Yanda, Osemele, or both?

[ellicottraven]

Not necessarily. If we extend Yanda we could always give him more money this year to help reduce the back end of his contract. I still feel that Upshaw is someone we'll wait to sign, because I don't see a pressing need for either party to extend him. As for KO, I think it's very possible we could extend him but I feel like KO will want to play out his contract to maximize his value.

Hmmm... interesting. I hope K.O sees the benefit in signing an extension now as he's not been exceedingly healthy either much like Jimmy.

[ravensfan160]

Maybe with the salary cap going up so much in the past couple years we could afford both but I doubt it. Paying both guards top dollar and still being able to afford to pay other key positions is just not feasible especially when you have a franchise QB to pay. If you want an example just look at the Saints.

 

I'm sure the Ravens will try to keep both but at at the end of the day another team will overpay KO and he will be the next Raven to leave. That became clear to me last year watching how well Urshel played as a rookie. If the 80/20 rule applied to a player the caliber or Ngata than it will apply to KO as well. KO at around $7 million or Urshel at about $500K. The talent disparity is not THAT huge between them. Also, the $7 million figure might be low. Mike Iupati got $8 from the Cardinals this off season.

[52liveforever]

the O line is fine..its a v. good o line. I expect more from Monroe this year

but if it wants to be the best..getting mathis if he's cut will probably create the most dominant pass and run blocking in the league

Dude what is with you and your obsession with mathis. Just stop it's never going to happen. Just stop please stop. Sure yeah it'd be cool. actually no it wouldn't b.c Yanda is the best guard in the game and you would be wasting his talent putting him at center. Not to say center isn't an important position im just saying its not a mauling position and that's exactly what yanda and osemele are. So for the love of God stop. I want you to read this next part out loud. Evan Mathis will never be a Baltimore Raven.

[beasy2487]

Dude what is with you and your obsession with mathis. Just stop it's never going to happen. Just stop please stop. Sure yeah it'd be cool. actually no it wouldn't b.c Yanda is the best guard in the game and you would be wasting his talent putting him at center. Not to say center isn't an important position im just saying its not a mauling position and that's exactly what yanda and osemele are. So for the love of God stop. I want you to read this next part out loud. Evan Mathis will never be a Baltimore Raven.

 

The jokes on you. I've heard from very valid sources from inside that the Ravens are considering a name change just so they can sign Mathis and spite you (and sanity). I hear the plan from there is to jettison Flacco and his me-first ways/contract, install Mathis at RG and move Yanda to QB.

 

Seems legit.

[52liveforever]

The jokes on you. I've heard from very valid sources from inside that the Ravens are considering a name change just so they can sign Mathis and spite you (and sanity). I hear the plan from there is to jettison Flacco and his me-first ways/contract, install Mathis at RG and move Yanda to QB.

 

Seems legit.

 

Now if only Cam Cameron and Frank Walker would come back 

Edited April 25, 2015 by 52liveforever

[PerpetuallyBored74]

Now if only Cam Cameron and Frank Walker would come back 

 

What's Bam Morris up to these days? We could use another RB.

Surely, he's still got some tread left on his tires.

Edited April 25, 2015 by PerpetuallyBored74

[Tenacious Faulker]

The Ravens will of course try to eat their cake and have it too.  How that happens depends on Yanda and K.O. and the front office.  

 

If the question is who would they choose if they couldn't keep both, then that's a tough one.  Yanda is proven and still a top OG in the league and a beast.  However he's over 30 so how long will that last?  K.O. is also a top OG, also a beast and is 25 with a bright career ahead of him.  However, he had back surgery so how long will THAT last?

 

I think Yanda can play at a high level for the next 4-5 years.  Don't know what his retirement plans are tho'.  K.O. could also as well unless they know that he's on barrowed time after back surgery.  That's something that'll likely catch up to him in his 30's when his second deal expires and other teams have interest in him as a FA at 29.  

 

If they have to choose betwen the two, it'll come down to who be more cap friendly for the next 4 years.

[Cillmatic]

Yanda's about to be on the wrong side of thirty and we have young guys who need long term deals, If he doesn't sign niw in on with him walking. Urshel looks like a beast. Hill, KO and Tucker>Yanda imo.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Cillmatic

[Sami84]

Yanda's about to be on the wrong side of thirty and we have young guys who need long term deals, If he doesn't sign niw in on with him walking. Urshel looks like a beast. Hill, KO and Tucker>Yanda imo.

