Osemele will start opening game, McKinnie in danger to make roster

**Dade** · 08-14-2012, 07:31 PM

Sure. If they were to cut him they wouldn't waste giving him first team reps.

Next time post your source.

**Cj34** · 08-14-2012, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Dade

Sure. If they were to cut him they wouldn't waste giving him first team reps.

Next time post your source.

Exactamundo. As a matter of fact, if Ozzie was really going to cut him I doubt he would have made it past a couple of days after showing up late to camp. They would have wanted to either make another FA move quickly or get some of the young linemen some additional reps.

**steelerhater** · 08-14-2012, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ed Reed

This guy is 100% legit. His name is Jeff Risdon and is a writer for a sports website. I wont post the site since maybe the admins dont like links to other websites.

I could see them possibly going with Osemele at right tackle, but no way in hell does Oher start on the left side. If that's the case, then the Ravens are mailing in the season. This will be Oher's last training camp with the Ravens and, hopefully, he gets cut before the season starts. Its time the front office admitted that they made a huge mistake drafting that garbage.

**Boulderraven** · 08-14-2012, 10:23 PM

Calling BS on this report. McKinnie is at 357 20lbs less than same point last year. McKinnie had a pretty decent year, I expect the same.

**B-more Ravor** · 08-14-2012, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

I could see them possibly going with Osemele at right tackle, but no way in hell does Oher start on the left side. If that's the case, then the Ravens are mailing in the season. This will be Oher's last training camp with the Ravens and, hopefully, he gets cut before the season starts. Its time the front office admitted that they made a huge mistake drafting that garbage.

Not going to happen. Oher will be here - and starting - this year and next.

I can understand people being disappointed with Oher, but this is a bit over the top.

**steelerhater** · 08-14-2012, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

Not going to happen. Oher will be here - and starting - this year and next.

I can understand people being disappointed with Oher, but this is a bit over the top.

Why? He's terrible, especially on the left side. Two plays stood out to me in the first quarter of Thursday night's game. First of all, he totally wiffed on a block that let a defender go untouched and his Ray rice for a loss. Secondly, on another play, he let abraham bull rush him into the pocket where flacco had to step up (almost before his feet were even planted) and get sacked. On yet another play, they overloaded the left side and even had Rice on the left side of the backfield apparently to give Oher help. Most of the other plays in that quarter seemed to go to the right side. It appeared to me that the Ravens had no confidence in him, so they ran plays where he wouldn't be a factor.

**AirFlacco** · 08-14-2012, 11:04 PM

I share steel hater's sentiment and everyone knows I've been saying this
since Day 1, but Ravor is right.

Oz will never admit this huge mistake. Never.

He'll give him a big signing bonus before he cuts him.

NICKS ISN'T AS GOOD A PLAYER AS MICHAEL OHER.

DECOSTA TO ME & NEST 1 AUDIENCE 4 DAYS AFTER OHER WAS DRAFTED

**leachisabeast** · 08-15-2012, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

Why? He's terrible, especially on the left side. Two plays stood out to me in the first quarter of Thursday night's game. First of all, he totally wiffed on a block that let a defender go untouched and his Ray rice for a loss. Secondly, on another play, he let abraham bull rush him into the pocket where flacco had to step up (almost before his feet were even planted) and get sacked. On yet another play, they overloaded the left side and even had Rice on the left side of the backfield apparently to give Oher help. Most of the other plays in that quarter seemed to go to the right side. It appeared to me that the Ravens had no confidence in him, so they ran plays where he wouldn't be a factor.

You do realise that any tackle in this league can get ball rushed from time to time, Jake Long, and Joe Thomas make mistakes too. It's a very very hard position to play no matter how big or athletic you are. Apart from QB, it's arguably the hardest position in the game. Michael Oher is no where near as bad as what you are saying he is, for starters when he started in 2010 on the left side, sure he wasn't great, he looked lost at times. However, McKinnie, who a lot of you all seem to think is still a premium tackle in this league, gave up more sacks and just as many pressures in 2011 that Oher gave up in 2010. Our season would be far from over if Oher was to be named the starting LT, which he wont be, McKinnie is going to start his final year as a Raven. Next year we are likely to either invest a first round pick on a big athletic left tackle, or don't be surprised to see Oher as next years LT, with Reid or Osemele on the right side.

I thought he had a pretty decent game against the Falcons. He was lined up against one of the better pass rushers in the league, and apart from one or two mistakes, he looked pretty good.

**Ravenswintitle** · 08-15-2012, 07:02 AM

I'm not the biggest Oher fan but it's because of the penalties primarily. He's been pretty solid and a constant starter so it's hard to say he hasn't lived up. Will he be here after next year? Not if another team over pays him.

