OL in flux

[papasmurfbell]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/24/eugene-monroe-had-minor-knee-surgery/

Eugene Monroe had minor knee surgery

he Ravens are going to need to find a new left tackle for the next few weeks.

Coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday thatEugene Monroe had a minor surgical procedure on his knee. Harbaugh didn’t outline a specific time that Monroe will miss, but he is going to be out “some number of weeks” as he works his way back to health.

Harbaugh said, via Luke Jones of WNST, thatJames Hurst is the next man up on the depth chart, but the Ravens could opt to move in a few different directions. Left guardKelechi Osemele has experience playing tackle, as does Jah Reid, and the team has Geno Gradkowski on the bench to step in at guard should they decide to do extra shuffling.

Whatever they do at left tackle, they’re probably going to have to change some blocking schemes to ensure Joe Flacco isn’t getting hit too often. That will be particularly necessary against a strong Panthers front four this weekend, especially as the Ravens also try to move forward without Dennis Pitta serving as a reliable target for the quarterback.

 

[vmax]

 

Undrafted rookie James Hurst will replace Monroe on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Harbaugh said he doesn't have a specific timeframe for Monroe's return.

[papasmurfbell]

Great gif.

[oldno82]

Crap! What else is going to go wrong this year?

[papasmurfbell]

Hurst looked good in the PS. At least they can see what they have.

[cravnravn]

Hey we cut Deonte again,and signed a DE Guy, who the Chargers just cut..I thought we were fine at DE, unless the Suggs injury is not going well.

[papasmurfbell]

Canty was a little gimpy in the game.

[tsylvester]

Hurst is the best option. Prior to his college injury, he was considered to be a top prospect, even with his penchant for getting lazy in his technique, attributed to poor conditioning in college.

 

Now, with better coaching, he should be fine, not perfect as of yet, but certainly a heck of a lot better than the aforementioned choices. Jeepers, bringing in Reid or Gradkowski would not only leave Flacco half dead, but the running game as well. Pathers have a solid front four, a very good, rangy MLB too boot.

[vmax]

"This is really bad news. We all know what the offense looks like with a patched up O line and no Pita!"

 

They could move KO over there...crap!

[vmax]

Feel 25% better after reading this...

 

 

 

Undrafted rookie tackle James Hurst is expected to step into the starting position.

Hurst is behind Monroe on the depth chart and has been practicing as his backup throughout camps and the preseason. The Ravens could move guard Kelechi Osemele to tackle, but Osemele said that’s not the plan.

Baltimore’s offensive line has played quite well this season and Osemele and right guard Marshal Yanda have been perhaps the best duo in the league. The Ravens likely won’t want to totally shuffle the line.

The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Hurst came to Baltimore as a highly-touted undrafted rookie. He may have slipped out of the draft because of a broken leg suffered his senior year.

However, Hurst didn’t miss any time this summer because of the injury and was one of two undrafted rookies, along with inside linebacker Zach Orr, to make the 53-man roster.

“I’m excited about it. I’m going to put in all the work I can to be prepared for Sunday,” Hurst said about starting against the Carolina Panthers.

“I’m confident. We have a lot of good guys on the line that I’ve been able to learn from for a long time now. We’ve got a great coach, great coaching staff, great game plan. So I’m really confident I’ve got the pieces around me to help me as much as possible.”

Hurst does have the advantage of getting his first NFL start at home, where it will be easier to communicate. Still, he does expect some nerves.

“I think if you’re not nervous, you don’t realize what’s happening. It is a big situation.”

The Ravens have faith in the North Carolina product, who was a four-year starter for the Tar Heels and earned first-team All-ACC honors as a senior. Hurst has gotten a lot of reps this summer, including with the first team when Monroe has sat out.

“He’s done a great job all the way from OTAs to training camp till now,” Osemele said. “He’s been going against [Terrell Suggs] one-on-one, so I’m not really concerned. He’s always been a hard worker and he’s a consistent guy. So it’s next man up.”

“You’re not going to get in this league unless you’re a big, physical guy playing tackle,” added tight end Owen Daniels. “I like how smart he is. He really has a great grasp of what we’re doing up front – the blocking scheme. He’s a great communicator, which is really important.”http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Eugene-Monroe-Has-Knee-Surgery-James-Hurst-To-Start-At-Tackle/c8b3cb60-1314-43be-bd40-c18743dfadd4

[oldno82]

Crap! What else is going to go wrong this year?

Answering my own question:

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-corner-jimmy-smith-assigned-october-court-date-in-misdemeanor-disorderly-conduct-case-20140924,0,1748244.story