How do we like Gino Gradkowski as our starting center?

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='adam713' timestamp='1361740289' post='1367127']
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.
[/quote]
It's gonna be Gino. He's a better than any FA we can afford.

And his run blocking is strong.

And he handled gino atkins.

[adam713]

[quote name='izvoodoo' timestamp='1361742494' post='1367182']
It's gonna be Gino. He's a better than any FA we can afford.

And his run blocking is strong.

And he handled gino atkins.
[/quote]

I wasn't necessarily indicating FA. There's plenty of solid, physically gifted centers entering this year's draft that could provide great competition for Gino.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2013C.php
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap1000000139744/article/precombine-position-rankings-for-2013-nfl-draft

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='adam713' timestamp='1361744988' post='1367241']
I wasn't necessarily indicating FA. There's plenty of solid, physically gifted centers entering this year's draft that could provide great competition for Gino.

[url="http://walterfootball.com/draft2013C.php"]http://walterfootbal.../draft2013C.php[/url]
[url="http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap1000000139744/article/precombine-position-rankings-for-2013-nfl-draft"]http://www.nfl.com/d...-2013-nfl-draft[/url]
[/quote]
I sincerely doubt we draft another tackle except for depth in a late round. Besides they wouldn't be a better starter than him. He was virtually a third round pick.

[mgridda]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1361729669' post='1366936']
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.
[/quote]

I guess you don't know how to type without seeming pretentious? No, I've been a BPA advocate since the late nineteen-nineties. Jah Reid has the build and mobility of a blindside tackle. I scouted Jah Reid, with great scrutiny. He never played on the blindside in college, but well: Oher did, and he's lousy at it. He's, however, a tremendous right tackle. I think Jah Reid is more of a natural fit at left tackle. His fluidity, his 6'7 height, his range, his balance, his bend, how low he plays. He's an intelligent tackle, and I just think he needs experience and snaps in game-time situations. I don't think McKinnie will be back, but this isn't the Bryant McKinnie topic.

I am really confident in Gino, but if Barrett Jones is available in the 2nd round due to bad news about his foot surgery...we're taking Barrett Jones and Gradkowski isn't starting (unless Jones goes out to LT).

And no, I never said Brandon Lloyd was the best wide-receiver in the league. All my posts are available. Find the one where I said it, and quote it. However, you did believe someone said something because someone else said they did: which sort of...well, diminishes your credibility greatly.

[berad]

[quote name='mgridda' timestamp='1361756907' post='1367590']
And no, I never said Brandon Lloyd was the best wide-receiver in the league. All my posts are available. Find the one where I said it, and quote it. However, you did believe someone said something because someone else said they did: which sort of...well, diminishes your credibility greatly.
[/quote]

[quote name='mgridda' timestamp='1303156478' post='666755']
However, he was the NFL's best receiver last year. Or at least he produced as much on the field.
[/quote]

[url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/35524-boldin-not-a-top-15-receiver/page__st__40#entry666755"]LINK[/url]

[Ed_Reed20]

You're a bad man, berad.

[Purple Nurple]

Oh snapple dapple

[berad]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1361759417' post='1367661']


You're a bad man, berad.
[/quote]

Thorough memory I remember debating Brandon Lloyd.

Anyways, Gino has the physical capability to play center. The most important part of center is the mental part - the line calls, adjustments, etc.

Before the draft last offseason, I said I hoped the Ravens would use a relatively high pick on a center not a stopgap like David Hale (also a 4th rounder). Personally, I feel Gino has a ton more upside than Hale but it remains to be seen. Center was a back-burner need ever since Birk was signed - we knew he would not play forever.

[Militant X 1]

[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.

[b]Now his thrust right into action w/ no starting experience right @ thursday opener.[/b]
[/quote]

the man has been a backup for an entire season. he was drafted as a backup and replacement for Birk when he finally decided to retire. well..Birk has retired and NOW gino gets his opportunity. our young lions will NEVER get the opportunity to roar if we keep bringing in old guys for them to keep learning from. throw the man into the fire! let him cut his teeth in "on-the-field" action!

~Mili

[H8R]

Gino is 6-3 and about 310 lbs, if he can gain a little size he'll be solid IMO .

[Bltravens]

[quote name='mgridda' timestamp='1361756907' post='1367590']
I guess you don't know how to type without seeming pretentious? No, I've been a BPA advocate since the late nineteen-nineties. Jah Reid has the build and mobility of a blindside tackle. I scouted Jah Reid, with great scrutiny. He never played on the blindside in college, but well: Oher did, and he's lousy at it. He's, however, a tremendous right tackle. I think Jah Reid is more of a natural fit at left tackle. His fluidity, his 6'7 height, his range, his balance, his bend, how low he plays. He's an intelligent tackle, and I just think he needs experience and snaps in game-time situations. I don't think McKinnie will be back, but this isn't the Bryant McKinnie topic.
[/quote]
Jah Reid has pretty brutal footspeed and isn't exactly nimble on his feet. I think Reid would get eaten up at LT by teams best pass rushers.