 

yanda is a special player. don't underestimate his greatness. He's our second best O liner of all time. I'd say he has 3 elite years left. KO can be replaced. He's a very good player but we can find a guy as good as him in Fa or the Draft. Yanda is quite special

Edited May 24, 2015 by Sami84

[GrimCoconut]

yanda is a special player. don't underestimate his greatness. He's our second best O liner of all time. I'd say he has 3 elite years left. KO can be replaced. He's a very good player but we can find a guy as good as him in Fa or the Draft. Yanda is quite special

I see eye to eye with you here

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I would like to see us try to keep both. Yanda has been very durable and one of the best since he joined the Ravens but he is getting older. K.O. is a very good guard but he has had more time away from games due to injuries however he is younger than Yanda. It is a hard choice but I voted to try to keep both is that realistic? It can be done but it will cost some big $ for sure. For the Ravens to keep both guys they probabbly will have to give some sort of home team discount and K.O. is due for his first big payday coming off his rookie contract but Yanda deserves big money too. I just hope the "WIZZARD OF OZ" can work it out once again.

[Sami84]

I would like to see us try to keep both. Yanda has been very durable and one of the best since he joined the Ravens but he is getting older. K.O. is a very good guard but he has had more time away from games due to injuries however he is younger than Yanda. It is a hard choice but I voted to try to keep both is that realistic? It can be done but it will cost some big $ for sure. For the Ravens to keep both guys they probabbly will have to give some sort of home team discount and K.O. is due for his first big payday coming off his rookie contract but Yanda deserves big money too. I just hope the "WIZZARD OF OZ" can work it out once again.

 

Yanda could eventually move to center in the latter years of his career for us. He's the kind of guy that we need to keep as a 1 club man. He was really good at RT too in his first 2 years with us. (graded out as the top RT on PFF in 2007 and 2008).

 

Hes a great football player. KO is a good football player. Yanda must remain a raven. He can shift to center once he's 33 and know he will be elite there.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Yanda could eventually move to center in the latter years of his career for us. He's the kind of guy that we need to keep as a 1 club man. He was really good at RT too in his first 2 years with us. (graded out as the top RT on PFF in 2007 and 2008).

 

Hes a great football player. KO is a good football player. Yanda must remain a raven. He can shift to center once he's 33 and know he will be elite there.

I can buy what your saying....Sami84 I hope Oz gets it done and Tucker too.

[RaineV1]

When healthy, I think KO has a higher ceiling than Yanda, and the Ravens have Urschel who can take over Yanda's duties. I'd want to keep both, but if a choice has to be made, I'd keep KO.

[Sami84]

When healthy, I think KO has a higher ceiling than Yanda, and the Ravens have Urschel who can take over Yanda's duties. I'd want to keep both, but if a choice has to be made, I'd keep KO.

 

i disagree. Yanda is as good as it gets. No one has come close to him or evan mathis in the past half decade. KO is a very good linesman..he isn't nor will he ever be on the level of mathis or yanda

Edited May 24, 2015 by Sami84

[omar586]

we usually keep players like Yanda until they retire as ravens, over the years though we let players test the fa market and let them walk, dont b surprised if we sign KO over yanda, depending on their asking price , which i think they will price their way out of baltimore.

[GrimCoconut]

I think much ado is made over nothing here. I say this because I assume some concerns stem from that article stating Ozzie is growing frustrated with Yanda extension talks.

First of all, of any of you recall negotiations with Yanda the first time he became a free agent, he didn't sign any deal until he was able to get offers from other teams. While it's hard to prove because some of those articles aren't easily found anymore, it's a fact I recall very distinctly. IIRC, Yanda intended on staying here but wanted to see fair market value before he signed. He apparently accepted less to stay here back then, and I feel a similar process will unfold. That's if Ozzie wants to extend him, which I honestly think he does.

Some will compare this to Ngata and Boldin and say we've heard this story before. I don't think this is the same narrative. Despite how good those guys are, they both showed noticeable decline. Yanda has been like wine and matured and gotten better.

Yanda or KO? For me, the choice is clear --it's not always about youth.

[January J]

I think much ado is made over nothing here. I say this because I assume some concerns stem from that article stating Ozzie is growing frustrated with Yanda extension talks.

