The dark horse in the left guard race.

**leachisabeast** · 06-04-2012, 03:39 PM

Again just OTA's but Justin Boren (6'2 325 lbs) who is a complete mauler has looked impressive thus far. He would also make that interior line huge if he lined up at center. Good to see the players we don't expect much from doing well. Someone to look out for in the pre season games.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/...n_In_OTAs.aspx

**chicagoravensfan** · 06-04-2012, 07:25 PM

Sounds awesome -- I'm excited to see him in the preseason BUT...I think I read the exact same article about Oneil Cousins during OTA's 2 years ago....

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**wickedsolo** · 06-04-2012, 07:47 PM

KO is going to be the starting LG.

**BcRaven** · 06-04-2012, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

KO is going to be the starting LG.

Yes, in preparation for his move to LT in 2013... Bc

**JAB1985** · 06-04-2012, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

KO is going to be the starting LG.

Id be really surprised if he isnt. I like our inside depth that we lacked last year and id still like to see reid push oher for that RT spot which i think he can win.

**leachisabeast** · 06-05-2012, 05:13 AM

I'm not saying he's going to start really, but he is going to offer some good depth as a center and guard, he may even compete with Gino next season for the center spot.

**RavenScallywag** · 06-05-2012, 05:40 AM

There was a lot of hope around Boren last year. But chicagoravensfan is right...Unfortunately, you have to take anything that comes from BR.com with a grain of salt...The team is looking to create storylines, they aren't going to negatively critique one of their own players like an outside media source would, such as WNST, Aaron Wilson, etc. A year or two back, there was an article on there about Cam Cameron saying he could see Oneil Cousins being the starter at T that year. Obviously, that was all a bit of propping on their part.

That said, I hope that Boren does play that well in camp. Whether or not he starts, always good to have quality competition to push the best player up.

**bensmotorcyclehelmt** · 06-05-2012, 10:41 AM

I think the important takeaway from this article is that Boren can play all three interior positions.
I'd be shocked if he won a starting role. But it's certainly good to have someone that's gives you a little depth and flexibility on your line.

**GOTA** · 06-05-2012, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

There was a lot of hope around Boren last year. But chicagoravensfan is right...Unfortunately, you have to take anything that comes from BR.com with a grain of salt...The team is looking to create storylines, they aren't going to negatively critique one of their own players like an outside media source would, such as WNST, Aaron Wilson, etc. A year or two back, there was an article on there about Cam Cameron saying he could see Oneil Cousins being the starter at T that year. Obviously, that was all a bit of propping on their part.

That said, I hope that Boren does play that well in camp. Whether or not he starts, always good to have quality competition to push the best player up.

Good post.

**Shas** · 06-05-2012, 11:19 AM

Okay, I am going to publicly credit BCRaven for having a better read on Boren and his chances of making the team than I had.

Back in March, before the draft, there was a thread about Ramon Harewood and in it BCRaven stated that he thought Boren was in a better position to make the team than Harewood, and may be in the mix if moving Jah Reid to guard failed to work.

I took the position that we should not write off Harewood because I saw him as more of a redshirt type player and not necessarily as a player who is too injury prone to contribute.

I argued that even if Grubbs were to leave, as he did, that the Ravens would be more likely to draft a center and guard prospect than a tackle prospect--and therefore Boren would face a lot more competition than Harewood. I will take a little credit for predicting that the team would add two more interior lineman and Harewood would still be the fourth tackle on the depth chart. However, Osemele is probably enough of a swing tackle/guard that he threatens Harewood's spot, and Gradkowski is probably enough of a center-only, that he doesn't much threaten Boren for a guard spot.

I think BCRaven probably had it right that the conversion of Jah Reid or even Michael Oher to guard won't be easy, and there is enough uncertainty that you can't rule out Boren as a legitimate option at position that he played in college at a high level.

It also helps his case to point out that there was a story in the Sun four days ago saying that Harewood was struggling a bit in camp at both tackles spots, with holding and false start penalties and he admitted that watching film while on IR doesn't do much to help learn how to make read-adjustments on the fly.

**trailhiker85** · 06-05-2012, 12:05 PM

I don't follow what happens in OTA's very closely because I just don't think there are many hard conclusions most fans can draw from them.

In any case, the prevailing sentiment here seems to be optimism about the interior OL depth, and I tend to agree with that. Justin Boren saw quite a bit of playing time in the 2011 preseason out of necessity, but may have shown enough to make the coaches feel he can make the final 53 this year. I think it's a stretch to say he's even a dark horse candidate to start at LG, but could provide decent quality depth.

And while the point could be made that depth at tackle is more needed than interior depth at this juncture, I still think Boren's chances of making the team are greater than Harewood's. I have no idea whether the Ravens think KO could be an NFL-caliber LT or whether they see him strictly as guard material forever. But either way, I have this feeling they may soon be giving up on Harewood.

**Shas** · 06-05-2012, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by trailhiker85

Justin Boren saw quite a bit of playing time in the 2011 preseason out of necessity, but may have shown enough to make the coaches feel he can make the final 53 this year. I think it's a stretch to say he's even a dark horse candidate to start at LG, but could provide decent quality depth..

The odd thing is that while Boren played well in the second preseason game against the Redskins, he didn't play well in the other two and was downright dreadful in the final game of the preseason, against the Falcons. He was easily outplayed by Bryan Mattison and Tim Barnes. So he must have showed enough in practices to warrant sticking on the practice squad.

It's worth noting that Mattison and Barnes both ended up signing with the Rams. Barnes as a practice squad player until he was elevated to the 53-man in the last week of the season. Mattison got four starts at right guard and performed admirably.

