Former Ravens great named a member of the 2023 Senior Bowl Hall of Fame class

A former Ravens guard was named as a member of the 2023 Senior Bowl Hall of Fame class

It has been announced by the Reese’s Senior Bowl that Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor inductee Marshal Yanda has been selected as one of the members of the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame class of 2023.  Yanda was drafted in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft out of the University of Iowa.

Yanda had an outstanding career as a Baltimore Raven and was part of their 2012 Super Bowl winning team.  During the 2022 season, he was inducted in to the team’s Ring of Honor.

G Ben Powers relied on advice from key Ravens legend in 2022

Ravens guard Ben Powers relied on advice from a key team legend in 2022

The Baltimore Ravens are heading into the offseason in an enviable position as one of the league’s best teams when their roster is fully healthy. Their offensive line in particular should be considered one of the team’s strengths, especially after the team revamped the unit in the 2022 offseason.

Veteran guard Ben Powers played a huge role in shoring up Baltimore’s play up front in 2022, and spoke to reporters in the Ravens’ end-of-season media availability session about his season. Though he was clearly disappointed by the team’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, he made it clear that advice from a Ravens legend helped him cope with the weight of the season’s end.

“[I’ve] just [taken] that day-by-day [approach],” Powers explained. “One of the first things Marshal [Yanda] told me when I got here was, ‘You take the league day by day, week by week.’ So, I’ve been sticking with that. I control what I can control, and that’s about it.”

Though his future in Baltimore is unclear given that his contract with the Ravens expires at the beginning of the new league year, hopes are high that Powers will return to the Charm City next season. His steady presence on the offensive line was an underrated part of the Ravens’ push to the playoffs, and the team would be wise to offer him a generous contract in the offseason.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh talks about Marshal Yanda going into team’s Ring of Honor

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talks about Marshal Yanda going into the team’s Ring of Honor

The Baltimore Ravens host the Denver Broncos in Week 13 at M&T Bank Stadium.  It will be a game where Baltimore will look to get back on track after a disappointing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12, and also a game that one of the greatest Ravens of all-time will be going into the team’s Ring of Honor at halftime.

The Ravens will be honoring former guard Marshal Yanda in front of the crowd in Baltimore for his hard work and dedication to the team for 13-years. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh spoke after Friday’s practice about Yanda going into the prestigious Ring of Honor, saying it will be a great moment for Yand and his family, as well as the team.

“It means a lot. It’s a big deal. Being in the Ring of Honor in this organization is a career accomplishment. It’s something that I think many guys cherish, and all the guys that play here – or coach here – look at those guys in kind of a high degree of respect. Marshal [Yanda] is one of those guys. He’s at the top of the list. Just to have the chance to coach him for 13 years, to be with him every day for 13 years was a high honor. So, it’s great seeing him. He had great words for the team, and it’ll be a great moment for him, and for his family, and for all the fans on Sunday.”

Yanda is lauded as one of the best draft picks in Ravens history. Playing on the offensive line isn’t considered glamorous, but Yanda worked extremely hard to go out and perform at the highest level on Sundays. The eight-time Pro Bowler gets enshrined as a Baltimore Raven for life, with a trip to the Hall of Fame soon likely in the cards.

Former Ravens G Marshal Yanda to be inducted into team’s Ring of Honor

Former Baltimore Ravens guard Marshal Yanda will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor on Dec. 4.

The Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday announced their gameday promotions and events held at M&T Bank Stadium during the 2022 NFL season. One of the events announced will honor a former Super Bowl champion that spent his entire career with the Ravens.

Former Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda will be inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor when the team hosts the Denver Broncos on Dec. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium. Aside from seeing Yanda inducted, those in attendance will take home a commemorative pin featuring Yanda’s jersey number, No. 73.

Yanda will share the honor with many Ravens’ greats. Players and coaches already inducted include inside linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed and Jonathan Ogden, former team owner Art Modell, former head coach Brian Billick, running back Jamal Lewis and many others. Yanda will become the 21st member inducted into the Ring of Honor, which also has players featured during the Baltimore Colts days such as Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas.

Yanda retired following the 2019 season after spending 13 years in Baltimore. During his time in the NFL, Yanda was selected to eight Pro Bowls, was a two-time First-Team AP All-Pro and won Super Bowl XLVII with the team.

For information on all Ravens gameday promotions and events, click here.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Tyler Linderbaum drafted by the Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens selected Iowa Hawkeyes center Tyler Linderbaum with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft’s first round.

The Iowa Hawkeyes continue their ways of delivering talent and have done so again in the 2022 NFL draft. Iowa has sent another first-round talent into the NFL this year with center [autotag]Tyler Linderbaum[/autotag] getting drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 25 overall pick.