**JAB1985** · 08-15-2012, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

I thought he had a pretty decent game against the Falcons. He was lined up against one of the better pass rushers in the league, and apart from one or two mistakes, he looked pretty good.

i dont think McKinnie is a premier LT, just better than Oher (sacks/pressure per attempt were less as we threw more in 2011), but even i admit he didnt look bad against ATL. if there was a bright spot along the line it was mostly he and KO.

**Paintballguy** · 08-15-2012, 07:12 AM

Sounds like a bunch of BS. If McKinnie was in "danger" of getting cut, he wouldn't be getting 1st team reps.

**dweezil22** · 08-15-2012, 08:39 AM

Can you post your source, Ed? (I don't think anyone minds links to articles to be discussed here, correct me if I'm wrong mods)

A few minutes googling "bryant mckinnie jeff risdon" returned... this thread. Even realgm didn't see to have an article on it (that I could find at least), so I'm curious where this came from.

**B-more Ravor** · 08-15-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

Why? He's terrible, especially on the left side. ......Most of the other plays in that quarter seemed to go to the right side. It appeared to me that the Ravens had no confidence in him, so they ran plays where he wouldn't be a factor.

Sorry, but I think you are seeing what you want to see.

Oher may not have been worthy of #22 overall, but he's far from terrible.

**B-more Ravor** · 08-15-2012, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by AirFlacco

Oz will never admit this huge mistake. Never.

When Oher is the 2nd best OT on your team, there's nothing to admit and certainly no reason to cut him. He's not been great, but he's far from a bust.

BTW, weren't you also saying that they should have taken Britt over Oher too? Britt is great when he plays, but those off field issues are the reason A LOT of teams passed on him.

Trap, you keep beating this drum, congrats, you got one right. No offense, though, but still I'll take Ozzie's and DeCosta's track record!

**Dirt1** · 08-15-2012, 09:22 AM

The Ravens really need to get Osemele more snaps at LG. McKinnie is the best LT and Oher is the best RT on the Ravens. It doesn't look as though Bobbie Williams will be able to hold up all season at LG, so they need to get Osemele ready. If Harbaugh is just trying to motivate McKinnie then fine, but he better not go overboard with his doghouse crap. The Ravens do not have the necessary depth on the OL for that.

**leachisabeast** · 08-15-2012, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

I'm not the biggest Oher fan but it's because of the penalties primarily. He's been pretty solid and a constant starter so it's hard to say he hasn't lived up. Will he be here after next year? Not if another team over pays him.

Still two years away before we have to start worrying about his contract.

**jonboy79** · 08-15-2012, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

Not going to happen. Oher will be here - and starting - this year and next.

I can understand people being disappointed with Oher, but this is a bit over the top.

Even I agree with you here Ravor...

He's worth the contract he has. The pick was spent and is gone, so all you can look at is what he will make next year vs his production, and it's a fair trade for sure. All teams need at least two capable LT's, and I consider Oher an acceptable #2 in that regards. Combine that will his acceptability on the right side and you have a fair value for his contract.
I'd prefer not to see him at LT ever again in purple, and would even prefer to have a better option on the right, but he has value for the team regardless.

Now if the poster were to say he wouldn't re-sign AFTER next year, then I would agree. Some bad team will probably overpay him to try and play LT... lol

**SugarRay52** · 08-15-2012, 09:36 AM

Tony Lombardi is on this site and it drives me crazy that some of you don't rely on him more far as getting inside information. Tony or Aaron Wilson can confirm this so lets ask them, Tony what's the inside scoop on McKinnie and K.O.?

**jonboy79** · 08-15-2012, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

However, McKinnie, who a lot of you all seem to think is still a premium tackle in this league, .

You keep saying this, but I think you are the only one saying it.
I think, but could be wrong, that the general sentiment is that McKinnie is "marginally better" then the below average Oher. To me, that makes him roughly league average, not premier, nor elite.
The big difference that I personally see is that MCKinnie keeps his rusher, on average NO WHERE NEAR AS CLOSE to Flacco as Oher does. Oher's passblocking style REALLY doesn't fit the LT position, IMO. His complete unwillingness to extend his arms gets passrushers much closer to Flacco and, IMO more likely to cause panic, bat down passes or peel off for an easy sack.
Oher is a far better run blocker, particularly back side, second level and mobility plays. Mckinnie, to me is jsut a better shield blocker int he pass game which gives Flacco more time and confidence.

**Iscull** · 08-15-2012, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Jayc00

I guess he know's something even the coaches don't know then.

...coming from the actual Ravens website.

I hope that turns out to be our starting lineup. McKinnie, Osemele, Birk, Yanda, and Oher puts our best 5 guys in. Not a fan of another 35+ year old starting on the line.