Two Reasons for Optimism About a New-Look Interior Offensive Line
Upgrading the interior offensive line was a top priority for the Ravens this offseason, even before three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum departed in free agency.
Fortunately, this year’s draft has a deep interior offensive line class.
“There hasn’t been a draft with four full rounds worth of quality interior offensive linemen in quite some time. This year’s prospect pool offers just that,” NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “Furthermore, this draft is filled with potential tackle-to-guard converts who bolster the position group even more.”
The Ravens have already signed guard John Simpson and return guards Emery Jones Jr. and Andrew Vorhees. The Ravens are also fortunate to have one of the league’s most respected offensive line coaches in Dwayne Ledford, who was hired by new Head Coach Jesse Minter as Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator.
Offensive line coach hires don’t get splashy headlines, but FanDuel Sports Network’s and former pro offensive guard Mike Golic Jr. said the impact of the Ravens bringing in Ledford shouldn’t be overlooked.
“They this offseason pulled in one of my favorite O-line coaches in the NFL in Dwayne Ledford,” Golic Jr. said on ESPN’s “The Mina Kimes Show.” “He is, for my money, maybe the best pure outside zone coach in the NFL. So we’ll see if they’ll let him kind of major in that with that group. It’s a scheme that can cover up for some of your issues at times, just based on what it affords you.
“If you sold me on the idea of them taking a guy that needs a little bit of seasoning there, I trust him to try and help get that group right to go along with the tackle tandem they have there.”