Anyone worried about Kelechi Osemele?

[jaege]

We are playing a bit vanilla this preseason. It is to be expected. If he hasn't looked good after a couple regular season games, then I would worry.

[NaveSenrag]

He went from taking assignments from one of the smartest centers in the league to getting them from a guy in his first experience as a full time starter. A miscommunication here and there is understandable.

[Sizzlebshu]

There has been a lot of talk about how our guard tandem could be the best in the NFL, but I am concerned about KO. His name was brought up a lot in week 3 by Gruden and not in a good way. I went back and watched him specifially and he has not looked good this preseason, especially in the running game. There have been numerous missed blocks and he just looks slow off the snap. This is especially apparent in the zone blocking sets, he just does not look aggressive out there at all. He has looked better in angle blocking runs where he just has to get after one guy, but when asked to pull he has looked lost to me.

 

Maybe, I am concerned about nothing and it's just a preseason thing, but the sample size of KO at guard is still very small. He was great in the SB, but he wasnt exactly a dominant run blocker in last season's playoff run either.

Welcome to the world of small sample sizes meaning nothing. I said KO's performance and the playoffs wouldnt indicate how he would turn out and I'm gonna say the same thing now. Let's wait and see until he at least has 16 regular season games under his belt before proclaiming him a stud or writing him off. 

[beasy2487]

I was more worried about him before his preseason honestly. He's a second year player poises to breakout but it seemed like he was starting to believe is own hype. Nothing like getting humbled to fix that especially when the game doesn't count. Perfect timing to give him the chip he needs to do out there and be the beast he can be.

[The Raven]

Wow, pretty quick. I was wondering how long it was going to take and who it would be. Your the champ!

 

Okay then... -_-

[CalvinSmoke]

I just read a pretty interesting column: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1754743-why-arent-the-baltimore-ravens-running-the-ball-well-in-the-preseason

 

It states there that Kelechi had a positive run block rating at +1.1 while at right tackle but dipped to -1 or so when moved to left guard. 

 

If that's true than he may just be adjusting to the position still. 

[The Raven]

I just read a pretty interesting column: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1754743-why-arent-the-baltimore-ravens-running-the-ball-well-in-the-preseason

 

It states there that Kelechi had a positive run block rating at +1.1 while at right tackle but dipped to -1 or so when moved to left guard. 

 

If that's true than he may just be adjusting to the position still. 

 

I question that rating greatly. His run blocking was way overrated at RT. Watching him try and reach block was straight up painful sometimes. Dude does not have the feet for RT. To me, he looked noticeable better at LG in all facets of his game.

[ratedr]

Cough cough.

[gabefergy]

Yup, he was pretty bad week 1.

[-Truth-]

Yup, he was pretty bad week 1.

 

No argument there. I was also worried about him after watching him be casually tossed aside by Star Lotulelei on two separate occasions in the Carolina game. He obviously has the season ahead of him to turn things around, and has the ability to do so. But regarding his performance last night, you were spot on with your initial concerns and assessment.

[T3hRaven]

Yup, he was pretty bad week 1.

 

For those who don't have PFF like we do, he was graded as our worst OL.  Yes, he played worse than Ricky Wagner.  Gino sucked as well, and Oher wasn't the glorious impenetrable wall people are making him out to be either, so to standout in that suckfest last night is pretty impressive.  Yanda was his awesome self and McKinnie was good enough, seeing as we should be running right most of the time anyway and his weakness is run blocking, but we need 3 guys to step up in a big way.  

 

I think Ricky gets a pass, although his kick step left much to be desired and he clearly lacks the feet to play LT at this point in time.  I said earlier I respect the power he played with, his first block was a pancake and that's more than I've seen from Jah Reid, but Juan needs to get busy.  I expected more with such a good OL coach in the building.

 

But on the topic, we definitely need to be concerned about Osemele.  I'm worried that his Super Bowl game might have been the fluke and not his numerous bad performances at guard.  I don't know if he's been lazy, too busy running his mouth, or what, but he needs to play better than he did last night.  

 

I just wish we still had Ben Grubbs.  At that point Joe hadn't won a Super Bowl and I wouldn't expect our conservative FO to roll the dice on building a team around him quite yet, so I understand why he wasn't re-signed.  I just wish we had the elite OL, or at least the larval stage of an elite OL, that our QB needs to be successful.  It's ok to build a team that way, it's worked well in New England and you can see how awesome a guy like Peyton Manning is playing with the best line and supporting cast he's ever had in his entire career, and now that's what we need to be doing.  I just wish we weren't in salary cap hell so we could bring in Monroe during the offseason.

[GrimCoconut]

I'm absolutely concerned about KO but it's still early. He needs to right the ship soon.

[SecretAgentMan]

What if KO is the Joe Flacco of Olinemen?

 

average in the regular season, great in the playoffs :P

 

Or a soph slump. Either way..........

[T3hRaven]

I'm absolutely concerned about KO but it's still early. He needs to right the ship soon.

 

This isn't a new issue, he was bad in the playoffs too.  He just had the game of his life in the Super Bowl.

[izvoodoo]

This isn't a new issue, he was bad in the playoffs too.  He just had the game of his life in the Super Bowl.

How was he bad in the playoffs?  Flacco had like one sack and we average 8 yards a carry against Indianapolis?

 

And Vince Wilfork was completely neutralized.

[T3hRaven]

How was he bad in the playoffs?  Flacco had like one sack and we average 8 yards a carry against Indianapolis?

 

And Vince Wilfork was completely neutralized.

 

OL play is looked at as a unit and as a unit our line played very well, but I should have clarified.  He was alright as a pass blocker, he graded quite poorly as a run blocker against Denver and New England.  His performance over those games was more average than anything, and my comment about him having the game of his life in the Super Bowl still stands.  If there's one place to do that though, it's the Super Bowl.

