LOMBARDI'S WAY: RAVENS O-LINE FEELS THE HEAT

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Lombardi's Way - LOMBARDI'S WAY: RAVENS O-LINE FEELS THE HEAT

Might changes be in store?

Posted On: 9/29/06

Written By:

Tony Lombardi

LOMBARDI'S WAY: RAVENS O-LINE FEELS THE HEAT

The Ravens offensive line has certainly had its fair share of criticism over the past few seasons. This season the unit has been placed squarely under the microscope and justifiably so. They were the weakest link on the team last season and the Ravens did very little in the off season to improve the line other than draft Chris Chester who is viewed by most as a long-term solution.

Instead the Ravens ivory tower is banking on the notion that the combination of better conditioning, continuity, cohesiveness, maturity and the presence of Steve McNair will deliver improved results on the offensive front.

Critics will unfairly suggest that there has been no improvement so far and that the performance of the unit mirrors that of 2005. Personally I disagree. I think they�ve been hamstrung by some uninspired and unimaginative play calling.

There�s little that can be done at this stage other than to hope the unit improves and that the game planning provides some needed relief to the unnecessary pressure created by the continual uphill battles presented by second and third and long situations. At this point the personnel is the personnel.

Some have called for a change at center but that would require Steve McNair getting used to a new center at the same time he attempts to accelerate his learning curve of the Ravens offense. Critics might ask, �What�s to learn?�, but I digress.

Perhaps there�s some validity to the team's concern about changing centers. We certainly saw what Oakland was going through down at The Vault two weeks ago with their center. And at this point it is too late to correct the mistake that the Ravens made by not providing Jason Brown with more time on the first team offense during camp and the preseason.

Observers close to the team suggest that there will be no change on the line while the team is winning. The adopted stance by the coaching staff is one of �if it ain�t broke why fix it?�

But if it does break, Keydrick Vincent is the one that will likely be looking for space on the bench and Jason Brown would be the likely replacement. Some Ravens personnel evaluators believe that if Brown cracks the lineup, he may never relinquish the title of starter. He has some weight behind him along with pop and some explosiveness and according to Ravens� Director of College Scouting Eric DeCosta, �Jason is a guy that can move people off the ball.�

And that�s is certainly something that can come in handy with the likes of Sam Adams, Maake Kemoeatu and Casey Hampton showing up no less than five times on the schedule later in the season. By the way, Jamal Williams will be no picnic this week either.

What about the much maligned right side of the Ravens offensive line? Tony Pashos at times has held his own and then there are times when his athleticism or lack thereof doesn�t allow him to compete against the likes of the Derrick Burgesses of the NFL. He�ll cheat and alter his stance sometimes illegally to get a better angle. Lately he�s getting caught and when you�ve established yourself as a cheater you seldom get the benefit of the doubt.

And this begs the question, �Can Adam Terry be any better?� And again here come the cynics who might ask, �Can it get any worse?�

Oh but then we�re reminded that Terry has trouble on the right side and he�s more naturally suited to play left tackle.

But could J.O. play the right side?

In limited action on the left side when Ogden has been down with injuries, Terry has been serviceable. I don�t recall observers making a big deal of Terry�s play one way or the other and when you are an offensive lineman, sometimes no news is good news.

Might a lineup with Terry on the left and Ogden on the right be better than Ogden on the left and Pashos on the right?

Some might scoff at the notion of moving a perennial All Pro left tackle to the right and then say that Ogden won�t consider it.

Many suggest that the frugal and financially set Ogden plays for the love of the game and because he�d like to win another ring. Is it safe then to assume that he has some unfinished business? And if he wants to win and the team can improve with him moving to the right, why not do it? Sure fire Hall of Famer Rod Woodson moved to safety from corner and extended his career while improving the team. It�s not like Ogden is playing for his next contract and he won�t assume the RT position because it pays less, ala Gary Baxter�s refusal to play safety instead of corner for the Ravens because of a safety�s chump change.

At the end of the day, the Ravens front office and the coaching staff may be proven right and all those things like continuity and cohesiveness might make a difference. But if the season begins to turn for the worse and the culprit is the offensive line, the Ravens will have to find a combination that works better for the good of the team give the current personnel.

And if that combination includes Ogden flipping over to the right, then it has to at least be considered.

There could be careers at stake.