In the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens moved up three spots – from 26 to 23 – to select a highly-touted and athletic talent by the name of Michael Oher.
In the eyes of Ravens brass, Oher’s conceivable ability was strong enough to make future draft picks expendable, so they surrendered a fifth-round selection in order to tab their tackle out of Mississippi.
Oher joined the Ravens with the normal expectations connected to that of a first-round draft pick: Make an immediate impact, be a young leader, and quite possibly, become the team’s left tackle of the future.
Fast-forward seven months: Warner Bros. released “The Blind Side,” a sports drama chronicling the tales of Oher and his humble beginnings. A typically discreet and private man, Oher modestly embraced the limelight that followed him and the Hollywood feature that recounted his adolescent years. Today, he seldom waivers from his quiet nature, yet Oher effortlessly exhibits a conviction that transcends the always-changing personnel of an NFL locker room.
In the spring of 2009, Oher’s NFL career hit the ground running. Immediately recognizing his versatility and athletic frame, Ravens coaches rotated the rookie through different areas of need along the O-line. Injuries would require Oher to compete at both tackle positions throughout his first NFL campaign, when he started 11 times at right tackle and five times from “The Blind Side.”
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