A 12 months later, not a lot has modified concerning the Ravens’ preseason battle at left guard.
Identical early-preseason favourite: Ben Powers. “Most likely Ben has been probably the most constant man there proper now,” coach John Harbaugh mentioned after follow Wednesday, “so he’s received to maintain rolling from there and see what occurs.”
Identical competitors in coaching camp: Tyre Phillips and Ben Cleveland. “I’m going in opposition to the Bens, and so they’re giving me nice competitors,” Phillips mentioned.
Identical deadline for a choice, too: the Ravens’ preseason finale in opposition to the Washington Commanders, three days earlier than the NFL’s deadline for 53-man-roster cuts. “By the third preseason sport … we’ll type of know,” Harbaugh mentioned.
It’s an intense however pleasant competitors, Powers acknowledged Wednesday, and “there’s no hiding from it.” Right here’s how the three contenders stack up.
The skilled favourite
Powers began a team-high 12 video games at left guard final season, holding on to the job from Week 2 to Week 14. Based on Professional Soccer Focus, he graded out as a top-50 guard, with stable however unexceptional grades as a run blocker and move blocker. A late-season foot damage successfully ended Powers’ season, clearing the best way for Cleveland to begin the Ravens’ last 4 video games.
Forward of the fourth and last 12 months of his rookie contract, Powers has emerged as a greater and extra versatile lineman, tightening his grip on a roster spot, if not the left guard job as properly. Harbaugh on Wednesday famous that Powers’ lower-body energy has improved, the byproduct of a extra devoted offseason program.
“It’s one thing I attempt to focus with yearly within the offseason, simply being an offensive lineman,” Powers mentioned. “Decrease-body energy, again energy and shoulder energy are three components that each offensive lineman wants, and there’s actually no ceiling to that. It’s at all times one thing you’re making an attempt to work for. So it’s one thing I strive yearly.”
Powers began the Ravens’ preseason opener Thursday at left guard earlier than shifting to middle, including to the group’s insurance coverage coverage on the place. Prime middle Tyler Linderbaum is predicted to return to follow Friday, Harbaugh mentioned Wednesday, however the first-round choose’s foot damage and Patrick Mekari’s versatility alongside the road may go away the group in want of what Harbaugh known as an “emergency middle.”
Powers struggled with snapping the ball in camp final summer time, however he mentioned he’s develop into “tenfold” extra snug with the calls for of the job over the previous 12 months.
“Versatility for an offensive lineman is one thing that retains guys round on this league, for certain,” he mentioned. “Something to do to assist this group.”
The wholesome contender
Phillips, not Powers, was the Ravens’ first alternative at left guard final season. However he performed simply 29 snaps in Week 1 in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders earlier than being carted off with a knee damage.
Phillips returned from injured reserve to begin 4 extra video games, all at proper deal with. He’s nonetheless an choice there this season, however he’s appeared extra just like the athletic inside presence the Ravens imagined once they drafted him within the third spherical two years in the past.
“I feel he’s doing a very good job in shifting in move safety, backwards and forwards, punching rather well, not getting bulled,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He’s accomplished a very good job with that. The run sport’s been fairly athletic. You recognize, he’s a guard greater than he's a deal with, however it’s good to have a man like that may get you out of a jam, get you thru a sport at deal with, if you happen to want it. So I credit score him for that, however he’s accomplished properly. He’s not out of the competitors by any stretch.”
Accidents have nagged at Phillips all through his profession — his first IR stint got here as a rookie, when an ankle damage sidelined him for almost a month — however he mentioned Wednesday that he feels “as wholesome as I’ve ever been proper now.”
“Been nicked up my final two years, however this 12 months, over this offseason, did lots of work on my physique,” mentioned Phillips, who added some muscle. “I really feel wholesome as ever.”
The slow-starting darkish horse
Phillips performed a team-high 67 snaps Thursday, however a part of that workload got here at deal with. Cleveland, in the meantime, performed 54 snaps, all at guard — on the proper aspect within the first half, then the left aspect within the second half. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman favored what he noticed at each spots.
“He’s fairly ambidextrous like that,” he mentioned Sunday. “It doesn’t actually trouble him, shifting sides. So I assumed he did rather well, took one other step. [He] continues to enhance, and you may see that he could make a distinction together with his measurement and energy on a few of these runs. He does a pleasant job. He has actually good potential, and he simply has to work day by day to get there. However I feel that Thursday night time was a very nice first step for him.”
It didn’t assist that Cleveland gave Phillips and Powers a head begin. The 2021 third-round choose missed the Ravens’ first 4 practices after failing their conditioning take a look at, not making his camp debut till the group’s first padded follow.
Availability has been a problem early in Cleveland’s profession. He was out and in of camp as a rookie, and missed a few month of the common season with a knee damage. On Wednesday, he left group drills with a seemingly minor damage however returned for positional drills. As Phillips and Powers headed for the rostrum after follow as a part of their scheduled media availability, Cleveland walked contained in the group facility.
()