[News] Rookie Tackle Alex Lewis Could Thrive At Left Guard

[BR News]

The fourth-round pick played left tackle and left guard during his college career, and he could compete for a starting guard spot with the Ravens.

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[ravenwildman]

This guy is good, got a nasty streak like KO. Well, at least going into the season, (injury bug has me hesitant to say this since I don't want to jinx things!), the O-line has a lot of strength this year. GO RAVENS! 25

[Ravensfansince03]

At 6'6'' he should be great. We drafted two 6'6'' O-linemen. Congrats to us.

[stixfix69]

If he has that kind of potential, then letting Monroe go June 1st, and use the freed up money to get Tucker and B.Williams signed to long term deals.....

[bluehen]

This guy is good, got a nasty streak like KO. Well, at least going into the season, (injury bug has me hesitant to say this since I don't want to jinx things!), the O-line has a lot of strength this year. GO RAVENS! 25

Joe has to be thrilled, with the OL and receivers!

[ellicottraven]

Well, he has better size than Urschel and Jensen, but Jensen has that nasty streak that is needed for run blocking. Hopefully, Alex can win the position and slide in next to Monroe or Stanley. If Alex is a better fit at guard, I think Stanley may actually slide to RT over the oft injured Wagner. But, my instincts tell me Stanley at LG will be a better position and Alex at RT will work better, but we'll see who the best 5 O-linemen are.

[The Greek]

we need quality depth on the o-line and i believe this kid fits the bill. seems we have a solid group at o-line. not sure hurst is suited to be a LT could provide better depth at guard and rt. if monroe is released which i feel would be a mistake for this season than we would still need to make sure we have a quality backup for stanley.

Edited May 15, 2016 by The Greek

[ItsDaJakeness]

I honestly think we should give John Urschel an offseason and pre-season at center. If he does well enough, we could trade Zutta and have a young offensive line in Ronnie Stanley, Alex Lewis, John Urschel, and Rickie Wagner. With Yanda there to mentor them and Juan there to teach them, they could turn into a dangerous O-line.

[sp3ctor]

I think Alex Lewis is that one piece needed to move on from the current veteran O-lineman not named Yanda. Stanley is clearly here to take Monroe's job, but Urschel quietly had himself quite the year at Center last season, keeping in mind that he had never played the position. Give his genius brain a full off season to adapt to the style of play necessary to excel at Center and he'll win the position over Zuttah. Winning the position makes a possible Zuttah trade a real possibility. We received a 5th round pick for Gino Gradkowski, we could easily get a 4th or 5th of Zuttah. It would give us youth across the board, with a Rookie LT (Stanley) and LG (Lewis), a 3 year vet at Center (Urschel), The Best Guard in Football and the perfect continuation of veteran leadership at RG (Yanda), and a 4 year vet in Wagner at RT. At least on paper that's a really solid O-line that's fairly inexpensive and aside from Wagner, no one needs to be resigned for years.

[fluffy201]

I think Alex Lewis is that one piece needed to move on from the current veteran O-lineman not named Yanda. Stanley is clearly here to take Monroe's job, but Urschel quietly had himself quite the year at Center last season, keeping in mind that he had never played the position. Give his genius brain a full off season to adapt to the style of play necessary to excel at Center and he'll win the position over Zuttah. Winning the position makes a possible Zuttah trade a real possibility. We received a 5th round pick for Gino Gradkowski, we could easily get a 4th or 5th of Zuttah. It would give us youth across the board, with a Rookie LT (Stanley) and LG (Lewis), a 3 year vet at Center (Urschel), The Best Guard in Football and the perfect continuation of veteran leadership at RG (Yanda), and a 4 year vet in Wagner at RT. At least on paper that's a really solid O-line that's fairly inexpensive and aside from Wagner, no one needs to be resigned for years.

Well you have Wagner up for contract, and Zeutta has proven reliable, but its just pure speculation to say a 4th round pick will start at guard. Hopefully you are right, but lets see him with the pads on against the NFL elitist. Also, I think Jensen may be the best guard on the roster aside form Yanda.

[stixfix69]

Wessley is another big bodied O-Linemen who will be in camp, and got some PT last year

[TheConquerorWorm]

Well, he has better size than Urschel and Jensen, but Jensen has that nasty streak that is needed for run blocking. Hopefully, Alex can win the position and slide in next to Monroe or Stanley. If Alex is a better fit at guard, I think Stanley may actually slide to RT over the oft injured Wagner. But, my instincts tell me Stanley at LG will be a better position and Alex at RT will work better, but we'll see who the best 5 O-linemen are.

During Rookie camp Stanley was at LT & Lewis at LG - they looked really good playing together. Stanley is a way better Tackle than Lewis so I don't see the Ravens putting Stanley at LG. I would say that Stanley & Lewis start at LT & LG.

Btw, even after his Lisfranc injury, Wagner played every offensive snap (1,134) except for 6 (Yanda only missed 2). He only missed one series the entire year. Not so "oft injured".

