Rookie Camp Observations

[srobert96]

With spread offenses in college it is not easy to evaluate oline talent. Colleges do not need NFL ready LTs as athleticism is almost more important at the guard positions. In the NFL the need for franchise LTs is decreasing as teams move to more of spread offenses with the QB working out of the gun. Ravens with their retro offense put a ton of pressure on their tackles.

[Rxdoxx]

In the NFL the need for franchise LTs is decreasing as teams move to more of spread offenses with the QB working out of the gun. Ravens with their retro offense put a ton of pressure on their tackles.

Truth in what you are saying, but the pendulum swings and then swings back.
Happened on D where we were ahead of the curve with 3-4 LB/DE Tweeners, not so much now, lots of other teams are looking for what we would find.

Same on O, as you say.
Saints have swung away from franchise T, putting their emphasis on G. In part because Brees needs to step up into the throw for greatest accuracy/efficiency. Not surprising when they lose possibly the best G then sign Grubbs.

We may be retro, but we took a step in that direction when we locked up Yanda. Now remains to be seen (as others have said hard to tell much with no pads), but KO sounds like a beast with long arms.... I have no idea if we can excel with adequate Ts and beast Gs (like N.O.).... too many questions, too much info has to be learned from camp/preseason. I know I'm not fretting about Jah/KO/Gino like I did about Kendrick/Bennie

[JAB1985]

I still dont understand how Reid can be considered an athletic and agile RT but not athletic and agile enough for LT at all. seems odd to me to say hes really good at those things for the Right side but not nearly enough for the Left. One of the reasons he moved up draft boards was because of those things. For a guy with prototypical size and from all accounts a good work ethic youd think hed be able to at least try to be a LT, as opposed to being type cast as a RT only.

[wickedsolo]

I still dont understand how Reid can be considered an athletic and agile RT but not athletic and agile enough for LT at all. seems odd to me to say hes really good at those things for the Right side but not nearly enough for the Left. One of the reasons he moved up draft boards was because of those things. For a guy with prototypical size and from all accounts a good work ethic youd think hed be able to at least try to be a LT, as opposed to being type cast as a RT only.

I'm sure he'll be given the opportunity.

The problem and the main reason why folks are skeptical is because he's only played RT.

[JustaslowZ06]

I still dont understand how Reid can be considered an athletic and agile RT but not athletic and agile enough for LT at all. seems odd to me to say hes really good at those things for the Right side but not nearly enough for the Left. One of the reasons he moved up draft boards was because of those things. For a guy with prototypical size and from all accounts a good work ethic youd think hed be able to at least try to be a LT, as opposed to being type cast as a RT only.

Good point, esp considering no longer do teams strictly just matchup their best pass rusher on the blind side. You see them moving around and picking their own matchups.

[houstonravensfan]

Good point, esp considering no longer do teams strictly just matchup their best pass rusher on the blind side. You see them moving around and picking their own matchups.

True in some cases, but traditional ways of thinking die hard. IMO, it is generally thought that a D's best passrusher comes from the QBs blind side; therefore, the LT, protecting his blind side, needs to be a team's best OT. The LT is generally more "athletic," quicker, more agile than the RT. Apologies if preaching to the choir . . . Yah, I'd love to see Reid try and then earn the LT spot. That would be great.

[BcRaven]

Still pulling for Reid to be the LT, but a very good point was brought up. People that get PAID for this say he's a RT and thats it. Same with KO at G. He's not going to be the LT...

Teams that end up in last place, consistently pick in the top ten, also have "people that get PAID"... Bc

[JustaslowZ06]

Teams that end up in last place, consistently pick in the top ten, also have "people that get PAID"... Bc

Touche

[JimZipCode]

I hope you like him because he will be the Ravens starting LT in 2013... Bc

Osemele – Oher – Gradkowski – Yanda – Jah Reid.

At the very least, we'd sure as hell be able to run the football. Just adequate at pass-blocking, but the Ravens like to be a run-based offense anyway.

[leachisabeast]

I don't see Oher ever moving to the inside, and I don't see Osemele at LT at all.

Unless we ever finish 5-11 in 2012, I don't see us getting an elite LT any time soon. We are just going to have to live with Oher at LT or even Reid. At least our interior line is set for a long time now.

For now the line is probably going to be like this...
McKinnie-Osemele-Birk-Yanda-Oher

And in 2013 probably...
Oher-Osemele-Gradkowski-Yanda-Reid

There are some decent free agent LT's in 2013 who are solid and can probably come at fairly good prices, but you will have to say good bye to either Oher or Reid in that case, and I don't see the Ravens doing that.

[Dirt1]

If McKinnie has a good season this year, and the Ravens are not able to trade/sign an upgrade at LT, I think they might try to extend him for another 2 seasons.

[GOTA]

If McKinnie has a good season this year, and the Ravens are not able to trade/sign an upgrade at LT, I think they might try to extend him for another 2 seasons.

If McKinnie has a good season he's going to want a much bigger contract than the one he has now. His money problems a well documented. Some other team is going to pay him a lot more than Ozzie.

[JAB1985]

If McKinnie has a good season he's going to want a much bigger contract than the one he has now. His money problems a well documented. Some other team is going to pay him a lot more than Ozzie.