First of all, of any of you recall negotiations with Yanda the first time he became a free agent, he didn't sign any deal until he was able to get offers from other teams. While it's hard to prove because some of those articles aren't easily found anymore, it's a fact I recall very distinctly. IIRC, Yanda intended on staying here but wanted to see fair market value before he signed. He apparently accepted less to stay here back then, and I feel a similar process will unfold. That's if Ozzie wants to extend him, which I honestly think he does.

Some will compare this to Ngata and Boldin and say we've heard this story before. I don't think this is the same narrative. Despite how good those guys are, they both showed noticeable decline. Yanda has been like wine and matured and gotten better.

Yanda or KO? For me, the choice is clear --it's not always about youth.

well said and I fully agree

[Mt. Crushmore]

Obviously I would like to see both stick around, but I'm not sure that will happen.

[GrimCoconut]

A random list of players who can snap doesn't prove anyone wrong, from the article you linked it was the author who suggested who DeCosta was talking about, not a direct quote from DeCosta. You ruin your own credibility when you criticize my attitude and in the same breath call me myopic. What i said wasn't wrong, Urschel has yet to play center and i have yet to see a direct quote saying that is what his future is, I'm sure every player on our oline could realistically play center and "snap" just fine, that doesn't mean thats where they'll be in a year or two.

I don't really have a dog in this fight but citing articles that say Urschel wants to prove he can play center and analysts prognosticating that he could project at center do not constitute as fact that he could excel there.

With Urschel recently starting at center in OTAs with Zuttah not practicing, do you guys still think it's unlikely he is our future center?

[rmcjacket23]

With Urschel recently starting at center in OTAs with Zuttah not practicing, do you guys still think it's unlikely he is our future center?

Perhaps. He's also likely the backup center currently, so he's the most likely to take snaps there with Zuttah out.

 

He could be a starting center next year, or he could be a starting guard next year, or neither. None of those would surprise me in the slightest.

 

Certainly don't think him playing center is the foregone conclusion that some think it is.

[GrimCoconut]

Perhaps. He's also likely the backup center currently, so he's the most likely to take snaps there with Zuttah out.

He could be a starting center next year, or he could be a starting guard next year, or neither. None of those would surprise me in the slightest.

Certainly don't think him playing center is the foregone conclusion that some think it is.

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion, but a very likely outcome. It's all very fluid, however, so I do agree that it could easily change.

[rmcjacket23]

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion, but a very likely outcome. It's all very fluid, however, so I do agree that it could easily change.

I personally don't see Zuttah getting released as a cap casualty next season, because the cap savings just isn't that much, and his cap hit isn't that big.

 

The only way I see Urschel taking over the job is either 1. if Zuttah gets injured this season and Urschel comes in and plays well or 2. Zuttah is god awful, and they have no choice but to replace him.

 

I suppose, in theory, they could just have an open competition between the two at center next season, but I'm not even sure if that's realistic if Zuttah plays at the same level he's been playing at.

[GrimCoconut]

I personally don't see Zuttah getting released as a cap casualty next season, because the cap savings just isn't that much, and his cap hit isn't that big.

The only way I see Urschel taking over the job is either 1. if Zuttah gets injured this season and Urschel comes in and plays well or 2. Zuttah is god awful, and they have no choice but to replace him.

I suppose, in theory, they could just have an open competition between the two at center next season, but I'm not even sure if that's realistic if Zuttah plays at the same level he's been playing at.

Since this is a topic about KO and Yanda, I can see Zuttah slide over to LG if we lose KO. He has experience there from his time in TB. That's the only way I see it happening. That would also hinge on us thinking it's better to move Zuttah than keep him where he is and put Urschel at LG. There's a lot of moving parts on this one.

[rmcjacket23]

Since this is a topic about KO and Yanda, I can see Zuttah slide over to LG if we lose KO. He has experience there from his time in TB. That's the only way I see it happening. That would also hinge on us thinking it's better to move Zuttah than keep him where he is and put Urschel at LG. There's a lot of moving parts on this one.

Correct, there is. There's also FA and the draft that would occur before we had to finalize anything, so adding a center/guard (we already added one guard this past draft) is a possibility as well.

 

That's why I said I don't think there's anything foregone about any of these scenarios. Its possible our Oline next season will look identical to this by retaining both Yanda and KO. Unlikely, but possible.

