Will The Baltimore Ravens Miss OT Jared Gaither?
by Matt Conner on Aug 15, 2011 4:46 PM CDT
in NFL Free Agency 2011
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PrintAs the Kansas City Chiefs figure out exactly how to put all of the pieces together along the offensive line, it seems the Baltimore Ravens are trying to do the same. Unfortunately for the Ravens, the Chiefs are now playing from a position of strength with the addition of offensive tackle Jared Gaither while Baltimore is reportedly struggling with a lack of a real left tackle.
Gaither, if you'll remember, held down the position for the majority of 2008 and 2009 before he spent all of 2010 on Injured Reserve. Now the latest free agent signing of the Chiefs, Gaither was believed to be an extra with former first rounder Michael Oher sliding over from right tackle. Apparently, that's not been the case so far and it has the team scrambling for answers.
ESPN's James Walker says both sides of the offensive line have issues. "The tackles are really struggling. Michael Oher doesn't look to be a natural left tackle and Baltimore is searching for answers at right tackle. Center Matt Birk also is hurt in the middle. There are no easy answers to fix this group."
Oniel Cousins, a UTEP product, has slipped into the right tackle slot, but the verdict on his play so far has not been pleasant. Pair that with Oher's inability to switch to the opposite side, and you have a team that likely wishes for its former player back again. Of course, given Gaither's health concerns, the Ravens still couldn't feel completely secure with Gaither back at his old spot, but it would clearly be a step up from their current scenario.
As for the Chiefs, the addition of Gaither is a positive one that will pay dividends on some level, and perhaps it will completely solidify the very issues the Ravens are dealing with now.
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All your tackle are belong to us
Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl
by PVChiefsfan on Aug 15, 2011 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
haha
Yes!
"The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough." -RWE
"To want to prohibit a man from error is to forbid him to fulfill his own existence..."
-Simone de Beauvoir
by KC Conundrum on Aug 15, 2011 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions
That's funny
Look, the FO didn’t want Gaither primarily because of his questionable work ethic -— in Baltimore. That Drew Rosenhause is his agent did not endear to the Baltimore faiithful either. He is a talented when motivated and healthy. I wish him the best.
Oh, and yes we will miss him as Raven.
...
Team Berry
Team Burfict or Team Te'O
...if I cant have the next Ray Lewis...ill settle for the next Junior Seau.
Le’ron McClain might be to Christian Okoye what Tamba Hali is to Derrick Thomas.
by MasterBlaster7 on Aug 16, 2011 1:05 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I would do that in a heart beat
It is what it is and we are who we are.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.
by nateforchiefs on Aug 15, 2011 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions
What is all this Blind Side talk.
Oher should live up to his movie’s title.
"Nobody scares us," Dion Gales said. "Where I’m from, it ain’t how big or small a man is, it’s the size of the fight in them.
"I’ll be doggone if I let another man beat me, that’s just my attitude. I’m not scared of another man."
I was thinking the same thing...
maybe Sandra Bullock needs to have a talk with him.
If you have a movie named the Blind Side in honor of your story, you should either:
A.) Get a left handed QB.
B.) Not suck at LT, un-weak yourself Oher.
meh...
@w_a_watts
by Chief-blinders-on on Aug 15, 2011 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Hell, if Sandra Bullock was coaching me up--
there’s not too many positions I couldn’t play!
...the fair-weather fan seldom comprehends the value of faith or will combined with the requirements necessary of goal accomplishment: attention to a plan's details, personal fortitude developed from a consistent quality work ethic, and strengthening of character and faith, are all sweaty, time-consuming, attributes which "the sky is falling" fair-weather fan interprets as rain on their parade...
by Chiefs Fanalyst on Aug 15, 2011 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions
The blind side isnt about an NFL Left Tackle.....
The blind side is about Sandra Bullock being completely unaware that her husband was banging half of Los Angeles….and not the good half.
Team Berry
Team Burfict or Team Te'O
...if I cant have the next Ray Lewis...ill settle for the next Junior Seau.
Le’ron McClain might be to Christian Okoye what Tamba Hali is to Derrick Thomas.
by MasterBlaster7 on Aug 16, 2011 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions
He was a beastly beast in college.
But Andre Johnson was arguably better and look what that fat piece of shit is doing now.
It’s crazy that neither of the two best tackles in the country from ’08 appear to be working out.
by bamachief5558 on Aug 15, 2011 4:52 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
????
Oher had a great season on the right in 08 I don’t see why they don’t move him back and let him goto probowls
South Side D
by doriang03 on Aug 15, 2011 7:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Because they drafted him in round 1 to be the LT of the future.