[izvoodoo]

OL play is looked at as a unit and as a unit our line played very well, but I should have clarified.  He was alright as a pass blocker, he graded quite poorly as a run blocker against Denver and New England.  His performance over those games was more average than anything, and my comment about him having the game of his life in the Super Bowl still stands.  If there's one place to do that though, it's the Super Bowl.

So it's not a bad peformance, it was just average run blocking?  And granted those are very difficult fronts to run against, especially new england.

[T3hRaven]

So it's not a bad peformance, it was just average run blocking?  And granted those are very difficult fronts to run against, especially new england.

 

His pass blocking was average in those games, his run blocking was bad.  I just felt it was relevant to point it out because it was a very similar situation last night, so we've seen him play like this before.

[izvoodoo]

His pass blocking was average in those games, his run blocking was bad.  I just felt it was relevant to point it out because it was a very similar situation last night, so we've seen him play like this before.

How many pressure's did he give up?

 

I'm not trying to be coy about this, I'm genuinely wanting to be informed.  I hope that comes across.

[T3hRaven]

How many pressure's did he give up?

 

I'm not trying to be coy about this, I'm genuinely wanting to be informed.  I hope that comes across.

 

He gave up 2 hurries and 1 hit during the playoff run, he gave up 2 hits and 3 hurries last night.  I'm guessing you're assuming grading works in a different way, but zero is average and you get positive grades by going 'beyond' the call of duty, stuff like pancakes and the like.  Blocking your man is what you're paid to do as an OL, and since it's expected you're not going to get plus'd if you're just doing what you're supposed to do.  Or at least that's kinda how it works.

[gabefergy]

KO has been OK in pass blocking, but he is constantly missing blocks in the run game. Slow off the snap and just looking lethargic out there. Its not physical I don't think, but more mental errors. Maybe he is overthinking stuff because he isn't truly comfortable at guard yet. Its not somewhere he has much experience.

[SecretAgentMan]

KO has been OK in pass blocking, but he is constantly missing blocks in the run game. Slow off the snap and just looking lethargic out there. Its not physical I don't think, but more mental errors. Maybe he is overthinking stuff because he isn't truly comfortable at guard yet. Its not somewhere he has much experience.

Physically he's a stud.

By the seasons end I expect he makes the transition

[T3hRaven]

KO has been OK in pass blocking, but he is constantly missing blocks in the run game. Slow off the snap and just looking lethargic out there. Its not physical I don't think, but more mental errors. Maybe he is overthinking stuff because he isn't truly comfortable at guard yet. Its not somewhere he has much experience.

 

I don't understand what happened when he switched to guard though because I thought he looked alright as a run blocker at RT, nothing exceptional but good enough, but he's completely lost it at LG.  Usually you figure when you take a guy out of space by placing him at guard he'll miss less blocks, but if Denver and the playoffs sans San Fran was any indication of the season he was awful there.  After the Michael Oher situation I guess I'm a little fearful that we'll see another lineman fall off the cliff.  This very well could be just a case of him dominating a severely injured player in the Super Bowl.

[mgridda]

His pass blocking was average in those games, his run blocking was bad.  I just felt it was relevant to point it out because it was a very similar situation last night, so we've seen him play like this before.

 

He was a rookie. He's a second year pro. PFF can be a lot tougher on olinemen than talking heads. If you look at the Pouncey's for instance, the talking heads loved them, but their first two years they didn't look that great.

KO needs to improve, no doubt about it. But he was a 2nd round pick last year. He got a little overrated, yes. But I like it.

[The Raven]

He might really be overthinking it. If we're still doing mostly zone schemes, you have to react to the defense more than attack. KO seems like an attacker to me. He needs a man scheme. There's no reason a man as big, strong,and quick as he is should be playing this bad.

[izvoodoo]

He might really be overthinking it. If we're still doing mostly zone schemes, you have to react to the defense more than attack. KO seems like an attacker to me. He needs a man scheme. There's no reason a man as big, strong,and quick as he is should be playing this bad.

That's a cop out, he just needs to up his game.

 

I don't worry about players after 1 game.  But I'll be keeping an eye on him.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

im worried the issue is with the coaching staff.

 

I have to think its difficult to have Moeller, an O-line coach whos in charge of the unit, and then have Castillo whos the "run game coordinator" but is known as an o-line expert. So who's really in charge? Bc every article ive read about the oline they've interviewed Castillo and talk about how he runs onto the field between plays to coach up the line.... yet Moeller's the position coach?

 

So is Moeller teaching scheme and technique for pass blocking while Castillo does that for run blocking? Could they be teaching differing techniques and ideals, and the young players are over-thinking instead of playing with instinct?

 

I don't know, but that situation feels weird to me.

[PurpleCityLights]

I'm more worried about Gino & Rickey.

[izvoodoo]

KO has been OK in pass blocking, but he is constantly missing blocks in the run game. Slow off the snap and just looking lethargic out there. Its not physical I don't think, but more mental errors. Maybe he is overthinking stuff because he isn't truly comfortable at guard yet. Its not somewhere he has much experience.

It's probably a confidence thing.  The fastest part of the game is right after the snap on the interior line.  Also he gets to play at home, and I'm sure that'll help with communication.   

[Ravenseconbeast]

Gino was worse than KO imo. Gino just completely lost his motor after 1st quarter. Then KO had to pick up few of gino's miscues. Both lost it after 2nd half. Its alarming b/c our offense hasnt been on field for that long. Most of the time they went 3&out. Im wondering how Gino can last in NFL. He needs to toughen up and get stronger.