Im not so sure of that. Hes only an above average LT (which is all he really needs to be here), hes older, has work ethic and weight issues. I highly doubt hes ever heavily sought after again, even if he does have a good or great season this year, because the reason behind it would be translucent, contract year. I dont think he cashes in, but i dont think he settles for another 2 year deal either. i think a deal could be worked out within out budget if he is indeed the best option still.

[KidSampson]

Teams that end up in last place, consistently pick in the top ten, also have "people that get PAID"... Bc

Yes. People got paid to draft Jaba-cus Russell, David Carr, Kyle Boller, etc in the first round. And a lot of people got paid to pass on Brady, Romo, Warner, etc.

[JimZipCode]

The dude who runs OurLads, Dan Shonka, was on Norris & Davis on The Fan after the draft, a couple weeks ago. He said in his opinion Osemele can play tackle in the NFL. He was very definite about it, something like "he seems like a tackle to me," or "you don't put a guy with long arms like his in at guard," or something like that. Shonka also emphasizes how Osemele stoned Aldon Smith in college, and Smith seems to be an elite pass rusher. (I don't know when Osemele would have faced Smith.)

I don't remember the exact quote, but you can listen to his segment here:

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/0...s-draft-picks/

Shonka is an ex-scout, right? Why is he wrong about Osemele, and everyone else is right?

KO started for 4 years at LT at a good program in a tough conference, and he's huge, evidently has long arms (Oher's weak point), and is athletic. Why can't he play LT, again?

[leachisabeast]

The dude who runs OurLads, Dan Shonka, was on Norris & Davis on The Fan after the draft, a couple weeks ago. He said in his opinion Osemele can play tackle in the NFL. He was very definite about it, something like "he seems like a tackle to me," or "you don't put a guy with long arms like his in at guard," or something like that. Shonka also emphasizes how Osemele stoned Aldon Smith in college, and Smith seems to be an elite pass rusher. (I don't know when Osemele would have faced Smith.)

I don't remember the exact quote, but you can listen to his segment here:

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/0...s-draft-picks/

Shonka is an ex-scout, right? Why is he wrong about Osemele, and everyone else is right?

KO started for 4 years at LT at a good program in a tough conference, and he's huge, evidently has long arms (Oher's weak point), and is athletic. Why can't he play LT, again?

IDK know about that tbh, I mean guys like Mike Mayock (not saying we should pay loads of attention to what he says all the time, but is one of the better draft analysts) basically thinks he is a phone booth guard at the next level. Osemele could be an elite guard for us, so why would you stunt his development by moving him over to tackle in 2013? IMO our best bet is to sign a younger FA tackle in 2013 as there will be quite a few on the market. Guys like Duane Brown, and Ryan Clady will be worth a look at, IDK how much Denver and Houston will be wanting to keep them, but we will probably have a much better cap situation next year.

Another guy I have really liked since being drafted is Sebastian Volmer, the German guy who has been sitting on the bench for the past few years, but whenever he has played, he has looked solid, and better than Matt Light. I'm pretty sure the Patriots are going to try everything in their power to keep him, because Matt Light is likely to retire in 2013.

[JAB1985]

IDK know about that tbh, I mean guys like Mike Mayock (not saying we should pay loads of attention to what he says all the time, but is one of the better draft analysts) basically thinks he is a phone booth guard at the next level. Osemele could be an elite guard for us, so why would you stunt his development by moving him over to tackle in 2013? IMO our best bet is to sign a younger FA tackle in 2013 as there will be quite a few on the market. Guys like Duane Brown, and Ryan Clady will be worth a look at, IDK how much Denver and Houston will be wanting to keep them, but we will probably have a much better cap situation next year.

Another guy I have really liked since being drafted is Sebastian Volmer, the German guy who has been sitting on the bench for the past few years, but whenever he has played, he has looked solid, and better than Matt Light. I'm pretty sure the Patriots are going to try everything in their power to keep him, because Matt Light is likely to retire in 2013.

Id be doing cartwheels if we somehow got Ryan Clady, problem is when youre an elite LT and you have peyton manning on your team, you can pretty much realize thats a pipe dream for that reason alone, not including the millions upon millions ($) of other reasons.

Volmer sounds interesting but i doubt the Pats let him go either since Matt Light retired.

overall 2013 is a decent class of younger Ts that year, im just not sure a team will let them go unless for a an obvious performance reason (like oher for us), in which case we wont want them anyway. I personally see us signing a vet much like McKinnie, if not McKinnie, to maintain that veteran presence that Birk will be leaving with.

[alien bird]

Shonka also emphasizes how Osemele stoned Aldon Smith in college, and Smith seems to be an elite pass rusher. (I don't know when Osemele would have faced Smith.)

Iowa State and Missouri are in the same conference and played each other in 2008, 2009 & 2010 when both Smith and Osemele were in college. So there were three opportunities right there.

[BigPlayReceiver]

Iowa State and Missouri are in the same conference and played each other in 2008, 2009 & 2010 when both Smith and Osemele were in college. So there were three opportunities right there.

The teams matched-up all three years.