Still don't know why he was at LG at all this year, we basically Kruger'd him with that position change.

[mgridda]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1361759069' post='1367650']
[url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/35524-boldin-not-a-top-15-receiver/page__st__40#entry666755"]LINK[/url]
[/quote]

Do you see how you claimed I said "He also said Brandon Lloyd was the best WR in the league..."

As if I'm talking about this year, or just plain saying he's the best in the league. I said that in 2010, Brandon Lloyd had better production on the field than any other receiver. And he did. He was the NFLs best receiver for those 16 games. He proved that with his play, you can't take it away from him.

[berad]

[quote name='mgridda' timestamp='1361768607' post='1367855']
Do you see how you claimed I said "He also said Brandon Lloyd was the best WR in the league..."

As if I'm talking about this year, or just plain saying he's the best in the league. I said that in 2010, Brandon Lloyd had better production on the field than any other receiver. And he did. He was the NFLs best receiver for those 16 games. He proved that with his play, you can't take it away from him.
[/quote]

It's not my fault you haven't posted since 2011. You wrote exactly what I said you wrote. You said, verbatim, that Brandon Lloyd was the best receiver in the league. You asked me to find it, I did. I don't need to qualify it, you wrote it.

Anyways, can we get to talking about Gradkowski and not Brandon Lloyd or Torrey Smith?

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1361556989' post='1364916']
Gino will be great, but we probably need to sign a veteran to at least be a back-up.
[/quote]
Ditto this.

Gino held his own against one of the very best if not arguably the best interior DL in the NFL against Cincinatti. He held up against Atkins and a coordinator who is very good. I feel good about him. With that said, do I think we enter 2013 with nobody behind him or a rookie? Nope. I see us getting some cut vet FA or maybe even Jason Brown who had to sit out a year because no team signed him. We could have another Kemo or Williams signing here. I think Brown, but after is a good candidate to watch since we did offer him a deal and he declined but after sitting out a season he may be inclined to accept a small deal.

[H8R]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1361799696' post='1367994']

Ditto this.

Gino held his own against one of the very best if not arguably the best interior DL in the NFL against Cincinatti. He held up against Atkins and a coordinator who is very good. I feel good about him. With that said, do I think we enter 2013 with nobody behind him or a rookie? Nope. I see us getting some cut vet FA or maybe even Jason Brown who had to sit out a year because no team signed him. We could have another Kemo or Williams signing here. I think Brown, but after is a good candidate to watch since we did offer him a deal and he declined but after sitting out a season he may be inclined to accept a small deal.
[/quote]

We offered Jason Brown a contract last year while he was out? News to me...

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1361800434' post='1368004']


We offered Jason Brown a contract last year while he was out? News to me...
[/quote]
http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/04/13/free-agent-c-jason-brown-draws-offer-from-ravens/

There you go, my man.

[H8R]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1361800625' post='1368006']
[url="http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/04/13/free-agent-c-jason-brown-draws-offer-from-ravens/"]http://blogs.nfl.com...er-from-ravens/[/url]

There you go, my man.
[/quote]


Crazy! So he chose to not play, rather then playing with us? That stinks!

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1361803330' post='1368035']



Crazy! So he chose to not play, rather then playing with us? That stinks!
[/quote]
I think it was more like this:

We offered him a cheap 1-year deal. He declined probably because he thought he could get better elsewhere. He gambled. He lost. Lol.

I think he could come here this year. It's a legit chance if he is in shape and took care of himself. If we can get him for a million or on a vet minimum deal then I say go for it. He's experienced and at the very worst provides us some solid starting-experienced depth on the cheap. I also don't think he would count as a FA signing because he was out a year, so we wouldn't be affected in terms of compensatory picks.

[H8R]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1361803495' post='1368036']
I think it was more like this:

We offered him a cheap 1-year deal. He declined probably because he thought he could get better elsewhere. He gambled. He lost. Lol.

I think he could come here this year. It's a legit chance if he is in shape and took care of himself. If we can get him for a million or on a vet minimum deal then I say go for it. He's experienced and at the very worst provides us some solid starting-experienced depth on the cheap. I also don't think he would count as a FA signing because he was out a year, so we wouldn't be affected in terms of compensatory picks.
[/quote]

The thing for me is that we're a zone blocking line right now. He didnt do that with us before. Is he athletic enough to do it?

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1361803830' post='1368040']


The thing for me is that we're a zone blocking line right now. He didnt do that with us before. Is he athletic enough to do it?
[/quote]
We ran a ZBS but I do not think that we are guaranteed to continue to be one. There is no guarantee. Most do not understand this. Caldwell, Castillo. They may install their own system and change things.

[good_n_purple]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1361556810' post='1364915']
[color=#4b0082]Yea, plus if it makes anyone feel any better Gino is listed as an inch taller and 5 pounds heavier the Jeff Saturday. I know a lot of talk is about how much the Ravens offense will now resemble the Colts offense with Peyton and Caldwell, so that's something similar, a smaller center.[/color]

I think Gino will do well, but like others have said only time will tell. I really like our interior line.

