Baltimore Ravens offensive line the big storyline

2016 should be a nice bounce-back season for the Baltimore Ravens, since Steve Smith Sr., Justin Forsett, and Breshad Perriman will be in the fold, joining three rising talents in Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams, and 2015 breakout wide receiver Kamar Aiken.

However, the extent of the Baltimore Ravens success on offense could come down to how well their offensive line plays, and we only have to look at the difference between their 2013 and 2014 seasons to see a prime example of just how much offensive line play could affect this team in 2016.

In 2013, the Ravens finished 8-8 and were 25th in points per game, meaning that they were just as futile on offense from a scoring standpoint in 2013 as they were last year when just about everyone went down with injuries. But in 2014, the Ravens offensive line went from being an embarrassment that led Joe Flacco to suffer abuse to a well-oiled machine. Led by Marshal Yanda, Kelechi Osemele, Eugene Monroe, and surprise breakout right tackle Ricky Wagner, the Ravens man-handled opponents in the running game and kept Flacco clean.

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That year, the Ravens made it to the playoffs, were eighth in the NFL in scoring, and had one of the NFL’s most efficient running backs in Forsett, who had a surprise breakout season of his own.

But last season, the Ravens line flopped badly. Osemele and Yanda were beasts at guard, but injuries to Jeremy Zuttah and Monroe crushed the team. Wagner reverted back to his awful 2013 form, and Flacco and the rest of the skill position players had to deal with some of the worst offensive tackle play in the NFL, courtesy of Wagner and the woefully overmatched James Hurst. Moreoever, guard John Urschel was forced to start at center with Zuttah out, and he didn’t take well to the sudden change in position.

This offseason, the Ravens have to feel optimistic about their returning talent at wide receiver and tight end, but the passing game and offense as a whole will play to its potential with adequate blocking.

Many believe Ronnie Stanley will be a prime target for the Ravens with the sixth overall pick in the draft this year, though they could also go for a top cornerback like Vernon Hargreaves III. Whatever the case, the Ravens need to boost their offensive line, and that starts with taking care of one of their own.

As you can see here, the Ravens have a long list of impending free agents this offseason, but none of them are nearly as important as kicker Justin Tucker and left guard Kelechi Osemele. Tucker is arguably the best kicker in the NFL, whereas Osemele is an elite guard who pulverizes defenders in the running game, is among the better pass protectors around, and is both young and versatility (he played some tackle last season).

The Ravens need to do whatever they can to keep both, and losing Osemele would be a tough pill to swallow, especially with questions already lingering at both tackle positions.

One of those questions centers around veteran blindside protector Eugene Monroe, who has hard to rely on recently. The former Jacksonville Jaguars standout has missed 15 games over the past two seasons, and the Ravens can’t afford another season-ending injury to their best OT.

Monroe hasn’t developed into the elite LT the Ravens were hoping, but the 28-year-old is in his prime and is one of the better left tackles in the league. As the Ravens know, tackle talent isn’t easy to come by, and just when you think you have a top tackle in development on your hands, he goes ahead and regresses in shocking fashion (yes, I am talking about Wagner here).

Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) rushes against Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe (60) during the second quarter at Levi /

Some wonder if Monroe could be a cap casualty this offseason, since he carries a whopping $8.7 million cap hit this season, according to OverTheCap.com. That’s massive, and only Flacco, Jimmy Smith, and Lardarius Webb count more against the cap than Monroe this season.

I don’t think cutting Monroe is a viable option, though, because while he quite clearly isn’t worth $8.7 million, releasing him would force the Ravens to swallow up $6.6 million in dead cap. Now, that would still leave the Ravens with about $2.1 million in savings, but that just isn’t smart business.

A solid, veteran tackle on a team with a potential sixth overall pick-worthy need at OT should be worth more than $2.1 million, which is the number that matters in this situation- not $8.7 million.

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Osemele’s future with the team is the major storyline here, but the Ravens offensive line is filled with riveting questions beyond the, “Will Osemele re-sign?” one.

If Osemele leaves, will the mathematical genius John Urschel start at left guard? Can Wagner get back on track? Will the Ravens draft Stanley or another top offensive tackle? Is there even a chance Monroe is gone?

Perriman, Smith, Aiken, Flacco, and Forsett are the big names on offense, but make sure to pay attention to the five men doing the blocking up front, since those names could very well change.

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