KO...starting RT?

**wickedsolo** · 08-03-2012, 07:02 AM

KO has been REALLY impressive at RT so far. Almost every defense player the Ravens line up across from him have trouble getting anywhere with him. He's displaying solid footwork, quickness, and obviously that mauler mentality we've all read so much about.

K.O. K-Os KINDLE: Second-round draft pick Kelechi Osemele has become a fixture at right tackle with the first-team offense after missing the first couple of days of training camp. And he showed off his size, strength and technique throughout a 1-on-1 pass rush drill when he stonewalled Sergio Kindle, giving up no ground to the twisting and turning outside linebacker.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/r...tory?track=rss

If the Ravens were to go with Oher at LT and part ways with McKinnie (not saying they will...) then I think they've found their answer at RT with Osemele.

Apparently Oher has done a nice job on the left side so far too...maybe there is reason to believe that he can play LT in this league?

Could we be looking at a starting OL of:

LT - Oher
LG - B. Williams
C - Birk
RG - Yanda
RT - Osemele

Thoughts?

**Paintballguy** · 08-03-2012, 07:05 AM

I don't see them getting rid of McKinnie because it is good to have some depth. He just may not be starting if Oher and KO are doing good at the tackle positions.

**wickedsolo** · 08-03-2012, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

I don't see them getting rid of McKinnie because it is good to have some depth. He just may not be starting if Oher and KO are doing good at the tackle positions.

I agree, but are the Ravens willing to pay that kind of squeege to a guy who is already pretty unmotivated and not that great of a teammate? If they start Oher at LT over McKinnie you can pretty much bank on the fact that McKinnie is going to do jack squat for the rest of the season. I'd bet he gets a season ending injury or something and gets put on IR.

**leachisabeast** · 08-03-2012, 07:11 AM

I think it's not a surprise that I would be a huge fan of this move, as I really do not like Brant McKinnie, and still don't understand some of the credit he gets around here. Let see what KO can do next week against Atlanta before we get on his band wagon, but so far so good. His run blocking at college was outstanding at times, at left tackle there were times where he was literately picking guys up and just throwing them out of the way. His pass blocking was solid most of the time at left tackle, and he did come up against some pretty damn good pass rushers (I watched the game back in 2010 when he totally dominated Aldon Smith, yes Aldon Smith).

Since he was drafted, he has done nothing but work hard for the team, and has had no real issues, apart from being hurt for a little bit of TC. He looks to be in very very good shape for a guy his size, and is actually deceptively athletic. He is a little stiff and has issues with his footwork, and I can't see him ever being a legitimate left tackle in this league, but he looks the part at guard or at right tackle. Bryant McKinnie could have played his last down as a Raven if KO goes out and has a couple of good pre season games. Whenever Harbaugh is asked about McKinnie, his answers seem very concerning, and he definitely seems pissed off about him. It would not be a surprise at all if McKinnie is cut by the start of the season. And btw, some of you may think that the cap space is not important now that we are close to the season, but 3.2 million can go a long way to Flacco's contract extension, it can also carry some extra space going into next year too, every little helps.

**JAB1985** · 08-03-2012, 08:30 AM

Can we at least try him at LT, he did good all of college and could be the longterm answer there. If the feet are good, and hes showing quickness as well as strength i dont see the issue. Kindle is a speed rusher with multiple finesse moves, if hes showing ability to keep up with him i dont see why he cant switch to the left. Wed still be better off than having oher there imo.

**GOTA** · 08-03-2012, 08:38 AM

At least lets see how KO does in a preseason game before proclaiming him to be the answer.

**BigPlayReceiver** · 08-03-2012, 08:43 AM

I'll be watching KO with great interest in the PSGs. The longer Jah is out, the more reps he'll get.

FWIW...it seems that Harbs has positioned himself rather nicely to use McKinnie's absence and conditioning as a cautious "excuse" to keep McKinnie out of PSG #1...thus ensuring that he gets good looks out of KO at right and Oher at left.

