OWINGS MILLS — Now that Jason Brown is off the roster, Chris Chester is preparing to become the Baltimore Ravens’ full-time center.
In the wake of Brown officially signing a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday morning, Chester is slated to take Brown’s place in the lineup after starting 11 games at right guard last season.
"Jason was a great player and we’re going to miss him, I hate to see him go because he’s a good personal friend of mine," Chester said Saturday in a telephone interview. "I don’t know if I look at it as they’re big shoes to fill, but I just want to play as well as he did. Center is something I’ve done before in the past, and I have no problem doing it because I’m familiar with it, I like it and I know what it involves."
A former second-round draft pick from Oklahoma and a converted tight end, Chester has started 20 games in 43 appearances since his rookie season.
At 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, the mobile lineman is hoping to bulk up during the offseason to get ready to grapple with massive nose guards like the Cleveland Browns’ Shaun "Big Baby" Rogers and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Casey Hampton.
"I think you always want to continue to get bigger and stronger," Chester said. "If you’re not improving, you’ll fall behind in the NFL. I definitely want to improve my physicality, my weight and my strength and build myself as a smart player and learn more about the game."
Although Chester, 26, has drawn criticism in the past for not having ideal size and for getting muscled at the line of scrimmage, he erased concerns about his play last season by consistently drawing high grades from the coaching staff for his ability to pull while holding his own at the point of attack.
Chester took over for right guard Marshal Yanda when he tore three knee ligaments last year against the Indianapolis Colts. By the end of the season, the chemistry and communication on the line improved, as did Chester’s comfort level.
"I got back into a groove of playing a whole bunch," Chester said. "I felt like that was the case as the year went on. I think the chemistry is still going to be there even with Jason gone. With the young guys coming along, too, we’re all becoming more comfortable out here."
Off the field, Chester is preparing for life after football.
Chester and his wife purchased land in Oklahoma by a lake as a rental property investment. Next week, he’s attending classes at the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton business school through an NFL leadership program.
"I think it’s a great opportunity," he said. "I want to be involved with environmentally-friendly business ventures in the future. That’s a transition that has to be done for the sake of humanity. This is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the world."
NOTE: Brown expressed regret Saturday that he wasn’t able to stay in Baltimore during his introductory press conference in St. Louis.
"To tell you the truth, I was hoping to stay at home with the Ravens," Brown said. "Many players would like to stay with the team that drafted them and would like to finish their careers there. Unfortunately, there’s a separation between business and the personal side of football and they had to make a business decision.
"Right now in my career, I have to make a business decision as well and that is to take care of my family to the fullest of its extent. I’m just so glad and fortunate that I’m welcomed into another family here with the Rams."
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
