A 12 months later, not a lot has modified in regards to the Ravens’ preseason battle at left guard.
Same early-preseason favourite: Ben Powers. “Probably Ben has been the most consistent guy there right now,” coach John Harbaugh stated after follow Wednesday, “so he’s got to keep rolling from there and see what happens.”
Same competitors in coaching camp: Tyre Phillips and Ben Cleveland. “I’m going against the Bens, and they’re giving me great competition,” Phillips stated.
Same 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 game … we’ll kind of know,” Harbaugh stated.
It’s an intense however pleasant competitors, Powers acknowledged Wednesday, and “there’s no hiding from it.” 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. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as a top-50 guard, with strong however unexceptional grades as a run blocker and cross blocker. A late-season foot damage successfully ended Powers’ season, clearing the best way for Cleveland to start out the Ravens’ closing 4 video games.
Ahead of the fourth and closing 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 effectively. Harbaugh on Wednesday famous that Powers’ lower-body power has improved, the byproduct of a extra devoted offseason program.
“It’s something I try to focus with every year in the offseason, just being an offensive lineman,” Powers stated. “Lower-body strength, back strength and shoulder strength are three elements that every offensive lineman needs, and there’s really no ceiling to that. It’s always something you’re trying to work for. So it’s something I try every year.”
Powers began the Ravens’ preseason opener Thursday at proper guard earlier than shifting to middle, including to the workforce’s insurance coverage coverage on the place. Top middle Tyler Linderbaum is anticipated to return to follow Friday, Harbaugh stated Wednesday, however the first-round choose’s foot damage and Patrick Mekari’s versatility alongside the road might depart the workforce in want of what Harbaugh known as an “emergency center.”
Powers struggled with snapping the ball in camp final summer season, however he stated 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 something that keeps guys around in this league, for sure,” he stated. “Anything to do to help this team.”
The wholesome contender
Phillips, not Powers, was the Ravens’ first selection at left guard final season. But 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 start out 4 extra video games, all at proper sort out. He’s nonetheless an choice there this season, however he’s appeared extra just like the athletic inside presence the Ravens imagined after they drafted him within the third spherical two years in the past.
“I think he’s doing a really good job in moving in pass protection, back and forth, punching really well, not getting bulled,” Harbaugh stated of Phillips, who began left guard Thursday. “He’s done a good job with that. The run game’s been pretty athletic. You know, he’s a guard more than he is a tackle, but it’s good to have a guy like that can get you out of a jam, get you through a game at tackle, if you need it. So I credit him for that, but he’s done well. He’s not out of the competition by any stretch.”
Injuries have nagged at Phillips all through his profession — his first IR stint got here as a rookie, when an ankle damage sidelined him for practically a month — however he stated Wednesday that he feels “as healthy as I’ve ever been right now.”
“Been nicked up my last two years, but this year, over this offseason, did a lot of work on my body,” stated Phillips, who added some muscle. “I feel healthy as ever.”
The slow-starting darkish horse
Phillips performed a team-high 67 snaps Thursday, however a part of that workload got here at sort out. Cleveland, in the meantime, performed 54 snaps, all at guard — on the correct aspect within the first half, then the left aspect within the second half. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman preferred what he noticed at each spots.
“He’s pretty ambidextrous like that,” he stated Sunday. “It doesn’t really bother him, moving sides. So I thought he did really well, took another step. [He] continues to improve, and you can see that he can make a difference with his size and strength on some of those runs. He does a nice job. He has really good potential, and he just has to work every day to get there. But I think that Thursday night was a really great 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 workforce’s first padded follow.
Availability has been a difficulty 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 workforce 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 workforce facility.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com