[Ravens4Real]

Correct, there is. There's also FA and the draft that would occur before we had to finalize anything, so adding a center/guard (we already added one guard this past draft) is a possibility as well.

That's why I said I don't think there's anything foregone about any of these scenarios. Its possible our Oline next season will look identical to this by retaining both Yanda and KO. Unlikely, but possible.

I believe there is very little chance our Oline will be the same next year. On top of both guards needing new and expensive contracts, Wagner is coming due and he will be demanding top 5 RT tackle money. There is only so much you can invest in the Oline without taking hits in other areas.

On top of all of these guys coming due and will be wanting max money, Zuttah and Monroe both were not great last year. Obviously they were competent, but with another year in age and their play probably to continue downward. One of these guys, if not both, will be replaced, I believe, after this year.

Side note: I'll say it now, going into next years draft, the Ravens will be looking for a future LT and a rush OLB. Because neither Suggs and Dumervil are getting any younger.

[Ravenseconbeast]

With Urschel recently starting at center in OTAs with Zuttah not practicing, do you guys still think it's unlikely he is our future center?

I wouldn't risk experimenting on center unless we have some serious game time on urshel anchoring as a center.

Matt Birk to Gino transition was not fun AT ALL...

And AQ was no Ben Grubbs.

[ravensdan]

Since this is a topic about KO and Yanda, I can see Zuttah slide over to LG if we lose KO. He has experience there from his time in TB. That's the only way I see it happening. That would also hinge on us thinking it's better to move Zuttah than keep him where he is and put Urschel at LG. There's a lot of moving parts on this one.

I woukdnt be surprised to see Myers in the mix for a starting spot as well.

[rmcjacket23]

I believe there is very little chance our Oline will be the same next year. On top of both guards needing new and expensive contracts, Wagner is coming due and he will be demanding top 5 RT tackle money. There is only so much you can invest in the Oline without taking hits in other areas.

On top of all of these guys coming due and will be wanting max money, Zuttah and Monroe both were not great last year. Obviously they were competent, but with another year in age and their play probably to continue downward. One of these guys, if not both, will be replaced, I believe, after this year.

Side note: I'll say it now, going into next years draft, the Ravens will be looking for a future LT and a rush OLB. Because neither Suggs and Dumervil are getting any younger.

1. Wagner will be going into year 4 next season, meaning he would still be under contract. Would they like to extend him? Certainly, though its far too early for him to be making any demands. He didn't play his rookie year, and he's coming off a bad injury. He will have to play well this season to warrant that contract.

 

2. Monroe is pretty much locked in at LT through 2016, and I don't see the franchise moving away from him unless he continues with a string of injuries. I have zero doubt that the FO and coaching staff is much higher on him than the fanbase is, as reflected by their contract commitment to him when a lot of fans didn't like him. I'd be expecting to wait at least 3-4 years before the FO is looking for another LT. In fact, if there's one "lock" on the offensive line for me in 2016, its Monroe. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

With Urschel recently starting at center in OTAs with Zuttah not practicing, do you guys still think it's unlikely he is our future center?

First, I never said he wasn't our future center... Just that the articles cited did nothing to prove that point.

Second, I think it means they're exploring it as an option. But with the Yanda/KO situation on the horizon I still think Urschel's future is more likely at guard.

Someone has to take the snaps with Zuttah out and if you're going to experiment with a guy at a new position, OTA's is the best time to do it.

It will mean more if when Zuttah comes back Urschel is taking snaps at center with the 2nd team offense instead of rotating in at guard.

I think the truth is, they want to see what he can do there because we covet versatile lineman. If Urschel can be your primary insurance for both guard and center, you don't have to carry as many Backup O-lineman on the 53 and game day active roster which frees you up to keep a player at another position.

And I think one of KO and Yanda is likely gone next year while Zuttah will be under contract so out of necessity Urschel's immediate future is more likely at guard. Long term it will depend on where need is.

And isn't Jah Reid starting on the line in OTA's? He's not our future anything. They need 5 guys to start on the line and Monroe, Yanda, Zuttah and Wagner are all not there. Someone who knows the offense and the protections has to play center. When your options are Hurst, Jah, KO, Jensen and rookies it seems less of a projection of the future and more of the team filling a necessity with the least bad option.

Edited June 9, 2015 by BOLDnPurPnBlacK