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**Raveninwoodlawn** · 08-03-2012, 08:45 AM

Drew said on the radio yesterday that the Ravens are REALLY...REALLY impressed and happy with him.

We'll see how this goes, but it would be nice to nail down that spot for the next 4 years.

**Carey** · 08-03-2012, 11:33 AM

I've heard nothing but rave reviews for him since he got on the practice field. I would imagine he'll be starting that first preseason game and i'll be watching him very closely to see how he performs as well as how Oher does back on the left side, especially early on going up against Abraham. Oher's arm length and previous peaks and valleys in play still kind of scare me but from everything i've heard he looks good in TC.

**leachisabeast** · 08-03-2012, 11:49 AM

There is one thing we all know about Michael Oher, looking past his arm length issues, false starts, and mental errors of playing on the left side. He is always going to work hard to get better, he is a great character on this team and has no lazy issues like Mckinnie does. He has all the physical tools to succeed as a legitimate left tackle. I know that he is only 6'4, but so is a ton of other good left tackles like Duane Brown. I think if Oher fixes his mental issues, and lapses, he will be 80 % there to becoming at least an above average tackle.

**GOTA** · 08-03-2012, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

There is one thing we all know about Michael Oher, looking past his arm length issues, false starts, and mental errors of playing on the left side. He is always going to work hard to get better, he is a great character on this team and has no lazy issues like Mckinnie does. He has all the physical tools to succeed as a legitimate left tackle. I know that he is only 6'4, but so is a ton of other good left tackles like Duane Brown. I think if Oher fixes his mental issues, and lapses, he will be 80 % there to becoming at least an above average tackle.

Last year Oher showed a ton of improvement in that area. He didn't have nearly the penalties that he had in the past. He also just looked to be more comfortable and solid. I agree with you that this is due to his hard work to improve his game. Oher has a great first step and could end up as a pretty good player once he gets it together.

**SC_Raven_Fan** · 08-03-2012, 12:03 PM

Unless something EXTREME happens e.g. McKinnie has passed away or suffered a season/career ending injury, he is the starting LT for the Baltimore Ravens.

We all watched his performance last year and, as fans, we should be looking for a similar or improved performance. Oher is NOT an improvement over McKinnie. Bryant starts at LT, and I'll put money on that one (barring something extreme, of course).

**Carey** · 08-03-2012, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

looking past his arm length issues, false starts, and mental errors of playing on the left side

Thats alot to look past lol...seriously tho, im very optimistic about him, i also agree about his character and work ethic. Because of those issues i named i still have a bit of apprehension about him being on that island but we are about see where he is in that regard.

**jonboy79** · 08-03-2012, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

There is one thing we all know about Michael Oher, looking past his arm length issues, false starts, and mental errors of playing on the left side. He is always going to work hard to get better, he is a great character on this team and has no lazy issues like Mckinnie does. He has all the physical tools to succeed as a legitimate left tackle. I know that he is only 6'4, but so is a ton of other good left tackles like Duane Brown. I think if Oher fixes his mental issues, and lapses, he will be 80 % there to becoming at least an above average tackle.

He must first get the humility to understand that he isn't bigger, stronger and faster then everyone anymore. ALL he has to do is learn to use his arms to keep his rusher at a distance from hi sbody. If he learns to do this, he won't need to time the snap as well, and should cut down on false starts. Also he will be far less succeptable to botht he outside speed move and the outside-in spin move.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I've never seen a guy play LT like a guard as much as I see that in Oher's play.

**JustaslowZ06** · 08-03-2012, 01:07 PM

I never wanna see Oher start at LT ever again. I'd rather KO try his hand over there instead.

My guess it'll be Oher back at RT and Bryant at LT than both gone after this season. Just a guess.