I still don’t see why he can’t if they just give him some time. But could be RT is his ceiling. Who’d have thunk it?
by bamachief5558 on Aug 15, 2011 7:58 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Jason Smith
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee
by BAMFSpecialOps on Aug 15, 2011 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Speculation
All talk from writers and pundits. We don’t even know if he can take a hit yet. A back injury is not good for a lineman (or anyone). To say they would be better off with him than without him is kind of ridiculous. I just hope he isn’t on IR for us by week 2. He hasn’t proven anything to this point.
by BinSC on Aug 15, 2011 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
+1
Agreed. I don’t feel like we are in a position of strength (at the LT position) until Gaither is 100%. Until then we have a good line with not a lot of depth at either Tackle position.
Regardless,
I think it was a shrewd signing by Pioli. Short contract for potentially very good player. If not, oh well.
I think Jah Reid takes over for RT for them
Oher at LT, Yanda will beast at RG
Me and Matt Cassel just - you up, dog!
Why is Oher said to be struggling at LT? Is because people see him practicing against Baltimore's defense?
Not a lot of LTs wouldn’t struggle in that situation.
I'M THE BRSRKR. YOU SHUT UP.
I think they're just not seeing a lot of progress from last year
Which is unsurprising since we barely started practicing again.
Me and Matt Cassel just - you up, dog!
by ChiefWarPaint on Aug 15, 2011 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions
To be fair, he also kind of struggled last year, too.
But he was so good his rookie season at right tackle that I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets it figured out this year.
"[Jamaal Charles] probably fights crime in his spare time while inhaling carbon emissions, exhaling oxygen, and crapping oil. That’s how awesome he is. Not just good for the Chiefs, but America."
- MNchiefsfan
The downside
to having good scouting departments & coaching staffs to develop young talent is you can’t re-sign everyone. Ozzie has let a lot of good talent walk the past off-seasons especially on the offensive line. Letting Brown go doesn’t appear to hurt them as much as Chester. They should have brought him back and keep Yanda on the right side
#82 - Pay The Man & Play The Man
by KansasCityShuffle on Aug 15, 2011 5:07 PM CDT reply actions
Michael Oher
He will be fine. He will turn into a solid left tackle in the NFL for years. If he doesn’t, well why in the hell was the movie The Blindside created?
Why were a ton of movies created? Money.
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee
by BAMFSpecialOps on Aug 15, 2011 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Obviously
You didn’t read the book. Pretty good story.
And Oher holds down the left side pretty well, after being thrown in halfway through his rookie season. I’m not sure where this negativity is coming from. The times I’ve seen the Ravens he’s been solid.
by DC_ChiefsFan on Aug 15, 2011 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions
He is very iffy at LT, much better at RT that is where the negativity is coming from
The book/movie/sign on the moon has so much hype for the kid who at this point has not produced.
No I didn’t read the book, that would risk papercuts.. I don't like papercuts.
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee
by BAMFSpecialOps on Aug 16, 2011 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Surprise cut?
Gaither. No reason, just a hunch. I’ve learned the hard way that its pointless to rationalize 100 different ways of a reason why I believe something wool happen with this team, because Pioli just does the unexpected. So, my gut-instinct-crazy-thought-so-stupid-it-makes-sense-spur-of-the-moment-bright-idea is Gaither is cut in the last moves. Just you wait
I'm so overrated, I'm underrated.
by RememberDelaney37 on Aug 15, 2011 8:28 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
There's gotta be a reason why all the teams passed on him
We’ll find out why eventually
Me and Matt Cassel just - you up, dog!
by ChiefWarPaint on Aug 16, 2011 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions
You are just going off of the 'Pats may cut Ocho or Fat Albert before the season'
Now twist it so it’s Pioli making the move that has everyone scratching their head.
I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee
by BAMFSpecialOps on Aug 16, 2011 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
After spending two years in one solid spot during 2008-2009, then becoming injured in 2010, the Ravens are definitely going to need a professional replacement that can fill Jared Gaither’s shoes; but will they find one in time for playoffs?
Halloween World
Seems like all the scouts passed on Oher for a reason
Baltimore stole Reid from us, and because they stole him from the Chiefs Reid is destined to become a legendary RT
BOOM!
Gaither has the potential to be a pro bowl left tackle
We should have never let him walk. He was worth taking a chance on. Oher is not a true left tackle. I remember in 09 Gaither and Oher held Freeney and Mathis to no sacks and no tackles when we played the Colts. Hope nobody gets hurt this Friday.
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