OWINGS MILLS — Although six-time Pro Bowl selection Matt Birk is being counted on to start at center against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s Bryan Mattison who has done a viable job of holding down the spot during his absence.
A converted defensive end from Iowa who played offensive guard last year, after being promoted from the practice squad Mattison hasn’t looked out of place at the new position. He drew praise from former Ravens nose guard Kelly Gregg after grappling with him in the second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
"Bryan played well," Gregg said. "He’s got a bright future ahead of him."
The son of former Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, Mattison started the first three preseason games while Birk recovered from knee surgery.
"I think he’s done well," coach John Harbaugh said. "He’s playing center for the first time ever in his life. I’m a little surprised at how well he’s done blocking people. He’s done a good job blocking both run game and pass game."
There have been a few bumpy moments, though.
"I’m not surprised at the fact that we’ve had some late snaps, some early snaps and some miscalled protections," Harbaugh said. "So, that shouldn’t be surprising at all. I think he’s done better than we anticipated, but those things are going to come up with a guy who really hasn’t played the position.”
A former team captain at Iowa, Mattison was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference defensive lineman who recorded nine sacks as a senior and finished with 171 career tackles, 33 1/2 tackles for losses and 20 sacks.
Mattison has bulked up from 272 pounds when he arrived in Baltimore and is now listed at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds.
"It says he’s a football player," Harbaugh said. "It says he’s smart and tough and incredibly dedicated, and he works really hard at it. I mean, he’s changed his body. He was a 285- pound guy and now he’s about a 315-pound guy, and it’s all good weight. He’s worked really hard."
LINE WORK: The Ravens are considering how they’ll get the first-team offensive line work in the preseason finale Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons after acquiring left tackle Bryant McKinnie and Birk returning to practice.
Ideally, they would get a little bit of work together in a game situation in advance of the season-opener Sept. 11 against the Steelers.
“We have already talked about that as a staff and I will let Coach Harbaugh address that specifically, but we’re preparing to get guys ready to play on Thursday,” offensive line coach Andy Moeller said Saturday. “How much they play? We really haven’t determined that.”
The Ravens have allowed 11 sacks in three preseason games.
Now, they’re moving Michael Oher to right tackle, installing McKinnie at left tackle, getting Birk back on the field and right guard Marshal Yanda has returned from back spasms.
For fear of injury, it’s a risk-reward situation.
"I have both feelings," Harbaugh said. "I’d like to see them play the whole game, but I’d like to see them healthy in the opener as well. There’s the dilemma."
CONTRACT NUMBERS: The Ravens’ one-year deal with former New England Patriots offensive lineman Mark LeVoir is worth up to $1 million: a $685,000 base salary, a $100,000 signing bonus and $215,000 in playing-time incentive clauses.
Meanwhile, the Ravens’ three-year contract with rookie outside linebacker Michael McAdoo is worth $1.4 million and includes a $5,000 signing bonus.
The Ravens don’t expect McAdoo to contribute since the former University of North Carolina player hasn’t played football in two years due to eligibility problems.
“I didn’t watch him or study him. [Director of college scouting] Joe Hortiz and [general manager] Ozzie [Newsome] and those guys brought him in, so we’ll just have to see," Harbaugh said. "It’s impossible for him to come in and contribute in any way. He hasn’t played football in two years. He’s just a young kid. They say he’s talented, so we’ll just kind of look at him and see how he does. I say that’s a flyer right now. It’ll be fun to see how it works out.”
