Tag: ben cleveland

Reworking the offensive line named the Ravens biggest 2025 NFL off-season move

Reworking the offensive line was named the Baltimore Ravens biggest 2025 NFL off-season move to make

The Ravens have started their offseason retooling, and one of the most significant decisions will involve star left tackle Ronnie Stanley and his future with the franchise.

Baltimore will have 21 free agents and several looming contract scenarios that will significantly impact shaping this roster.  NFL.com looked at one big offseason move for the 30 teams who didn’t make the Super Bowl, and “continuing to rework the offensive line” was the Ravens’ task.

Stanley is coming off his first injury-free season in his nine-year career, and Baltimore wants to reward the offensive tackle with a huge payday. Stanley will undoubtedly have a team with a ton of money looking to add him to a potential playoff team. Rosengarten is one of the top young right tackles in the NFL and could move to left tackle if Stanley departs. Patrick Mekari is another soon-to-be free agent whom Baltimore could re-sign, with the versatility to play inside or outside. Daniel Faalele has enormous potential, and the Ravens could use a first or second-round pick on an interior offensive lineman or another tackle.

Sights and sounds from first half as Bills hold a 21-10 lead over Ravens in divisional round

Sights and sounds from first half as Bills hold a 21-10 lead over Ravens in divisional round

The first half appeared to be a reverse of Week 4, and two Lamar Jackson turnovers played a pivotal part in Baltimore trailing 21-10 after 30 minutes of football in Buffalo. The Bills held the Ravens to 73 yards rushing in the first half and 28 offensive plays. According to Next Gen Stats, Jackson has been under pressure on over half of his dropbacks (54.5%) for the first time since Week 4, 2023. He’s been pressured 6 times and sacked once on 11 dropbacks (as of Damar Hamlin’s strip sack).

With the second half underway, here are seven takeaways from the first 30 minutes.

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Beyonce shines for Netflix on Christmas Day: Top photos from Ravens win over Texans

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce on Netflix

Some thought Baltimore had peaked too soon after its 24-19 loss to the Eagles, but the Ravens have been 3-0 since then, and they have had a much-needed bye week.

A team unsure about their AFC North status can win the division in Week 18 after an impressive 31-2 win over Houston on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce and a monstrous Netflix audience.

Lamar Jackson was 10-15 passing for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and a 143.9 rating.  As a rusher, Jackson carried the ball four times for 87 yards and a touchdown, moving past Michael Vick on the NFL’s all-time rushing yards list for a quarterback.

With preparation for the Browns set to begin, we’re looking at the top photos from Christmas Night.

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Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

The Ravens can smell a division title. After watching the Steelers fall to the Chiefs in the earlier game, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have Baltimore rolling through one half in Houston. With Beyonce and Post Malone in the building, the Ravens jumped out to a 17-2 lead on the back of Jackson’s arm, Henry’s strong running, and a stingy defense that improves each week. Baltimore held Houston to 125 yards of total offense in the first half, and if not for a Texans safety, it would have been on its way to blowing out the host team on Netflix. With the second half set to begin and Beyonce’s incredible performance just finished, here are sights and sounds from the first half. ****

Ravens put the entire NFL on notice with dominant 35-10 win over Bills in Week 4

Baltimore Ravens put the entire NFL on notice with dominant 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 4

The Ravens were a 0-2 team searching for an identity and were heading to Dallas for a must-win matchup against the Cowboys.

After holding on to defeat Dallas, Baltimore took another big step and put the entire league on notice with a dominant 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday night in front of a raucous crowd.

Josh Allen was 16-29 passing for 180 yards but was sacked three times on the night and finished with a 73.9 rating before exiting midway through the fourth quarter as Baltimore had a 25-point lead.

For the Ravens, it was all about the running backs as Derrick Henry logged 24 carries for 199 yards (8.3 avg) and one rushing touchdown.  Henry also had a receiving touchdown.  His running mate, Justice Hill, had six catches for 78 yards and a receiving touchdown.

Overall, Baltimore allowed 237 yards on 57 offensive plays and held the Bills to 3-13 on third downs.

6 options for Saints to help replace Erik McCoy after injury

Here are six options for the New Orleans Saints to try and replace center Erik McCoy after his injury sustained in Week 3

The Erik McCoy injury which he sustained against the Philadelphia Eagles is expected to hold him out for 6 to 8 weeks, which puts the New Orleans Saints in quite a predicament. They now have to figure out who is going to start at center for the foreseeable future to try and keep the team on track until McCoy returns, which would be anywhere from Week 10 to Week 13. The options they have are few and far between on the roster, but there are a few, and there are also some notable ones in free agency or even a trade candidate if it comes to that.

