Iowa middle Tyler Linderbaum is one in all a number of versatile offensive linemen who might assist reinvigorate the Ravens’ working recreation subsequent season.
Possibly this offseason the Ravens lastly begin constructing their offense from the within out.
They’ve gotten away from “Soccer 101″ the previous three years whereas being carried away by the Lamar Jackson phenomenon. As a substitute of buying high quality offensive linemen, they went with flash and drafted expert gamers like Rashod Bateman, James Proche II, Devin Duvernay and J.Ok. Dobbins.
I get it. They went fairly. In addition they wanted to promote tickets, and nothing places followers within the seats sooner than a star quarterback and a high-powered offense. However you see the place that has gotten the Ravens the previous three years. They misplaced within the divisional spherical two seasons in a row and did not make the playoffs in 2021.
Now the Ravens seem able to go old fashioned. It’s nice to have playmakers, which the Ravens nonetheless lack, however grunt guys win video games. The Ravens want an inflow of younger expertise on the defensive position, however their fundamental precedence needs to be discovering offensive linemen.
“I believe it’s critically essential,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned Monday. “To me, the offensive line is de facto, actually essential. It’s the premise … I believed that in 2008; I believed that when my dad advised me that, in all probability, in about 1972. You win and lose within the trenches, and that’s the place it begins. Sure, you’ve obtained to have playmakers, the quarterbacks are form of essential — you’re seeing that this weekend — however no talent participant can do something with out the strains in entrance of them doing that work. So, to me, and in our offense particularly, it’s simply critically essential that we've a very good offensive line.”
Hopefully, the Ravens don’t proceed to get misplaced in their very own philosophy. As a result of the offense is so run-oriented, they maintain signing or drafting top-heavy linemen who're one-dimensional. However the Ravens ought to return and look into their temporary historical past. The staff’s finest linemen had been left sort out Jonathan Ogden and guard Marshal Yanda, gamers who excelled at each run and move blocking.
It’s OK to be run-oriented within the common season as a result of there's a combine of excellent, poor and common opponents to beat, nevertheless it’s totally different within the postseason. The Ravens need to face quarterbacks just like the Buffalo Payments’ Josh Allen, Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, all of whom lead high-scoring offenses.
When the Ravens fall behind, that considerably decreases their possibilities of successful. They want versatile linemen who can run and move block, but additionally lure, get out entrance in screens and make blocks deep into the second degree. The Ravens need to get exterior of the field they constructed round themselves.
They've 10 draft picks in April, together with No. 14 total. There are numerous versatile linemen on this class who can play virtually anyplace, together with Iowa middle Tyler Linderbaum, North Carolina State sort out Ikem Ekwonu, Mississippi State sort out/guard Charles Cross and Texas A&M guard Kenyon Inexperienced.
The Ravens had a powerful working recreation once more this season, however even Harbaugh admits that numerous these yards got here on quarterback scrambles, busted performs or designed runs by Jackson or backup Tyler Huntley.
“Our referred to as run recreation wasn’t nearly as good this yr because it’s been the final couple of years,” Harbaugh mentioned. “Our referred to as run recreation was the very best in historical past in 2019 and 2020, and this yr, it simply wasn’t. Now, our run recreation is fairly good statistically, nevertheless it was largely scramble yards. So, you possibly can credit score Lamar for that. You give credit score to Tyler for that.”
After which there have been the sacks. Jackson was sacked a career-high 38 instances and the Ravens allowed 57 for the season, a part of the rationale they ranked No. 6 in complete yards however No. 17 in scoring. The Ravens by no means discovered an offensive rhythm, regardless if it was due to Jackson, accidents, penalties or receivers working unhealthy routes.
However one factor is definite: This offensive line couldn’t move block, and Jackson took numerous punishment.
“We had too many hurries, too many sacks, which form of negated a few of our scramble yards,” Harbaugh mentioned.
In a way, Harbaugh is proscribed in what he can do. He could make his opinion identified and have enter within the draft, however common supervisor Eric DeCosta must have a powerful offseason, particularly discovering offensive linemen. He was 1-for-2 in offseason additions final yr, signing proper guard Kevin Zeitler and proper sort out Alejandro Villanueva.
Zeitler had a powerful season, possibly the very best amongst any of the starters, however Villanueva was a legal responsibility. He couldn’t bend and had issues with velocity rushers or any gamers who might change instructions shortly. The Ravens additionally need to decide on unrestricted free-agent middle Bradley Bozeman, who had a stable yr however must work on snapping within the shotgun formation.
The Ravens had a three-player rotation at left guard, which suggests they weren’t happy with the general play of both Ben Powers, Ben Cleveland or Tyre Phillips. Ronnie Stanley would be the beginning left sort out if he decides to take the offseason rehabilitation program critically and improves the re-injured ankle that value him 16 video games in 2021.
“That’s the place we’re going to go to work on the following couple weeks and also you do this based mostly across the gamers that you've got,” Harbaugh mentioned. “We all know who our quarterback goes to be. We all know who sure items are going to be, however the place are we going with our working backs? The place are we going with our offensive line by way of constructing that? Can we add a good finish or not? Do we have to add a receiver or not? These are the issues that we’ll be .”
The offensive line deserves the toughest look.