[huntrgathrr]

The offensive line should be a real strength this year. It is really clear to me that some time soon Hurschel will be at center and Stanley will be at L tackle. Lewis will have to beat out Jensen for L guard which will be a winner for the Ravens no matter who starts. They aren't touching Wagner at R tackle or Yanda at L guard. This is a top 5 unit IMO no matter who wins the starting jobs.

[stixfix69]

Oz always has 1 eye for the now, and 1 for the future, truth is Yanda is 31 and might play 3-4 more years, we will need to find a potential RG and groom them....And i think we have a few on the roster, Urschel, who played RG when Yanda kicked out tot RT when Wagner went down, Lewis seems to have the potential, Wesley who is a monster at 6'7 326......

[757RavensFan]

22 hours ago, stixfix69 said:

If he has that kind of potential, then letting Monroe go June 1st, and use the freed up money to get Tucker and B.Williams signed to long term deals.....

Yeah, but I have to admit having two rookies protect Joe's backside would have me nervous. 

[757RavensFan]

17 hours ago, sp3ctor said:

I think Alex Lewis is that one piece needed to move on from the current veteran O-lineman not named Yanda. Stanley is clearly here to take Monroe's job, but Urschel quietly had himself quite the year at Center last season, keeping in mind that he had never played the position. Give his genius brain a full off season to adapt to the style of play necessary to excel at Center and he'll win the position over Zuttah. Winning the position makes a possible Zuttah trade a real possibility. We received a 5th round pick for Gino Gradkowski, we could easily get a 4th or 5th of Zuttah. It would give us youth across the board, with a Rookie LT (Stanley) and LG (Lewis), a 3 year vet at Center (Urschel), The Best Guard in Football and the perfect continuation of veteran leadership at RG (Yanda), and a 4 year vet in Wagner at RT. At least on paper that's a really solid O-line that's fairly inexpensive and aside from Wagner, no one needs to be resigned for years.

While I like Urschel a lot, I think he's still a bit undersized to take over at center. I think he'll have problems handling the bigger NT of the league. 

[eze17]

  19 hours ago, sp3ctor said:

I think Alex Lewis is that one piece needed to move on from the current veteran O-lineman not named Yanda. Stanley is clearly here to take Monroe's job, but Urschel quietly had himself quite the year at Center last season, keeping in mind that he had never played the position. Give his genius brain a full off season to adapt to the style of play necessary to excel at Center and he'll win the position over Zuttah. Winning the position makes a possible Zuttah trade a real possibility. We received a 5th round pick for Gino Gradkowski, we could easily get a 4th or 5th of Zuttah. It would give us youth across the board, with a Rookie LT (Stanley) and LG (Lewis), a 3 year vet at Center (Urschel), The Best Guard in Football and the perfect continuation of veteran leadership at RG (Yanda), and a 4 year vet in Wagner at RT. At least on paper that's a really solid O-line that's fairly inexpensive and aside from Wagner, no one needs to be resigned for years.

Well you have Wagner up for contract, and Zeutta has proven reliable, but its just pure speculation to say a 4th round pick will start at guard. Hopefully you are right, but lets see him with the pads on against the NFL elitist. Also, I think Jensen may be the best guard on the roster aside form Yanda.

I agree. As the title says, he COULD thrive at LG...or he may not. If we keep Monroe then I think Stanley starts at LG. Being the #6 pick in the draft will get you thrown right into the starting rotation. If Stanley wins the LT job, I'd be more inclined to see Jensen playing at guard, if for no other reason than he has NFL experience and I don't think the Ravens would start two rookies on Flacco's blind side. Kind of why I think we keep Monroe at least through camp, and if he plays well keep him another year. I do think Lewis has a tremendous up side and easily makes the squad, however.

[ellicottraven]

17 hours ago, TheConquerorWorm said:

During Rookie camp Stanley was at LT & Lewis at LG - they looked really good playing together. Stanley is a way better Tackle than Lewis so I don't see the Ravens putting Stanley at LG. I would say that Stanley & Lewis start at LT & LG.

Btw, even after his Lisfranc injury, Wagner played every offensive snap (1,134) except for 6 (Yanda only missed 2). He only missed one series the entire year. Not so "oft injured".

You're right about Wagner not being 'oft' injured. For whatever reason when I think tackle Monroe pops into my head! However, Wagner rated very poorly after an exemplary performance prior to the injury. It is a tough injury to recover from quickly. So, he may very well be outplayed by one of the rookies.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

Good luck your going to need it. Even if Monroe was cut, slotting Stanley at LT, Ryan Jensen played extremely well at LG, especially in the run game. I would also be surprised to see two starting rookies on the offensive line (blindside), as Ozzie used the top pick in this years draft to ensure his QB is not injured again. Just earning some playing time is the most realistic option for him at this point.

One thing is clear, they want not one content and everyone hungry. I couldn't agree more.