Here are six options for the Saints to try and replace Erik McCoy:

Let’s get some of the on-roster options out of the way first, as they tend to be the most likely choice when an injury occurs. Lucas Patrick was the initial replacement for McCoy in Week 3, as Oli Udoh came in at guard due to the Saints having a lack of center options on the roster at the time. Patrick has been exceptional at guard through the first few weeks, but he did not look great at center no doubt. Keep in mind, he was asked to revert to his former position after primarily being a guard option throughout the offseason. After only a few snaps he had to change positions and mindset, which is difficult as center is a completely different stance. He may take the first start just to see if he can adjust in Week 4, or they may use him at guard and find another option.

Shane Lemieux is the other center option for the Saints actively on the roster, as the assumption would be that Cesar Ruiz will remain at guard. Lemieux got some run time at center during preseason, and while he did not look exceptional, he may be the go-to guy if they want to keep someone around from in-house. He has some NFL level experience and has had times where he looked serviceable, the real question would be if he can perform at that position well enough for a longer period of time.

Mason Cole is probably the best option outside the roster currently, as he has starting NFL experience, and started an entire season for 2023 and 2022. In 2023 he played 1069 snaps, only giving up two sacks and only had 4 penalties. His biggest issue was pressures, allowing 37 in 2023, however he only gave up 21 in 2022. While he was not perfect in his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was a decent starter, and at this point there are very few remaining free agents at the center spot who are not retired, injured, or lower quality than Cole at this current juncture. He would be a good veteran presence to fill in for McCoy until he gets back, and then good depth for the remainder of the season.

Another free agent option also played for the Steelers in that time period, that being J.C. Hassenauer. He most recently got playing time with them in 2022, and then signed with the New York Giants before tearing his tricep. Most recently he signed with the Washington Commanders in August, however was released prior to the season starting. 2021 was his best season, as he played 277 snaps, gave up no sacks, and had no penalties. He has not been a full-time starter throughout his career, more of a spot-starter, with only 7 games as a starter compared to his 45 games played. He could be an intriguing player to look at though, just to see if he has juice left in the tank.

If the Saints want to look for one of their former players while not having to give up anything in return, they could look to bring back center Will Clapp, who is currently on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. The Bills already have two centers so he is unlikely to get the call up to the active roster in the near future, and the Saints already have knowledge of how he plays. He spent four seasons with the Saints from 2018-2021, playing in 34 games and starting 7. Most recently he was with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he started 11 games, played 702 snaps, and only had one penalty and one sack allowed. He could be one to watch for with the Saints, as the New Orleans native could look to return home if given the opportunity.

The primary trade option for the Saints so far would be Ben Cleveland, who was a third round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. At 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds, he absolutely has the size to hold down the interior, and he had been training at center alongside Tyler Linderbaum throughout the offseason despite being a guard previously. Recently head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the Ravens will not be starting him soon, and had some criticism of him even which does not bode well. This has led to trade speculation surrounding Cleveland, and he could be an option for the Saints at center, or even at guard with whomever they prefer at center. 2021 was his largest snap count, as he had 367 total, and in that time he had two penalties and no sacks allowed. He could be an intriguing one for the Saints to keep an eye on as a trade candidate in the coming days.

Could the Ravens’ offensive line look completely different against the Cowboys?

Ravens’ offensive line will look different against the Cowboys

During his last press conference of the week, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh did everything but hint at changes coming to the embattled offensive line.

Baltimore has been inconsistent upfront through two games, and last Sunday’s shocking loss to the Raiders saw Maxx Crosby earn AFC Defensive Player of the Week after dominating the Ravens’ revamped offensive front.

“I think it’s still a competition,” he said when asked about any possible changes. “It’s still up in the air for certain spots.

“You probably will see some different guys in different spots. That’s just part of it.”

Roger Rosengarten has looked impressive during his snaps at right tackle, and Patrick Mekari could slide over at right guard for Ben Faalele. The undervalued Ben Cleveland could also be in line for more snaps in the rotation.

Baltimore’s offensive line will certainly need to perform well against a Cowboys defense led by one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, outside linebacker Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Ben Cleveland responds to John Harbaugh’s candid assessment of his play

Ben Cleveland had made it clear that he’s going to keep fighting to try and win a starting spot.

As you might have heard, the Baltimore Ravens have had some issues adjusting to a revamped offensive line. Right guard Daniel Faalele has had some noticeable struggles, but head coach John Harbaugh made it clear earlier this week that Ben Cleveland has not done anything to beat out Faalele.