The thing I think will be interesting is that Birk made a majority if not all of the line calls. Now with Gino, will it be Flacco's job to the set the line and call out defensive alignments? If that's the case, how much of the offense will Flacco now control from the LOS? This could be a move that brings out even more in Flacco, and showcase his ability to run the offense. Which we actually saw in the playoffs.[/quote]

Does he also get the "Cloak of Immunity" Saturday seemed to have? The ref's could never see that guy holding!

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='good_n_purple' timestamp='1361809660' post='1368144']


Does he also get the "Cloak of Immunity" Saturday seemed to have? The ref's could never see that guy holding!
[/quote]

If Flacco continues to perform at the level he did in home games and playoff games this year...yes. like it or not, the NFL favors stars and Joe is definitely shooting for the moon. By default Gino will be an extension of Joe, if he plays long enough.

[TheMadRaven]

I am hoping for Gino's success. One less spot to worry about.


I predict he has a good year and we call him 'The Polish Hammer'.

[i]The above is based purely on alcohol - no facts were considered in the making of this comment. [/i]

[H8R]

Birk was thought to be undersized center too.

[Ravensfan23]

Unless your talking about a power scheme I don't think Gino's size matter's much.

His strength and leverage will be much more important. It doesn't seem that impressive now because of their poor seasons but I saw Gino lock onto Cody and Kemo during camp and just push them down the line to open up cut back lanes.

So he'll be best in combo blocks and movement blocks. He'll be a upgrade in space over Birk imo. I think that will be big for screen game with the Ravens weren't so good at

[The Raven]

[quote name='mgridda' timestamp='1361756907' post='1367590']
I guess you don't know how to type without seeming pretentious? No, I've been a BPA advocate since the late nineteen-nineties. Jah Reid has the build and mobility of a blindside tackle. I scouted Jah Reid, with great scrutiny. He never played on the blindside in college, but well: Oher did, and he's lousy at it. He's, however, a tremendous right tackle. I think Jah Reid is more of a natural fit at left tackle. His fluidity, his 6'7 height, his range, his balance, his bend, how low he plays. He's an intelligent tackle, and I just think he needs experience and snaps in game-time situations. I don't think McKinnie will be back, but this isn't the Bryant McKinnie topic.

I am really confident in Gino, but if Barrett Jones is available in the 2nd round due to bad news about his foot surgery...we're taking Barrett Jones and Gradkowski isn't starting (unless Jones goes out to LT).

And no, I never said Brandon Lloyd was the best wide-receiver in the league. All my posts are available. Find the one where I said it, and quote it. However, you did believe someone said something because someone else said they did: which sort of...well, diminishes your credibility greatly.
[/quote]

Lmao, Jah Reid has good balance and mobility? Is that why speed rushers destroyed him in college and in the preseason? And good knee bend? Oh right, that's why he sucked at left guard. I watched him play at LG, and he was awful at getting low. Knee bend was a weakness of his this season. If Jah Reid could be as good a LT as you say, why did he not even play there in the preseason? An UDFA LT named Jack Cornell played LT in the preseason, and Reid didn't. KO, a rookie who played out of position, beat Reid out of a job at RT. If a rookie guard outplayed Reid at RT, what makes you think Jah Reid can play LT?

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1361822697' post='1368483']
Unless your talking about a power scheme I don't think Gino's size matter's much.

His strength and leverage will be much more important. It doesn't seem that impressive now because of their poor seasons but I saw Gino lock onto Cody and Kemo during camp and just push them down the line to open up cut back lanes.

So he'll be best in combo blocks and movement blocks. He'll be a upgrade in space over Birk imo. I think that will be big for screen game with the Ravens weren't so good at
[/quote]

Honestly, I think Gino could play in a power scheme. We ran a lot of power runs in that Cincy game and he played well. He has an explosive first step and he's strong. There are quite a few power scheme centers that play at 310. He could do it. He's just better suited for zone.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1361823026' post='1368489']


Honestly, I think Gino could play in a power scheme. We ran a lot of power runs in that Cincy game and he played well. He has an explosive first step and he's strong. There are quite a few power scheme centers that play at 310. He could do it. He's just better suited for zone.
[/quote]

Oh he definitely could play, i'm basically just speaking to the people who look at his height and size, then think he's undersized.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Im just laughing at all the bimbos trashing me about my prediction on gino before season. People sure hailed him as some next savior @ center.

[GrimCoconut]

Im just laughing at all the bimbos trashing me about my prediction on gino before season. People sure hailed him as some next savior @ center.

Who's trashing you? Good for you. You've been right so far four weeks into the season. I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. With that said, all these past four weeks have validated is that it's too early to crown or condemn Gino. You're just as presumptuous as others. It's never good to boast, either.

Just my opinion. Just one thing to say you were right. It's another to laugh at those who were wrong and call them "bimbos", which is technically a personal attack, btw.