**TheJoeFlaccoShow** · 08-03-2012, 01:14 PM

KO will be starting more than likely...but not at either tackle spot. I know the fans are just PRAYING that MCkinnie will fail, because they don't like him, but last I checked he played pretty decent there last year while KO....was in college. Same with Oher on the right side, I mean the line was rated in the top 10 with those two guys last year.

We hear these "feel good" stories out of camp ALL the time with these young guys. Good for them. Unfortunately they are rookies and have done squat against live NFL competition. This team is shooting for a Super Bowl and the proven guys will be in there, not some rookie who had a nice day at camp getting the job of protecting our most valuable asset on an island at either tackle spot.

The next reports you will hear is how KO is doing great at LG with McKinnie back in the fold practicing at HIS LT spot. You can put a little more stock in those reports, because actually has a chance to play and start there in 2012 unlike the tackle spots which are taken.

**houstonravensfan** · 08-03-2012, 02:21 PM

WAY too soon to even speculate abour Oher, McKinnie, KO, RT, lt . . . but it sure is fun.

ONE thing is apparent: in KO we have a solid future G or RT, and MAYBE an LT. Now if Gino also develops, maybe we can look forward to a time when our O line isn't a collection fof ringe players or over the hill veterans.

**bmorecareful** · 08-03-2012, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by TheJoeFlaccoShow

KO will be starting more than likely...but not at either tackle spot. I know the fans are just PRAYING that MCkinnie will fail, because they don't like him, but last I checked he played pretty decent there last year while KO....was in college. Same with Oher on the right side, I mean the line was rated in the top 10 with those two guys last year.

We hear these "feel good" stories out of camp ALL the time with these young guys. Good for them. Unfortunately they are rookies and have done squat against live NFL competition. This team is shooting for a Super Bowl and the proven guys will be in there, not some rookie who had a nice day at camp getting the job of protecting our most valuable asset on an island at either tackle spot.

The next reports you will hear is how KO is doing great at LG with McKinnie back in the fold practicing at HIS LT spot. You can put a little more stock in those reports, because actually has a chance to play and start there in 2012 unlike the tackle spots which are taken.

I'm not praying that McKinnie fails, but I'd be a fool to not appreciate the fact that McKinnie is not the long-term answer at LT for the Ravens and if he's standing in the way of a possible long-term solution, he is NOT the best option for the team, all else equal.

In other words, I'd rather have Oher or Osemele play LT in 2012 even if they can only play at just below the level of McKinnie, because there's a much higher chance those two guys can IMPROVE, versus McKinnie who will never be better than he already is. In fact, it's not unreasonable to think that he at his age, poor level of motivation, and poor physical condition he could start to precipitously decline at any point.

I trust the team to evaluate the talent we have at OL and select the best 5 players. McKinnie should only start at LT if he is a significantly better option for the entire 2012 season than Oher or Osemele. And the mere fact that we were "rated in the top 10 (by whom? by what measure?)" doesn't mean anything. If we were #9, and we could be #1 by making a personnel change, it's a no-brainer.

**leachisabeast** · 08-03-2012, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by TheJoeFlaccoShow

KO will be starting more than likely...but not at either tackle spot. I know the fans are just PRAYING that MCkinnie will fail, because they don't like him, but last I checked he played pretty decent there last year while KO....was in college. Same with Oher on the right side, I mean the line was rated in the top 10 with those two guys last year.

I don't know how you checked, but McKinnie was pretty damn average last season (and that's being nice). He was one of the worst run blocking left tackles last season too.

**B-more Ravor** · 08-03-2012, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by houstonravensfan

WAY too soon to even speculate abour Oher, McKinnie, KO, RT, lt . . . but it sure is fun.

ONE thing is apparent: in KO we have a solid future G or RT, and MAYBE an LT. Now if Gino also develops, maybe we can look forward to a time when our O line isn't a collection fof ringe players or over the hill veterans.

Well said. Let's just wait and see how it all shakes out, but if KO can play RT, we're in much, much better shape.