How do we like Gino Gradkowski as our starting center?

[codizzle]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1361564070' post='1365024']


and how much is that going to cost us?

Birk should've stayed for next year. At least that way, we can ease Gino in. Now we have to pay another center that a lot worse than Birk and he needs to learn our system. Terrible.
[/quote]
Huh?
We could easily sign someone for around the vet min. And be fine

We need to sign a backup just so we have two centers not anything to do with Gino and "easing him in"

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1361564070' post='1365024']
and how much is that going to cost us?

Birk should've stayed for next year. At least that way, we can ease Gino in. Now we have to pay another center that a lot worse than Birk and he needs to learn our system. Terrible.
[/quote]Birk wasn't exactly cheap... And you have to let the young draft picks play. It's Gino's time to shine.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1361564183' post='1365026']
Huh?
We could easily sign someone for around the vet min. And be fine

We need to sign a backup just so we have two centers not anything to do with Gino and "easing him in"
[/quote]

I know, but its just another question Ravens needs to answer. That is all I am saying. Ideally having Birk as starter and easing Gino to start @ weak games is what I would like.

Now his thrust right into action w/ no starting experience right @ thursday opener.

[baltravens]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1361564070' post='1365024']
and how much is that going to cost us?

Birk should've stayed for next year. At least that way, we can ease Gino in. Now we have to pay another center that a lot worse than Birk and he needs to learn our system. Terrible.
[/quote]
I do not know how Gradkowski is developing, but I am still cautious about him being a starter. Has his shoulder injury been delt with?

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1361564070' post='1365024']
and how much is that going to cost us?

Birk should've stayed for next year. At least that way, we can ease Gino in. Now we have to pay another center that a lot worse than Birk and he needs to learn our system. Terrible.
[/quote]

Lmao, what do you think Gino did this year? Do you think he wasn't practicing? Do you think he just sat around and didn't study the play book? Do you really think he doesn't know the system? Dude!!! Get real! He played and excelled in a game against Cincy. Wow!

[Alexir]

Ill put it this way, if our priority is NT and center, lets address NT first

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='baltravens' timestamp='1361564652' post='1365036']
I do not know how Gradkowski is developing, but I am still cautious about him being a starter. Has his shoulder injury been delt with?
[/quote]

I think he had a head injury @ postseason on his limited role as FG blocker

[The Raven]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1361563006' post='1365001']
LOL @ Gradkowski being too small.... Someone nationally must have used that as a snippet and people bite into it hook, line and sinker....

A quick canvassing of some NFL centers tells me.

Jeff Saturday 295 -- Pro Bowl
Ryan Kalil 295
Nick Mangold 307
Nick Hardewick 305
Alex Mack 311
Markice Pouncey 304 -- Pro Bowl
Chris Myers 290 -- Pro Bowl
Max Unger 305 -- Pro Bowl

So can we please stop with the he's too small bit?

Gradkowski will add muscle and weight in the right places if he needs it.
[/quote]

Honestly, he doesn't need too much. He was bullying some of Cincy's linemen in the regular season finale. He's gonna be a baller man.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1361564955' post='1365040']
Lmao, what do you think Gino did this year? Do you think he wasn't practicing? Do you think he just sat around and didn't study the play book? Do you really think he doesn't know the system? Dude!!! Get real! He played and excelled in a game against Cincy. Wow!
[/quote]

what are you talking about? lol

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1361565121' post='1365044']
what are you talking about? lol
[/quote]

I misread your post, and I apologize for that, but my point stands. Gino will be a great center for us next year. We will need a vet backup, but you are overestimating how much they get paid.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1361564498' post='1365034']


I know, but its just another question Ravens needs to answer. That is all I am saying. Ideally having Birk as starter and easing Gino to start @ weak games is what I would like.

Now his thrust right into action w/ no starting experience right @ thursday opener.
[/quote]
Ehh we had to do that with KO.. As a rookie

Gino has had a year to learn the line schemes and to learn blitz pickups.. He will definitely be ready

It's for the best that Birk retired.. We need all the cap space we can get

[Bltravens]

About as comfortable as I could realistically be with a 4th round D1-AA player. I liked what I saw in preseason and in wk 17. Very active, has the same kind of grunt mentality Yanda has. Gradkowski won't quit on a play and I get the feeling he's a tough kid.

[JoeCool#5]

Gino is a stud. Totally comfortable with the changing of the guard. I am worried more about guard and tackle positions than center position. Too many questions, Is Big McK coming back? Reid up to the task after injury? Osemele going to take the next step? Where is Oher going to be lined up. We know Yanda is all world, can he stay healthy?

After watching the last game of the regular season- Bengals and how Gino graded out, I am not stressing the Birk retirement.

[jimmypowder]

Hit the weight room Gino !

[JoeCool#5]

[quote name='jimmypowder' timestamp='1361579708' post='1365278']
Hit the weight room Gino !
[/quote]
While your at it, Grab Oher, Osemele, Reid and Yanda with ya.

[Dewy101]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1361553797' post='1364863']
Gradkowski is only an inch shorter and 10 lbs lighter then Birk. I don't think that should be a huge issue...
[/quote]

He should be stronger and more athletic too so it's not a big deal

[HoldingCall]

[quote name='ravens88' timestamp='1361554109' post='1364873']
he looked good against cincy but i dont think anyone will know till werer halfway through preseason or into the reg season.
[/quote]

I believe the coaches already know enough to determine whether they want to bring someone in to start at the position or bring someone in to back up what the team already has. If they draft one in round 4, 5 or later it means they probably intend to start Gino.

