. Not one week ago did I hear people talking about the best O Line we've ever had.

After reading this, I looked up today, and the sky was in fact not falling.

I love how your description of a fourth round pick as "eating up roster spot"

Do you have the same opinion of LQ, Reid, or other reserves?
[/quote]

Not panic. But not the Ostrich Syndrome, either.

With McKinnie out of the equation, the truth is, outside of Yanda, Oher and Birk, the next 7 OLinemen on our roster have never started a game in a Ravens' uniform. Bobbie Wiliams will be 36 and broke his ankle last year, and (it appears) we will be giving our RT his first NFL start against the Bengals on Week One. Also, we don't have a single backup with [b]one[/b] NFL start.

So, no - the sky is [b]not[/b] falling... but OLine is becoming a significant weakness on our team... and saying, "We're the Ravens... of course we'll win!" isn't dealing with reality, either.

Both the Bengals and the Steelers are molding their OLines into real strengths... Pittsburgh has spent 2 first rounders and 2 second rounders in the last 3 years on the OLine. Ozzie better get busy...

[BloodRaven]

It's a awful group. But who knows maybe they end up being more than a sum of their parts?

[Suggs Package]

I'm honestly not that worried.

Bobbie Williams and Matt Birk may be old stopgaps, but they're still above average interior lineman.
Yanda is arguably the best RG in the NFL. We also have young but promisng backups at G/C.

McKinnie's absense isn't going to affect our running game because he was a horrible run blocker anyway. I just hope Cam incorporates more fast developing plays to mask the abscence of McKinnie in pass protection.

If it is that bad, I trust Ozzie to make a key FA signing or trade before the season starts.

[Runnin Raven]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1343414310' post='1104245']
I'll wait to see them in action for a few games before labelling them the worst.
[/quote]
Yep, let's not jump off any bridges yet. It was the first day of TC for Pete's sake. Also don't understand the apparent dissing of KO and Gino. They're just getting started.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='Runnin Raven' timestamp='1343416272' post='1104286']
Yep, let's not jump off any bridges yet. It was the first day of TC for Pete's sake. Also don't understand the apparent dissing of KO and Gino. They're just getting started.
[/quote]

Yea I don't understand it either. Especially considering the fact that Kevin Bryne sad much of the buzz during the offseason in the Castle was about Gino and KO. Seems like the Ravens really like those guys. Now is the time to show and prove for them.

KO returned to practice today with is good. Although if you let some fans tell it, he shouldn't even be on the team because he's a bust. that's funny.

[itsteekay]

[quote name='Runnin Raven' timestamp='1343416272' post='1104286']
Yep, let's not jump off any bridges yet. It was the first day of TC for Pete's sake. Also don't understand the apparent dissing of KO and Gino. They're just getting started.
[/quote]

"Having G/T Kelechi Osemele back is big for the [url="https://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23Ravens"][s]#[/s][b]Ravens[/b][/url]. He can continue to grow and will likely step in at RT with Bryant McKinnie out." via Ravens twitter

It would still be nice to sign another vet for the o-line which I'm sure we'll do.. Marcus McNeil, Kareem McKenzie, Chad Clifton

[Ravensfan23]

Michael Oher LT, Bobbie Williams LG, Matt Birk C, Marshall Yanda RG, KO RT, per Aaron WIlson tweet

That's not a bad Oline, actually. Plus it makes our oline a bit younger, take that john clayton, haha

[hawkprey]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1343418134' post='1104318']
Michael Oher LT, Bobbie Williams LG, Matt Birk C, Marshall Yanda RG, KO RT, per Aaron WIlson tweet

That's not a bad Oline, actually. Plus it makes our oline a bit younger, take that john clayton, haha
[/quote]
Reid will be the RT when he comes back. KO at tackle is out of position. He will be the starting LG soon enough. Then we could have a line where Oher is the second oldest instead of the youngest.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1343418134' post='1104318']
Michael Oher LT, Bobbie Williams LG, Matt Birk C, Marshall Yanda RG, KO RT, per Aaron WIlson tweet

That's not a bad Oline, actually. Plus it makes our oline a bit younger, take that john clayton, haha
[/quote]

That line could be fantastic in the run game! Maulers on the left, and maulers on the right. Pass protection could be scary though.

I wonder if we'll ever experiment with KO at LT now that McKinnie went and screwed us. Just to experiment.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1343418134' post='1104318']
Michael Oher LT, Bobbie Williams LG, Matt Birk C, Marshall Yanda RG, KO RT, per Aaron WIlson tweet

[b]That's not a bad Oline, actually[/b]. Plus it makes our oline a bit younger, take that john clayton, haha
[/quote]

Yes I'm sure James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley are terrified right now.