“If Ben had earned the job at right guard, he would be the starting right guard,” Harbaugh told the media on Monday.

“You look at the tape, and he didn’t beat out Daniel or anybody. I think Ben is a good player. I like Ben. I want Ben to take the next step.

“He’s in his fourth year. Ben knows what he needs to do. If he wants playing time, he knows how he needs to play and how he needs to practice when he gets that chance.

“So our evaluation right now is that Daniel outplayed Ben. Just facts, straight up. Matter of fact. … If I see that Ben is playing better than Daniel, then Ben will be the starting guard. He practices every day. Just like I tell all the guys: show me.”

Well, it just does not get any more straightforward than that. Harbaugh epitomized the idea of “tell us what you think.”

But of course, Cleveland heard all this, and he won’t take it lying down. Cleveland had made it clear that he would keep fighting to try and win a starting spot.

“I feel like I’ve been my most consistent and most proactive throughout camp,” he said in an interview with the Baltimore Sun.

“It’s been a struggle having to move around positions with injuries and stuff like that. But as far as adapting to other positions and just playing where I’m asked, I feel like I’ve been extremely consistent and competitive.”

The injury situation within the position group disadvantaged Cleveland. When Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum missed a few weeks due to injury this summer, someone had to take the snaps at the position.

That job fell to Cleveland, forcing him to miss time at the position where he could conceivably see major playing time.

“There weren’t a whole lot of right guard reps taken by me during camp just because of injury and all the above,” Cleveland continued on in the interview.

“So just staying ready for when my number gets called to go in and play.”

You knew there was going to be an adjustment period and some growing pains for a line that is replacing three out of five starters. Unfortunately, the next task is a formidable Dallas Cowboys pass rush led by the All-Pro Micah Parsons.

On paper, this doesn’t seem like a “get right game” for the OL.

 

John Harbaugh on potential offensive line changes: ‘We’re always going to play the best players’

The Ravens gambled on youth this offseason by letting both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson walk in free agency while trading away right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets. This decision looks quite questionable after an 0-2 …

The Ravens gambled on youth this offseason by letting both starting guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson walk in free agency while trading away right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets.

This decision looks quite questionable after an 0-2 start to the 2024 season, with the most significant issue being a struggling offensive line with three new starters. This has led to questions about whether the team will change the starting lineup, particularly at right guard and right tackle. 2022 third-round pick Daniel Faalele has started both games at right guard to start the year, while versatile veteran Patrick Mekari has handled most duties at right tackle, with rookie second-round pick Roger Rosengarten rotated in on occasions.

Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh was asked if he would consider changing the offensive line following the team’s 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.

“Yes, I’m just going to look and try to coach the guys and keep getting better with the guys,” Harbaugh said. “I’ll look at the tape, and we’ll see. We’re always going to play the best players; that’s part of it, if that is what your question is. We’ll always try to do that.”

Ben Cleveland is the obvious replacement at right guard if Harbaugh decides to bench Faalele, while Rosengarten would take over full-time duties at right tackle from Mekari. Cleveland has performed well when given the opportunity in previous seasons, and Rosengarten appears to offer more pass protection than Mekari.

 

 

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta is prepared for growing pains with young, retooled offensive line

Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta is prepared for growing pains with young, retooled offensive line

The Ravens saw the decline last summer, decided to let two looming free-agent offensive linemen walk, and traded Morgan Moses to the New York Jets.

During his Thursday press conference, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged that an offensive line imploding could take place, and it would ultimately set the franchise back.

Baltimore wanted a younger offensive line, and DeCosta acknowledged that there could be growing pains.

Starting left guard John Simpson exited, and the Ravens replaced him with Andrew Vorhees, a seventh-round pick out of USC who missed his entire rookie season while rehabbing a knee injury.

Talented right guard Kevin Zeitler (34) departed, and the younger and bigger Daniel Faalele was inserted.

After Morgan Moses was traded, former Washington Huskies stud Roger Rosengarten was drafted in the second round in April, and he looks like a future All-Pro.   Next Thursday night will see the offensive line feature three first-year starters, with Vorhees, Rosengarten, and Daniel Faalele inserted in critical positions and likely to see a lot of All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Baltimore is also adjusting to a new offensive line coach. George Warhop is joining John Harbaugh’s staff, replacing longtime offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris, who passed away from an “acute illness.”

Head coach John Harbaugh says he knows who the starters will be but has declined to announce them for strategic purposes.