Many projected Linderbaum to go to the Ravens at some point in this draft and that has come true. The 6-foot-2, 296 pound center immediately plugs into a run-heavy offense and offers elusive quarterback Lamar Jackson an instant and dependable comrade at center.

As my colleague Jacob Keppen discussed, history repeats itself here. The Ravens found great success in former Iowa Hawkeye center [autotag]Marshal Yanda[/autotag] and look to capture that same long-term success once again with Linderbaum.

The former Hawkeye was destined for the first round after his final season in Iowa City where he was a team captain, a unanimous All-American and the recipient of the Rimington Trophy, which is given annually to the nation’s best center.

After making the move from defense to offense, Linderbaum started at center in each of Iowa’s 35 games over the past three seasons. Pro Football Focus graded Linderbaum as its top center each of the past two seasons and Linderbaum was the highest-graded college player by PFF this past season.

As the 2022 NFL draft moves into its second and third day, look for other Iowa players to get their name called and join Linderbaum as part of the next wave of Hawkeyes to make it to the NFL. There could still be a number of Hawkeyes set to get a chance via the draft or signing as an undrafted free agent this weekend.

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Tyler Linderbaum shoulders Iowa’s offensive line NFL draft tradition

USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell writes that Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum is the next in line of great Hawkeye offensive linemen.

Iowa has a long tradition of producing high-level NFL offensive linemen, and center [autotag]Tyler Linderbaum[/autotag] looks to be the next in line. Despite just a few years of experience under his belt at the position, the Solon, Iowa native has a chance to be a first round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell took a look at the lineage of Iowa linemen in the NFL and how Tyler Linderbaum is the next in line.

Another NFL draft, another Iowa offensive lineman built to do some major dirty work in the trenches.

This time it’s Tyler Linderbaum, the undisputed top center in the crop. He’s the latest in this great tradition of Hawkeye linemen, with a roll call that includes [autotag]Tristan Wirfs[/autotag], [autotag]Brandon Scherff[/autotag] and [autotag]Marshal Yanda[/autotag], among others. If Penn State is Linebacker U., then Iowa is the factory of choice for O-line grunts. – Bell, USA TODAY Sports.

Despite being recruited as a defensive tackle, Linderbaum hit the ground running at center for the Hawkeyes and started each of the team’s 35 games over the past three seasons. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten recipient by the league’s media, Linderbaum also recently won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the nation. Linderbaum was also a unanimous consensus All-American this past season.

Linderbaum isn’t just one of the best centers in recent memory, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top college player from the 2021 season. PFF graded Linderbaum as their top center over the past two seasons and his grade in 2021 is the highest given out to any player at the center position in the decade that PFF has produced its ratings.

Linderbaum has been projected to go in the first round of this year’s draft nearly all season and many experts view him as the safest player in the entire draft class. His technique, quickness and competitive fire have garnered him many fans in the league and a comparison to fellow Hawkeye and former Baltimore Raven Marshal Yanda by Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta.

NFL teams will like Linderbaum’s character off the field, too. Linderbaum donated all of the $30,000 in profits he made off of his “Baum Squad” T-shirts to the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital. That’s a name, image and likeness deal any fan can get behind. Taking into account his phenomenal off the field resume, it’s easy to see why there is so much buzz around Linderbaum.

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Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum earns Jason Kelce comparison from Touchdown Wire

Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum earned a comparison to Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce from Touchdown Wire.

The first round of the 2022 NFL draft is two days away and that means it’s time to put the finishing touches on mock drafts and player comparisons before the festivities officially get underway from Las Vegas, Nev.

Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum appears to be a likely first-round NFL draft selection. If that is indeed the case, Linderbaum would become the first Hawkeye selected in the first round since offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was taken No. 13 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 NFL draft.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield took a crack at player comparisons for each of the top 50 draft prospects. Farrar handled the comparisons for interior offensive linemen and his player comparison for Linderbaum was Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.

Kelce was originally a sixth-round pick by the Eagles in the 2011 NFL draft. Of course, Kelce has carved out quite the career with Philadelphia. The 6-foot-3, 295 pound center has been a five-time Pro Bowl honoree (2015, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022) and a four-time AP first-team All Pro (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021). He also helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl LII championship, 41-33, over the New England Patriots.

Here’s what Farrar wrote about Linderbaum resembling Kelce.

At the scouting combine, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta compared Linderbaum to Marshal Yanda, who is a future Hall of Famer to me. I don’t quite see Yanda’s ferocious play strength in Linderbaum’s game, but he does put me very much in mind of Kelce, the five-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro who has established quite a career with quickness and intelligence over root strength and power. That’s not to denigrate Kelce’s or Linderbaum’s power — it’s just a different kind of player. If you want a top-tier move center, this is your guy. – Farrar, Touchdown Wire.

