One area of considerable frustration in the last weeks of the regular season and which showed up against both Houston and New England was the manner in which the line of scrimmage was controlled, in both cases, by the opposing team. While Vince Wilfork played an excellent game, it’s difficult for me to carry any conclusion other than that the Ravens should ‘ve been able to punch the ball in the near side of the end zone. When strength went against strength, there was n’t enough push. That ‘s either the result of poorly executing assignments, problems with play-calling, or give credit to the other team. I ‘m going to wave off my own suggestions here because really the answer is related to all three.
So, let’s have a look at what the line may look like going into this year: (height/weight listings are as found on Baltimoreravens.com)
BRYANT MCKINNIE, 11th year out of Miami, 6’8 – 360
Likely relation to the team: Starting Left Tackle
Concerns: Can McKinnie keep his weight under control? Last year he was cut by Minnesota due to concerns. He managed to plug into the line shortly before the season even though he had to slim down from reportedly tipping the scales on the wrong side of 400 lbs.
Expectations: Reports are that he’s trying to cut down to 350 from 365 lbs, and that’s encouraging. He provided an immediate impact in the series opener against Pittsburgh. That push wasn’t so easy to find late in the season and may have been the result of Mount McKinnie wearing down.
I expect he’ll struggle with some speed rushers still, but unless he develops a nervous twitch ala Michael Oher, he’s solid enough to be Joe’s designated blind-side protector. The upside is that he is coming into his second year in the system and has been at the training facility enough to stay near game shape. That should allow whichever new player slides in at Left Guard the closest possible thing to a seemless transition.
*Against my view: ProFootball Focus rates McKinnie’s performance in the playoffs against Houston as #5 for Left Tackles in 2011.
MICHAEL OHER, 4th year out of Ole Miss, 6’4 – 315
Likely relation to the team: Starting Right Tackle
Concerns: Oher falls short of dominant play. While he is athletic for a big man, he misses one too many assignments in the passing game (my perception) and does n’t maul 5 technique defensive ends or outside backers the way you ‘d like to see for a player whose worth is supposedly primarily in the run game. That nervous tic has led to one too many false starts, much to the ire of fans.
Expectations: While Oher should benefit from a second straight year at his better position, away from the blind side, it seems he may lose out on the heir-apparent status to the coveted position on the left side. Either Jah Reid, or possibly Osemele, may get a chance to replace McKinnie. But that’s a story for another year.
For this year, Oher is the right tackle to beat and, unless Harbaugh falls in love both with both Reid AND Osemele during camp, he will remain entrenched. My expectations are decidedly low as far as goal line push or consistency are concerned. This is n’t what should be expected from the former steal of the first round, but it’s probably good enough for him to open the year as incumbent starter.
*Against my view: Oher’s performance, mostly against Darnell Dockett, against Arizona was rated #1 among Right Tackles in 2011 by ProFootball Focus. At least they agree about the team’s performance against the Patriots front seven in which no Ravens lineman looked particularly good.
JAH REID, 2nd year out of UCF, 6’7 – 335
Likely relation to the team: Starting Left Guard
Concerns: While largely inexperienced at the position, it’s difficult to hear anything negative about last year’s 3rd round pick (85th overall). Of course, he has n’t amassed enough game tape to have earned particularly negative marks either.
Expectations: Kelechi Osemele is the odds on favorite to make a run at the open guard spot, Jah Reid has a year’s experience on him and has displayed good work ethic. In the interest of getting him onto the field, Reid may have to settle for the LG position until one of the tackle positions opens up. It is n’t out of the question that Jah supplants either an underperforming McKinnie or Oher in season, but that scenario is highly unlikely coming out of camp barring injury.
At minimum, Reid will play as a tackle-eligible in goal-line packages should “K.O.” win the position outright.
KELECHI OSEMELE, rookie out of Iowa State, 6’5 – 333
Likely relation to the team: In the running for Starting Left Guard
Concerns: He looked a little stiff and slow off the snap in the little tape I managed to view against Oklahoma, but that was at Left Tackle, and K.O. will be asked to either produce at the Left Guard or Right Tackle positions in the coming years (as Yanda has that Right Guard position on lockdown).
Expectations: K.O. should intrigue fans in camp, and may even win the starting job, but the likelihood is that he serves as a rotational player and comes into 2013 ready to challenge for the starting Right Tackle spot. Until then, he’s on my unofficial all-name team and a player to watch.
RAMON HAREWOOD, 3rd year out of Morehouse, 6’6 – 340
Likely relation to the team: Waiver player added to the someone’s Practice Squad
Concerns: There was some good press initially when Harewood was drafted in the 6th round. Players with his body type will naturally get chances to stick around with a club, but it seems that that time is running out in Baltimore for Harewood, even if he holds onto a roster spot, which I ‘m doubtful of at this moment.
Expectations: Injuries to his knees have ended both of his seasons and at this point durability is a serious concern. It seems unlikely that the team will hold onto an injury liability at tackle with the depth and versatility available with Jah Reid, Kelechi Osemele, and, in a pinch, Yanda.
