It’s Ronnie Stanley.
If you’re wondering which Raven player coming off injury this season can mean the most to the team’s success, it’s Ronnie Stanley. Also, if you’re wondering which Raven player coming off injury this season can torpedo the team’s success this season the most if the injury ultimately wins, well, it is also Ronnie Stanley.
Yes, it’s a quarterback-driven league, and the Ravens’ MVP-winning Lamar Jackson also finds himself coming back from injury. By positional value alone, Jackson should probably be the answer to both those questions, right?
But we’ve seen Jackson working out throughout this offseason. We have a pretty clear understanding concerning his injury late last season, and what his prognosis was to hit the ground running (and throwing) this year. We also saw him absolutely smoke Bernard Pollard on Twitter the other night, so, yeah… he’s in game shape.
But Stanley carries a bit more mystery.
The All-Pro tackle got hurt in 2020, gutted himself through camp last season and lasted one out-of-character performance against the Las Vegas Raiders before succumbing to the reality of the situation and subjecting himself to more surgery. What happened next was straight out of a Wes Craven movie: Alejandro Villanueva took over the role of left tackle, the Ravens tried a combination of guys on the right side and left guard, and Jackson was playing a dangerous game of chicken every time he dropped back to pass.
Pretty, it was not. A shining example of what makes Stanley so important to this offense, it was.
Reports are good so far in regards to Stanley being ready to roll in 2022. Of course, we’ve heard that in the past with Breshad Perriman, Derek Wolfe, Russian military leadership and, obviously, Stanley himself. Just last year. The proof will be in the proverbial pudding.
The Big Man Returns
If Stanley can come back, and return to even a close proximity of the player he was before, the Ravens’ offensive line — and thus their offense — can be in good shape. Stanley’s PFF grades from 2016 through 2020 were, respectively, 74.8, 75.1, 77.5, 88.5 and 79.9. Those are the kind of grades you would expect, and be grateful for, from a franchise left tackle.
Consider that magical 2019 regular season, when Stanley posted that 88.5 grade. He was credited with four penalties and zero sacks that season, while teaming with Marshal Yanda to help spearhead the greatest rushing attack in NFL history. Villanueva last season was flagged 11 times, and gave up nine sacks, and I really don’t feel that even tells the whole story. I admire Villanueva for his service to our nation, the years of solid play he put on tape in Pittsburgh and for suiting up every game last year in a difficult season.
But it was bad. Really, really bad.
Stanley back would solidify that fabled “blind side.” The additions of Morgan Moses, Daniel Faalele and a believed-healthy Ja’Wuan James should result in good play on the right end, and rookie Tyler Linderbaum is expected to step right in and provide good play in the pivot. Last year’s signee Kevin Zeitler was a standout at right guard. That leaves a competition at left guard between Ben Cleveland, Ben Powers and Patrick Mekari, and you’re going to feel a little better about whoever emerges if they have a serviceable Stanley standing next to them.
Boom. You have a decent line at that point.
Health Doesn’t Hold
If the early returns don’t pan out, and Stanley’s body won’t allow him back on the field, well, that obviously sucks for him. Rehabbing back from surgery is awful. Been there, done that. Rehabbing back from two consecutive surgeries? Well, that’s a nightmare. Rehabbing back from two surgeries and still not being able to perform? That’s just an awful scenario for Stanley and his family, and I think we all pray for that not to happen.
But it also really changes the look of this year’s line. Would Mekari line up at left tackle? James? Moses? Does it change what you do at left guard if that seasoned left tackle isn’t out there? Does Nick Boyle become an every-down player providing support on the left edge, limiting the Ravens playbook while Boyle is fighting back from his own traumatic injuries?
It’s a slope that can get real slippery, real quick.
You never want to put too much on the shoulders of one player, or person. But there’s a lot about the 2022 Ravens that hinges on one very big man who plays one very important position.