Both of them are in the running to be the starter at LG for the Rams, so it's kind of ironic that Boren would be in the exact same position back in Baltimore. The Rams also drafted a guy who could be in the mix, but Rok Watkins was a late rounder and much less highly thought of than Osemele.

It's quite possible that the guy the Ravens let go, Mattison, secures a starting job in St. Louis before Boren does in Baltimore.

Recall, too, that former Ravens center Jason Brown went to St. Louis but ended up getting cut and doesn't have a job right now.

**leachisabeast** · 06-05-2012, 01:15 PM

Don't forget about the other guy the Ravens signed as a UDRFA, I can't remember his name, but he's like 6'8 and 330 lbs or something stupid like that, the guys massive and could be in the mix as a reserve tackle over Harewood.

**HHIRaven** · 06-05-2012, 01:32 PM

UDFA James Carmon never signed with the Ravens if that is who you are talking about. Lawrence and Madsen signed and are both about 6'4" and more RT material. They did sign one tall tackle Jack Cornell who is 6'6" but i thnk only weighs about 310lbs. Most info I could find on him indicated that he would be a better gaurd than tackle prospect.
That leaves the depth chart at LT as Mckinnie, Oher and Harewood for now.

**Dirt1** · 06-05-2012, 01:55 PM

I don't want to be debbie downer but I am just not seeing what the fuss is about with guys like Boren, Jah Reid, and Harewood. These guys cannot seem to stay healthy or get on the field when they are healthy. I don't think that Harewood is going to amount to anything at this point, and I have major doubts if Boren and Reid are going to be anything other than perennial back-ups. The Ravens have a decent, but not great OL, but these guys have not been able to get any kind of playing time despite the Ravens having a few injuries on the OL. When they have gotten in games, they have not been very impressive.

**wickedsolo** · 06-05-2012, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

I don't want to be debbie downer but I am just not seeing what the fuss is about with guys like Boren, Jah Reid, and Harewood. These guys cannot seem to stay healthy or get on the field when they are healthy. I don't think that Harewood is going to amount to anything at this point, and I have major doubts if Boren and Reid are going to be anything other than perennial back-ups. The Ravens have a decent, but not great OL, but these guys have not been able to get any kind of playing time despite the Ravens having a few injuries on the OL. When they have gotten in games, they have not been very impressive.

Well, I think you'd have a point regarding Harewood, but Jah was a rookie last year and probably would have started at RT had the Ravens not signed McKinnie and moved Oher back over to the right side. Boren was a UDFA to begin with and a long shot to make the team.

**Dirt1** · 06-05-2012, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

Well, I think you'd have a point regarding Harewood, but Jah was a rookie last year and probably would have started at RT had the Ravens not signed McKinnie and moved Oher back over to the right side. Boren was a UDFA to begin with and a long shot to make the team.

If Reid had been the starting RT this past season, it would have been due to default, and not a demonstration of ability. I have watched him closely when he has been in games. I am not impressed. He isn't explosive coming off of the ball, and doesn’t seem to get the kind of push you want to see from a starting OT. I hope I am wrong, but I doubt the Ravens are planning for Reid to be a starting OT or OG for them anytime soon. The same goes for Boren. I doubt he will be anything more than a back-up.

How did Gradkowski look in the OTA's? Any chance that he could contribute this season, or is he another project?

**leachisabeast** · 06-05-2012, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by HHIRaven

UDFA James Carmon never signed with the Ravens if that is who you are talking about. Lawrence and Madsen signed and are both about 6'4" and more RT material. They did sign one tall tackle Jack Cornell who is 6'6" but i thnk only weighs about 310lbs. Most info I could find on him indicated that he would be a better gaurd than tackle prospect.
That leaves the depth chart at LT as Mckinnie, Oher and Harewood for now.

Yeah James Carmon is who I meant, I thought we signed him.. oh well..

And Jah Reid was a 3rd round pick who we moved up to get, he's barely played any snaps for us. I highly doubt the Ravens are just going to settle with him being a back up, his size and athleticism is just too much to forget about. As for Gino, he is seen by many as the long term answer at center for when Birk retires/gets too old to be an NFL starting center.

**BcRaven** · 06-06-2012, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Shas

Okay, I am going to publicly credit BCRaven for having a better read on Boren and his chances of making the team than I had.

Back in March, before the draft, there was a thread about Ramon Harewood and in it BCRaven stated that he thought Boren was in a better position to make the team than Harewood, and may be in the mix if moving Jah Reid to guard failed to work.

I took the position that we should not write off Harewood because I saw him as more of a redshirt type player and not necessarily as a player who is too injury prone to contribute.

I argued that even if Grubbs were to leave, as he did, that the Ravens would be more likely to draft a center and guard prospect than a tackle prospect--and therefore Boren would face a lot more competition than Harewood. I will take a little credit for predicting that the team would add two more interior lineman and Harewood would still be the fourth tackle on the depth chart. However, Osemele is probably enough of a swing tackle/guard that he threatens Harewood's spot, and Gradkowski is probably enough of a center-only, that he doesn't much threaten Boren for a guard spot.

I think BCRaven probably had it right that the conversion of Jah Reid or even Michael Oher to guard won't be easy, and there is enough uncertainty that you can't rule out Boren as a legitimate option at position that he played in college at a high level.

It also helps his case to point out that there was a story in the Sun four days ago saying that Harewood was struggling a bit in camp at both tackles spots, with holding and false start penalties and he admitted that watching film while on IR doesn't do much to help learn how to make read-adjustments on the fly.

Nothing to add, except THANKS shas... Bc