2012 NFL Offensive Line Rankings

[paulcoates]

We are 9th

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...-line-rankings

9. Baltimore Ravens

LT: Bryant McKinnie*
LG: Kelechi Osemele
C: Matt Birk*
RG: Marshal Yanda*
RT: Michael Oher*

Top reserves: T/G Jah Reid, OT Ramon Harewood, G/C Justin Boren, C/G Gino Gradkowski, OG Howard Barbieri.

Overview: Baltimore's top reserves have zero combined NFL starts, but the starting five is among the most talented in football. There is also some feeling amongst league evaluators that outgoing LG Ben Grubbs was overrated and ultimately overpaid by New Orleans. At nearly 6-foot-6, 327 with 36-inch arms and 43 starts at Iowa State, Osemele could prove an upgrade on Grubbs sooner rather than later. The wildcards here are McKinnie and Oher. Both played capably enough last year to keep Joe Flacco protected consistently, but possess talent to perform with far more dominance. McKinnie should feel some urgency this season. Going on age 33, he's entering the last year of his deal and playing for what could potentially be his final NFL contract.

[JohnnyK27]

Basically Yanda is the only really solid player on this line. Osemele is a unknown at this point. Birk is really close to done and I cant believe after his showing late in the season that they resigned him. McKinnie was mediocre at LT last season and barring a total overhaul in his conditioning he's not going to be any better. Oher is a good but not great tackle that the Ravensmoved up too get....I think rating it 9th is a gift.

[mcinww0]

Agreed, 9th seems pretty high considering that they struggled last year. We lost Grubbs, and Birk and McKinnie got older. My feeling is that Birk will mentor Gradkowski for the beginning of the season and with an accelerated strength program Gradkowski can fill in more and more as the season goes on. There's no way Birk plays in 2013.

McKinnie was dominant at times and considering he's playing for a contract and apparently has a ton of debt he has every motivation to get himself into the best shape possible. Considering he was 400 lbs in August last year and was still OK he could easily be better this year.