Ravens guard Marshal Yanda has quietly gone about his business year in and year out since being selected in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft.
Yanda, one of three rookies to start along the Ravens offensive line in 2007, is now one of the league’s elite at his
position and a key reason for the success of an offensive line that has garnered a lot of attention this offseason.
“Obviously, I take pride in working hard and being the best player I can be, but I’m more worried about the football team and us as an offensive line and us as an offense more than that,” remarked Yanda following the first team practice of training camp. “You just go out here and do your job every day to the best of your ability, and you try to be great.
“I’m not going to lie; I come out here, and I want to be great in everything I do. So, you just work your tail off and you
hope that happens.”
In Pro Football Focus’s Top 101 NFL players in 2014, Yanda, the former Iowa Hawkeye, was billed as the league’s fifth best player per PFF’s Gordon McGuinness.
Named to his fourth-consecutive Pro Bowl after starting in 15 games at right guard and one at right tackle, the gritty
guard ranked as the seventh-best pass blocking grade (+97.7) after allowing just one sack, 5 QB hits and 10 QB
hurries.
With their entire offensive line returning in 2015, expectations are high from the organization and Yanda, who always sets a high bar for himself and the team.
“It’s good to have those expectations, because we should be a good football team every year,” responded the four-time Pro Bowler when asked whether he expects the Ravens to make the postseason each year. “It’s nice to know that [in] this organization, we’re here to be good, and we’re here to get in the playoffs, we’re here to win championships.
“That’s the bar, so everybody that comes in here – even as a young player – you understand that we’re going to the
playoffs, and we’re going to do good things. It’s nice to have that bar, and it’s nice for the young guys to know that’s
what’s expected, too. So, that’s a good thing.”
Entering into his final year of his contract, Yanda, who will turn 31 in August, understands the ever-changing game of the NFL. Players are getting stronger and pass rushers are constantly testing offensive lineman with new techniques. For Yanda, the learning never ceases.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s your first year or if it’s your 15th year, you’re always still sharpening your game, and you
kind of lose stuff when you’re not playing football for a while,” said the 2014 first-team All Pro. “Obviously, you just have to sharpen back those skills. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or an older vet, you’re
working on your technique and craft every day.”
In a sport where the game is won in the trenches, the blue-collared Yanda is one of the hardest working players on the team.
He bleeds purple and black and truly epitomizes what it means to be a Raven.
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