Baltimore Ravens
| Year |
Sacks Allowed |
Sacked Rank |
RB Rush Yards |
Rush Yards Per Game |
Per Game Rush Rank |
Per Carry Average |
Per Carry Rank |
| 2008 |
33 |
18 |
2,084 |
130.3 |
6 |
4.0 |
23 |
| 2009 |
26 |
6 |
2,080 |
130.0 |
4 |
5.0 |
3 |
| 2010 |
40 |
23 |
1,685 |
105.3 |
10 |
3.9 |
25 |
| Year |
Left Tackle |
Left Guard |
Center |
Right Guard |
Right Tackle |
| 2008 |
J.Gaither |
B.Grubbs |
J.Brown |
M.Yanda |
A.Terry |
| 2009 |
J.Gaither |
B.Grubbs |
M.Birk |
M.Yanda/C.Chester |
M.Oher (r) |
| 2010 |
M.Oher |
B.Grubbs |
M.Birk |
M.Yanda |
J.Gaither |
| 2011 |
M.Oher |
B.Grubbs |
M.Birk |
M.Yanda |
O.Cousins |
The swap of Michael Oher to the blindside didn’t go nearly as well as planned; the Ravens surrendered 14 more sacks and rushed for 25 fewer yards per game at more than a yard per carry under the previous season. Oneil Cousins and rookie Jah Reed are battling to replace Jared Gaither, but the key to this line could be the health of Matt Birk, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery early in the preseason.
FANTASY SPIN
The Ravens want to run more, and a healthy Birk between Marshall Yanda and Ben Grubbs is a great interior wall for Ray Rice to run behind. The tackle play must improve, especially when you consider that Joe Flacco gave up the second-most “quarterback-invited” sacks in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
RUN BLOCKING: B-
PASS BLOCKING: B-
RETURNING REGULARS: 4
OVERALL GRADE: B-
Buffalo Bills
| Year |
Sacks Allowed |
Sacked Rank |
RB Rush Yards |
Rush Yards Per Game |
Per Game Rush Rank |
Per Carry Average |
Per Carry Rank |
| 2008 |
38 |
22 |
1,612 |
100.7 |
15 |
4.2 |
14 |
| 2009 |
46 |
28 |
1,568 |
98.0 |
19 |
4.3 |
16 |
| 2010 |
34 |
14 |
1,399 |
87.4 |
24 |
4.0 |
18 |
| Year |
Left Tackle |
Left Guard |
Center |
Right Guard |
Right Tackle |
| 2008 |
J.Peters* |
D.Dockery |
M.Fowler |
B.Butler |
L.Walker |
| 2009 |
L.Walker |
A.Levitre (r) |
G.Hangartner |
E.Wood (r) |
B.Butler |
| 2010 |
D.Bell |
A.Levitre |
G.Hangartner |
E.Wood |
C.Green |
| 2011 |
D.Bell |
A.Levitre |
E.Wood |
K.Urbik |
E.Pears |
Buffalo’s line was adequate at best last season, though 2009 picks Andy Levitre and Eric Woods are developing nicely and help form a solid interior. Tackles Demetrius Bell and Erik Pears are still a work in progress—and that’s putting it nicely; the sack numbers weren’t brutal, but only four teams’ QBs were hit with more frequency.
FANTASY SPIN
A strong interior blocking game—and Buffalo’s league-high 65% of their rushing attempts between the guards—favors Fred Jackson over last season’s rookie disappointment, C.J. Spiller. One reason Lee Evans was superfluous is that Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t have time to wait for him to come open downfield, so he may be missed less than many expect.
RUN BLOCKING: C
PASS BLOCKING: D+
RETURNING REGULARS: 3
OVERALL GRADE: C-
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