Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens’ offensive line will look markedly different in 2008, and not just because future Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden opted to call it a career. Only one starter from 2007 will return at the same position, and only two players who started last year’s opener are expected to get the same call in 2008. The key will obviously be replacing Ogden, which the Ravens hope to do with Jared Gaither, a fifth-round supplemental pick in 2007. Two classmates will join Gaither in the starting lineup, with first-rounder Ben Grubbs at left guard and third-rounder Marshall Yanda on the right side. Yanda played some tackle last year but is best suited to play guard, and as soon as Adam Terry is all the way back from ankle surgery he’ll take over at right tackle. That means the five projected starters on Baltimore’s line have a combined nine years of NFL experience and 66 career starts; by comparison, the departing Ogden started 176 of 177 games during his 12 pro seasons.

The Ravens’ depth is just as young as its starting lineup. With Terry still slowed during minicamp, Mike Kracalik—a veteran of three NFL games in his two pro seasons—filled in at right tackle. Chris Chester, last year’s starting center, has just two years under his belt and two 2008 draft picks, Oneil Cousins and David Hale, are expected to be the team’s primary backups. In other words, youth is being served in Baltimore.

Enough with the background; what does it all mean for the Ravens’ fantasy prospects? For starters, the insertion of Gaither at left tackle likely means you won’t see Joe Flacco this season unless both Kyle Boller and Troy Smith go down with injuries. The Ravens gave up more than double the 17 sacks they surrendered in 2006, and that was with Ogden in the lineup, albeit hobbled, for 11 games; why subject your future franchise to a potential decapitation thanks to an inexperienced LT? Give Gaither time to get comfortable and then bring Flacco into the mix to avoid another David Carr/Tim Couch debacle. Cam Cameron has experience with this situation, having presided over a Chargers offense that employed a young and still developing offensive line during LaDainian Tomlinson’s first few seasons. The solution? More throws to the backs, which increases the value of Willis McGahee, especially in a PPR league.

On the ground the Ravens have been solid and improving the past few seasons, and last year they bumped their running backs’ per-carry average into the 4.0 range for the first time in three seasons. Baltimore’s linemen are all young and athletic, and the edict from Cameron and new Ravens coach John Harbaugh is that this team will be physical; with an average size of 6-5, 325, that shouldn’t be a problem. This unit has the potential to be dominant, but that’s more likely to happen a couple years down the road; there will be some growing pains this season as they gain valuable experience and learn to work together. However, Cameron has been down this road before and had success, so there’s no need to downgrade McGahee based on the youth and/or turnover along his offensive line.

RUN BLOCKING: B-
PASS BLOCKING: C+
OVERALL GRADE: C+, with serious upside

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