MARSHAL YANDA, 6th year out of Iowa, 6’3 – 315
Likely relation to the team: Starting Right Guard
Concerns: While Yanda endured some nasty gashes mid-season, he displayed absurd grit and has only increased his reputation thereby. He comes with some injury concerns, but the Ravens are expecting last year’s investment to keep paying off in the form of Baltimore’s best lineman.
Expectations: If the Ravens’ front fails to be physical at the end of the year, it won’t be because of Yanda. I believe the Ravens made the right call in letting Grubbs walk while retaining the player who better fits their personality.
GINO GRADKOWSKI, rookie out of Delaware (transfer from W.Va), 6’3 – 300
Likely relation to the team: In camp given a chance to win the starting Left Guard position where Jah Reid and Kelechi Osemele are considered by most to be first in line
Concerns: Gradkowski may be too raw at this point to produce in the way the Ravens’ scouting department expects.
Expectations: Gradkowski should provide value after soaking up whatever knowledge Matt Birk passes along at the Center position. Bruce Gradkowski’s younger brother likely will get his chance to make an impression in camp in 2013 and 2014 as positions within the line begin opening up.
MATT BIRK, 15th year out of Harvard, 6’4 – 310
Likely relation to the team: Starting Center
Concerns: Birk is effective in calling the interior assignments and as the follow up member of the double-team. In terms of providing a push against nose guards, he’s not much help. Cutting down a linebacker further afield is the more likely assignment. Age is catching up to him, but he makes up for much of this with intelligence. There’s of course a limit, and it seems Birk is nearing the wrong end of that curve on the graph where production swiftly fades.
Expectations: Barring injury, Birk will get the chance to play out this year, provide mentoring to Gradkowski, and continue to call the assignments at the line until he decidedly shows that the cost of having him play is n’t reaping enough benefit. Until then, he provides a steady presence, but there aren’t going to be so many 3rd and 1 plunges up the middle (which is perhaps fine as Joe Flacco is rather awful at executing this play anyway).
JUSTIN BOREN, 1st year out of Ohio State (transfer from Michigan), 6’3 – 325
Likely relation to the team: Reserve Interior Offensive Lineman
Concerns: Boren managed to hang around the team last year on the practice squad and could eventually challenge for playing time at guard or center.
Expectations: I like having an extra Parade All-American on the team and Boren is the type of Undrafted Free Agent who sometimes pans out. Given that the Ravens often don’t hang onto interior linemen (Ed Mulitalo was one of the exceptions and Yanda is proving to be as well) for so long, Boren may eventually get his shot.
While I don’t expect to see him in games this year, he might be active for a few if Gradkowski or Osemele need time to catch onto the playbook and should be a player of interest in preseason games.
CECIL NEWTON Jr., 1st year out of Tennessee State, 6’2 – 315
Likely relation to the team: Practice Squad or Released late in Training Camp
Expectations: I did n’t realize that buried deep in the dredges of the depth chart is Cam Newton’s older brother (have to imagine it’s difficult to watch your brother go #1 overall and win Rookie of the Year when you have to scrape to stay on the Practice Squad calling list, but of course thrilling to watch as well from a family standpoint). There really aren’t any expectations here unless a few injuries add up. Best of luck to the kid.
HOWARD BARBIERI, 1st year out of Rutgers, 6’5 – 300
Likely relation to the team: Practice Squad or Released during Training Camp
Expectations: Barbieri may be most recognizable during training camp and the preseason for his long hair (much as is the case with Jah Reid). That is about all I ‘m expecting from the Texans’ practice squadder. The other interesting note is that he was part of an offensive line which paved the way for Ray Rice’s production for the Scarlet Knights.
ANTOINE MCCLAIN, rookie out of Clemson, 6’5 – 329
Likely relation to the team: McClain might be able to latch onto a spot on the Practice Squad for this team
Expectations: While overall expectations are low, McClain is the type of player (and body) that a team tries to bring back to 2013’s training camp in hopes of seeing some maturation through practicing with the team throughout the year and studying the playbook. Given his 54 games of collegiate experience, his body, and the intelligence he displayed in being named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll from 2010-11, he’s a player to watch in camp this year with an eye to next year.
JACK CORNELL, rookie out of Illinois, 6’6 – 315
Likely relation to the team: Early cut
Expectations: John Leslie Cornell Jr. is not expected to make the team, or be retained on this year’s practice squad. If he leaves a good impression in the preseason games, he’ll solicit an invitation down the road from another team. Best of luck to him.
ADDISON LAWRENCE, rookie out of Mississippi State, 6’4 – 300
Likely relation to the team: Early cut
Expectations: Carl Addison Lawrence has been part of some very physical rushing attacks with the Bulldogs in the forms of Anthony Dixon and Vick Ballard. If Lawrence finds the right situation for another team, his physical presence might earn him a shot later. If he’s to win a spot somewhere, he’ll have to carve out a niche quickly and show that he can pay dividends for the team that lets him develop.
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