Last season’s Super Bowl opponents have been strikingly related. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles each went 16-3, scored 546 factors and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. But there was one other, extra vital, commonality integral to their success: a dominant offensive line.
While a lot has modified in soccer by means of the a long time, there’s little argument that having an excellent offensive line goes a great distance. Of the 20 groups to play up to now 10 Super Bowls, 12 of them had an offensive line that completed within the prime 10 of Pro Football Focus’ annual rankings. Last season, the Eagles’ offensive line was one of the best within the NFL, per PFF, whereas the Chiefs have been fourth.
The Ravens weren’t far behind: PFF graded them because the league’s second-best offensive line, and for good purpose. In addition to being the least penalized unit within the NFL, All-Pro left deal with Ronnie Stanley’s return in Week 5 from a devastating ankle harm that value him almost all of 2021 and half of 2020 was a direct increase, as he allowed only one sack and 16 complete pressures in 298 pass-blocking snaps through the common season. The emergence of first-round choose Tyler Linderbaum and fourth-year left guard Ben Powers additionally paid dividends, with Linderbaum being rated by PFF because the fourth-best run blocker amongst facilities and Powers getting the second-highest go blocking grade amongst guards.
Though Powers left in free company for the Denver Broncos in March, Baltimore once more figures to have one of many league’s greatest offensive strains. And whereas the Ravens have stuffed their greatest wants this offseason — signing quarterback Lamar Jackson to an extension, including vast receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Zay Flowers and signing cornerback Rock Ya-Sin — this season shall be an vital one for the lads up entrance for a number of causes.
First, the Ravens have a brand new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, and thus a brand new scheme.
Under earlier coordinator Greg Roman, Baltimore had a run-heavy offense that leaned on working backs J.Okay. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, together with Jackson. Already this offseason, Monken has talked about the necessity to have extra dynamic play-calling to maintain up with groups just like the Chiefs and AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson famous final week that “running can only take you so far.”
Make no mistake, Baltimore will nonetheless run the ball loads. But go blocking shall be vital, if for no different purpose than to maintain its $260 million quarterback upright. Jackson has missed 11 video games the previous two seasons, together with a wild-card spherical loss to the Bengals in January, due to accidents.
The philosophy beneath veteran and revered offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris may not be any completely different, however there shall be at the least some adjusting.
“It’s been a good transition,” Linderbaum mentioned final week. “[Monken’s] doing a really good job at helping the guys, verbiage-wise keeping some similar stuff. There are little tweaks here and there.”
One of these modifications is who will take over at left guard.
The 4 gamers coach John Harbaugh has talked about as prospects are Patrick Mekari, Ben Cleveland, John Simpson and Daniel Faalele. However, Mekari’s versatility may make him extra beneficial as a swing deal with than an every-down starter, whereas Faalele has by no means performed guard within the NFL and is healthier suited to stay at deal with. The Ravens additionally drafted Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and signed former Chicago Bears middle and Owings Mills native Sam Mustipher, although the previous is extra of a mission and the latter is anticipated to again up Linderbaum.
That doubtless means the competitors this summer time will come all the way down to Cleveland and Simpson, each of whom have been inconsistent.
Still, Harbaugh has favored what he has seen out of Simpson within the voluntary offseason program thus far. The 2020 fourth-round choose who spent his first three seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders is keen for the recent begin.
“[Simpson’s] talented, moves his feet,” Harbaugh mentioned final week. “He’s really moving his feet well, working on his balance and his platform a little bit, and I think [he’s] getting better every day at that. And [he’s] a big, strong guy, [a] good athlete. [I’m] excited about him.”
While left guard isn’t an important place on the road — it’s usually the place groups stash their weakest blocker as a result of the middle will help chip or double group — it’s not the one place the Ravens want to fret about up entrance.
Though beginning tackles Stanley and Moses are each signed by means of at the least the 2024 season, a number of different linemen are attributable to hit unrestricted free company subsequent yr or the yr after, together with Simpson (2024), Cleveland (2025), Mekari (2025) and Kevin Zeitler (2024), together with fullback Pat Ricard (2025).
While rookie Andrew Vorhees might take over because the beginning left guard as quickly as subsequent season after he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered on the NFL scouting mix, there are nonetheless loads of query marks about the way forward for the inside of the offensive line. Cleveland has performed simply 21 video games in two seasons after being drafted within the third spherical, and Zeitler, who turns 34 subsequent March, might determine to go away in free company or retire.
In different phrases, this could possibly be a make-or-break season for a lot of what’s anticipated to be one of many NFL’s greatest offensive strains. Their cohesiveness, progress and success would go a great distance towards the Ravens’ success.
“[The] Ravens offensive line is going to be [the] Ravens offensive line,” Linderbaum mentioned. “Come off the ball, push people back.”
It’ll should for the Ravens to be Super Bowl contenders.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com