[omar586]

Since flacco is our franchise qb. Ozzie gonna have to find depth every year for OL , to keep flacco upright. N Cincinnati's game, gino looked great, but that's one game, Ozzie will probably draft 2 OL for depth

[PuRock]

Honestly, I think he's going to step up and we'll be set at center for several years. The Ravens really did their homework on a center when we drafted him. He showed promise against the Bengals. He's had time to learn from a great vet.

Now if the Ravens go after a big name FA center (don't know if there are any) or if they draft a C early. Then we have to worry. But I believe and I'm sure the Ravens do that the future is with Gino.

I'm excited to see him play in 2013.

[Jitamon]

To answer the question, a lot better now that Birk retired. He is our only Center on the roster that will see starting time. Unless we pick up a vet or get a C in the draft , looks like Gradkowski is the man.

[Purple_ICE 81]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1361553230' post='1364853']
You don't need mammoth centers in a zone running scheme. It's not as if he can't add bulk to his frame in the off-season either.
[/quote]
Apparently he has already bulked up a little bit and is noticably stronger than when we drafted him, and there is definitely room for improvement for this guy...but right now I think he can fill the void.

[Moderator 2]

I thought I read somewhere Yanda makes line calls too.

[ratedr]

I liked what I saw from Gino in week 17, but he needs to pack on some pounds.

[Crabcakes&Football]

I'm fine with it. 300 pounds isn't huge for a C but it isn't too small either. He looks to be very sturdily built too. In a ZBS smaller Centers can even thrive. I'd be cool with a cheap vet backup who is also versatile enough to backup our guards.

[frangecko112]

after seeing him handle geno atkins pretty well, i think that the o-line will be just fine with Gino at Center.

[mgridda]

Well, currently, then our offensive line would like:

McKinnie - Osmele - Gradkowski - Yanda - Oher

w/ potentially (hopefully) Jah Reid spelling McKinnie. I don't see why we would have drafted Jah Reid if we didn't think he could be our left tackle of the future. But then again, we did draft Adam Terry out of Syracuse one fateful draft class. I think Jah has a ton of upside. I think someone will be brought in to compete with Gino. If Barrett Jones is available, and other BPA candidates like Johnathon Jenkins (OSU), Kawann Short, Barke, Kevin Minter, Matt Elam aren't then I can see Ozzie backing a Bama center, sure.

However, I think we can get some good centers in the draft. I know Barrett Jones can come in and start right away, though. That Cinci game was probably very useful in looking back at it and saying:

Can Gino come in and be the guy snapping Joe Flacco the football and calling all the blitzers out for the offensive line? I would say have filmstudy or someone of his revere go back and look at that game. I have it recorded, so I'll probably get around to watching the Week 17 game again later on today.

Remember, I'm the one guy on this board who advocated for Torrey Smith before he got drafted, and after: when the lot of you wanted Titus Young or Mr. Hankerson.

[The Raven]

[quote name='mgridda' timestamp='1361724791' post='1366801']
Well, currently, then our offensive line would like:

McKinnie - Osmele - Gradkowski - Yanda - Oher

w/ potentially (hopefully) Jah Reid spelling McKinnie.[b] I don't see why we would have drafted Jah Reid if we didn't think he could be our left tackle of the future.[/b] But then again, we did draft Adam Terry out of Syracuse one fateful draft class. I think Jah has a ton of upside. I think someone will be brought in to compete with Gino. If Barrett Jones is available, and other BPA candidates like Johnathon Jenkins (OSU), Kawann Short, Barke, Kevin Minter, Matt Elam aren't then I can see Ozzie backing a Bama center, sure.

However, I think we can get some good centers in the draft. I know Barrett Jones can come in and start right away, though. That Cinci game was probably very useful in looking back at it and saying:

Can Gino come in and be the guy snapping Joe Flacco the football and calling all the blitzers out for the offensive line? I would say have filmstudy or someone of his revere go back and look at that game. I have it recorded, so I'll probably get around to watching the Week 17 game again later on today.

[b]Remember, I'm the one guy on this board who advocated for Torrey Smith before he got drafted, and after: when the lot of you wanted Titus Young or Mr. Hankerson.[/b]
[/quote]

I guess you don't know how the draft works. You draft BPA, and do not always to fill a need. At the time, we didn't have McKinnie. We needed somebody to play RT, because Oher was our LT. We drafted him to play RT, because back then Oher still had hope as a LT.

Gino will learn how to make calls. Calling protection schemes is his only real problem, that we know of.

No need to toot your own horn, sir. Just because you got one prediction right doesn't mean you're right about everything, as I confirmed in the above paragraph.

[berad]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1361729669' post='1366936']
No need to toot your own horn, sir. Just because you got one prediction right doesn't mean you're right about everything, as I confirmed in the above paragraph.
[/quote]

He also said Brandon Lloyd was the best WR in the league...

[The Raven]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1361733069' post='1366991']
He also said Brandon Lloyd was the best WR in the league...
[/quote]
His credibility just flew out the window.

[adam713]

The center position is still up in the air in my mind. Gino has shown glimpses of both good and bad. I'm sure our FO is still thinking the Center position needs competition to decide a long-term starting option.

Also, listen to how Matt Birk described Gino when asked a few days ago: "Gino will be fine." "The biggest thing about football is that it's a character game because it's hard, it's different from other sports, and Gino's got that." "Gino is a great guy and has a fantastic family...Gino will do whatever it takes to be successful."

Some of you may blast me for "looking too much into these comments," but what I'm hearing is that Gino's 'great character' may get him to the point where he needs to be. Yet, I'm sort of taking that as he's not there yet. Competition is the best way to bring the best out of people and he obviously needs that....the Ravens need that.