If Linderbaum’s career resembles either Marshal Yanda’s or Kelce’s, then it’s safe to say he will have enjoyed a long career and racked up a nice chunk of change along the way. After redshirting in 2018, Linderbaum demonstrated his talent and durability by starting each of Iowa’s 35 games at center over the past three seasons.

Farrar and Schofield’s top five picks on Touchdown Wire were Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner, Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross, Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal and Florida State EDGE Jermaine Johnson II.

Hamilton was compared to Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James, Gardner to former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, Cross to Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, Neal to former Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and Johnson II to former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith.

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Former Ravens G Marshal Yanda to be Baltimore’s ‘Legend of the Game’ in Week 12

Former Ravens guard Marshal Yanda will be honored as the team’s Legend of the Game in Week 12 against the Browns

The Baltimore Ravens have had a plethora of offensive line talent since the team debuted in 1996. One of those great lineman of the Ravens past will be honored on Sunday in Week 12 in a big way.

Former guard Marshal Yanda will be the team’s “Legend of the Game” on “Sunday Night Football” when the team hosts their AFC North rival in the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore’s second divisional matchup of the 2021 season.

Yanda, an eight time Pro Bowler, returns to M&T Bank Stadium after retiring from the NFL following the 2020 season. Baltimore drafted Yanda in the 2007 NFL Draft. A third-round pick out of Iowa, Yanda fit right in as a Raven and spent thirteen seasons with the team.

Yanda started in 166 games and played in 177 during his 13 seasons in the NFL. One of those games was Super Bowl XLVII. The two-time first-team All-Pro helped keep former Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco’s jersey clean as Baltimore defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in what is considered one of the better Super Bowls of all time

Yanda was considered one of the best guards during his time in the NFL. It seems likely that one day he’ll join another former Ravens offensive lineman, Johnathan Ogden, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Pro Football Focus names Marshal Yanda as Ravens’ best value pick since 2006

Pro Football Focus names Marshal Yanda as Ravens’ best value pick since 2006

The Baltimore Ravens have had many successful drafts over the course of their franchise history. They’ve built competitive teams year after year with not only quality early round selections, but also great mid-round selections.

When assessing each NFL team’s best value draft pick since 2006, Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus named former third-round draft selection Marshal Yanda as Baltimore’s representative. When explaining his decision to pick Yanda, Renner called him “the best guard of his generation”.

“If PFF had a Hall of Fame vote, Yanda would be a lock. He was quite simply the best guard of his generation. In 13 seasons, he never earned a grade below 80.0. The crazy thing is, two of those seasons came at right tackle, where he earned an 85.9 grade as a rookie and an 80.5 grade in 2010.”

Yanda was taken 86th overall in 2007 and would go on to become one of the best offensive linemen in Ravens history. He established himself as an extremely physical player, was as tough as they came, and also was a steady veteran presence.

Baltimore certainly felt the absence of Yanda during the 2020 season after he retired from the NFL. While there’s no replacing a player like Yanda, the team will look to get good production from new right guard Kevin Zeitler in 2021.

While there are plenty of other Ravens players who could be deemed the best value draft pick, Yanda was an absolute steal for the team and provided over a decade of Hall of Fame play at a tough position. He’s destined for a gold jacket in the coming years, and he’ll be remembered in the Baltimore history books forever.

Marshal Yanda helped recruit Kevin Zeitler to sign with Ravens

The Ravens have been looking for Marshal Yanda’s replacement and got some help from the big man in recruiting Kevin Zeitler in free agency

The Baltimore Ravens have been looking for Marshal Yanda’s replacement for nearly a full year to the day. At the very start of the legal tampering period, the Ravens found their guy, agreeing to terms with guard Kevin Zeitler on a three-year deal to fill Yanda’s shoes. As it turns out, the Hall of Fame-caliber right guard got a chance to help with the process.

“I actually reached out to Marshal Yanda; asked him a bunch of questions about the o-line and whatnot,” Zeitler said in an interview with Glenn Clark Radio shortly after his deal was announced on Monday. “After hearing from him, he thought it would be a great fit. It was great talking to him and getting his opinion on everything.”

After Yanda announced his retirement last offseason, Baltimore tried to fill his spot internally, seeing three different players start at right guard in 2020. Unfortunately, lackluster play and injuries made it a revolving door. Zeitler has been among the best guards in the business over his nine-year career and has been healthy, missing just one game over the last six seasons. Still, it’s no easy task replacing a legend, but it’s one Zeitler thinks he’s up to.

“It’s good to be in that spot,” Zeitler continued. “That spot in Baltimore Ravens history is a very good spot, so I’m ready to continue on the tradition.”

No one can ever truly replace Yanda but getting the thumbs up from the big man is a pretty good start. If Zeitler can match his play from the last few years, he’ll do wonders for the Ravens’ offensive line and do Yanda proud.

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