Quick game thoughts.

**leachisabeast** · 08-19-2012, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Benny8444

Bobbie Williams looked like a beast in camp. If they want him starting they need to rest him until game pre season game at most practice him every 2 days till then or practice him Sunday and Tuesday or heck rest him till the wed walk through.

As long as Jah Reid is in limbo McKinnie is not getting cut, the reason he is with the 2nd team is to get more reps, notice he got way more reps in both games than Oher and KO at T. That is why he is with the 2nd team it also gives the Ravens a chance to see if Oher can be a LT once his contract is up or next year when McKinnie is not here.

I'm not buying that at all, you don't test someone at LT in pre season games just to see if he can play left tackle a year later. The Ravens see Oher every day, and played him there all season in 2010, so I'm sure they already know if he can really play there this year. He played badly there in 2010, but has been promising so far in TC and in pre season games, so it's a bit of a risk to play him there this season. However there is such thing as players getting better, not all left tackles had good first years playing there, but turned out being pretty good players.

It wouldn't surprise me if they do end up cutting McKinnie if KO continues to impress on the right side, but at the same time, it wouldn't surprise me if they kept him and he was going to be the starter this year. IMO he is with the second team, because he is just flat out not impressing the coaches, he is out of shape, and looked bad playing against SECOND STRINGERS on Friday, especially as a run blocker. Then you have Oher and KO who have done little wrong so far, AND are both in great shape. As a coach, this gives you a real tough decision, especially being tight up against the cap. McKinnie isn't being kept here at his price to be a reserve player, he is either a starter or not on the roster.

**veritas** · 08-19-2012, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

I'm not buying that at all, you don't test someone at LT in pre season games just to see if he can play left tackle a year later. The Ravens see Oher every day, and played him there all season in 2010, so I'm sure they already know if he can really play there this year. He played badly there in 2010, but has been promising so far in TC and in pre season games, so it's a bit of a risk to play him there this season. However there is such thing as players getting better, not all left tackles had good first years playing there, but turned out being pretty good players.

It wouldn't surprise me if they do end up cutting McKinnie if KO continues to impress on the right side, but at the same time, it wouldn't surprise me if they kept him and he was going to be the starter this year. IMO he is with the second team, because he is just flat out not impressing the coaches, he is out of shape, and looked bad playing against SECOND STRINGERS on Friday, especially as a run blocker. Then you have Oher and KO who have done little wrong so far, AND are both in great shape. As a coach, this gives you a real tough decision, especially being tight up against the cap. McKinnie isn't being kept here at his price to be a reserve player, he is either a starter or not on the roster.

I'm not buying Oher at LT. The reason he was moved out of there was because he couldn't cut it. It's one of the reasons he had so many false starts. He was getting beaten regularly and was trying so hard not to get beat that he jumped the snap all the time. We have to hope that McKinnie gets in shape and plays a decent LT this year. If not, we're going to have big OL problems, which is going to necessitate in-season changes to personnel or scheme or both. That is not a recipe for winning.

**Ravenswintitle** · 08-19-2012, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Benny8444

He had one major drop that should have been a TD other than that his hands have been fine. I was glad to see Doss out there. He looked good. Thompson is def ahead of streeter who is likely heading to IR.

I agree with Pierce, keep him and Rainey. Rainey almost is almost the same player as Rice and would be a great complement to give Rice a breather and keep Pierce fresh for certian short yardage situations. Imagine Rainey lined as a WR and rice in the back field or vice virca

I guess his other two drops were minor drops but = same result. He needs to catch the ball

**leachisabeast** · 08-19-2012, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by veritas

I'm not buying Oher at LT. The reason he was moved out of there was because he couldn't cut it. It's one of the reasons he had so many false starts. He was getting beaten regularly and was trying so hard not to get beat that he jumped the snap all the time. We have to hope that McKinnie gets in shape and plays a decent LT this year. If not, we're going to have big OL problems, which is going to necessitate in-season changes to personnel or scheme or both. That is not a recipe for winning.

How many times does it need to be bought up that McKinnie was barely any better than Oher at LT? He gave up more sacks and pressures, and was no where near as good as Oher as a run blocker. I honestly don't see how losing or keeping McKinnie is going to make or break our season, he really isn't that good.

**NOLARavenFAN** · 08-19-2012, 11:56 AM

Keepin this real simple CATCH the ball......the have a Super Bowl Qb if these guys can catch the ball! Its really as simple as that.

**wickedsolo** · 08-19-2012, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by NOLARavenFAN

Keepin this real simple CATCH the ball......the have a Super Bowl Qb if these guys can catch the ball! Its really as simple as that.

**Benny8444** · 08-19-2012, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

How many times does it need to be bought up that McKinnie was barely any better than Oher at LT? He gave up more sacks and pressures, and was no where near as good as Oher as a run blocker. I honestly don't see how losing or keeping McKinnie is going to make or break our season, he really isn't that good.

Depth would be the reason, What if Oher or KO gets hurt? Do you trust someone who has never been tested in Jah Reid or Harewood protecting Flacco from Woodley and Harrison? KO was drafted as a LG.

McKininie played well last year at 370 and has been playing well so far as a pass blocker. He needs to get used to his new weight to be effective as a run blocker which is why he is getting more reps and playing on the 2nd ream. He would have been cut already if we were going to cut him. and if we do there is almost a 100% chance we sign another veteran LT or trade for one. We are known for last min trades singings 10 days within the opener.

**leachisabeast** · 08-19-2012, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by Benny8444

McKininie played well last year at 370 and has been playing well so far as a pass blocker.

Benny, I agree with most of your points you make on this board, but I just can't agree with you here.

I don't get the whole notion of McKinnie actually playing well last year. According to nearly all stat websites, including FO and PFF, he didn't grade out well in anything. He was below average last year, and just looked flat out lazy at times. I understand where you are coming from about keeping McKinnie for depth purposes, however you just can't pay someone 3.5 million to be a reserve player.

If Oher or KO goes down injured, then it's an opportunity for Jah Reid to step up, because last season we did go in with Jah being the back up tackle, so it really wouldn't make much difference this year. It's like saying "If Flacco goes down injured, we only have Tyrod Taylor backing him up", or if "Ray Rice goes down.. blah blah". At the end of the day, no team has perfect depth, no team in the league has vets backing everyone up. Plus there are options on the market in an emergency, and possible trades if something happens.

**Rxdoxx** · 08-19-2012, 02:55 PM

And the wildcard in this is how is Harewood playing. IIRC this is his make it or saiyaara year .... trying to watch him in the preseason and interested in hearing what others see there. If he emerges as a fairly solid backup then gonna raise some interesting speculations (and if he stays healthy!!!!!!!) I don't know id he truly has as bad of a health rep as stats lead me to believe... part of that could be IR "stashing" but then again....