Ravens Sign McKinnie

[colincac]

“@skjensen: BREAKING: Bryant McKinnie signs contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Terms are not know but expected to be one or two year deal.”

 

This is the only news thus far but it was retweeted by the Ravens official Twitter, that has to mean something... Awaiting contract details and I'm wondering how we got this done with Ngata still not resigned?

[colincac]

Now this from McKinnie...

 

“@BryantMckinnie: I'm out on the 1st flight smoking 2morrow am. Let's Get it!”

 

EDIT:

 

Now Official but still awaiting contract details. If this guy plays to his potential and we start him at LT, our line goes from problem spot to arguably above-league-average. He's a passblocking specialist who is great at LT, moving the great run-blocking Oher back to RT would be dominant.

[oldno82]

Now this from McKinnie...

 

“@BryantMckinnie: I'm out on the 1st flight smoking 2morrow am. Let's Get it!”

 

EDIT:

 

Now Official but still awaiting contract details. If this guy plays to his potential and we start him at LT, our line goes from problem spot to arguably above-league-average. He's a passblocking specialist who is great at LT, moving the great run-blocking Oher back to RT would be dominant.

 

Its a a good move especially considering what was out there but he HAS to get himself in shape. If he does, we'll also be in great shape.

[vmax]

He's fat and out of shape...meaning too slow to play.

 

Lot's of red flags around this guy.

 

First thoughts: The Ravens just let Gaither go and got an older version.

 

Now...if the Ravens can get him back in shape in say a month or so...and...if a change of scene is what he needs and motivates him...then this could be a steal. They could be a very good line...maybe dominant if McKinnie's head is back in the game.

 

Low risk (CAP wise)...high reward.

 

I want to know if he wants to win or just wants a paycheck.

[vmax]

Not sure what to think about this....hope it's true...

 

He’s been a productive player at one of the hardest positions to play and he has been in sync with Matt Birk when Matt was a Viking,” Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome said.

 

“Plus, he has a relationship with Michael Oher and our Miami players. Ray [Lewis] and Ed [Reed] vouch for him as a person and as a player who can help us. I know these veteran players are happy we’re adding Bryant.”

 

Lewis speaks highly of his fellow Miami Hurricane, who was the seventh-overall pick in 2002.

 

“Some people look for speed, some people look for youth. But give me heart, wisdom and the will to play and win the game, and I will take that player on my side any day of the week,” Lewis said.

 

“That is what Bryant has. I have played against him, and I know from experience how tough he is. He has a proven track record as a winner, and he is a Raven. He is one of us, and I know he will make us better.”

http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/08/23/ravens-working-on-agreement-with-t-mckinnie/

 

While most fans were whinning and flippin out that the Ravens didn't sign anybody to make this team better, it is now possible that Ozzie has thrown egg in their face with Leach, Evens and McKinnie.

He'd definately bringing in a ton of linemen.

[OutsideRzAcE]

I wonder why they would sign Levoir then sign McKinnie?

 

At anyrate, I echo the general sentiment of low risk potential high reward. I like the deal and I can't believe we made it.

[oldno82]

Just a note: he still has to pass his physical before the contract kicks in so I think we're covered.

[vmax]

Just a note: he still has to pass his physical before the contract kicks in so I think we're covered.

 

 

yea...my head tells me that he fails the physical.

 

But when I drink some purple kool aid I get this vision of McKinnie in football shape in about 4-6 weeks.

Then

A line of Mckinnie at LT, Grubbs, Birk, Yanda and Oher at RT.

 

Better yet for me... I loved Cousins at guard. He was a traffic cop moving guys away from Joe. Did you see him open that hole for Rice's 27 yard TD run? Reid sealed the right side and Cousins road graded a hole you could drive a mid size car through. The media talks about Leach's block but it was Cousins who looked like a man amoung boys.

Now it was 1 preseason start...but maybe he has more gamew at guard then say Grubbs whose contract is due next year.

He might.

 

This could be one hellova line.

[colincac]

He's from the U. All of our leaders are from the U. Provided he passes the physical, we have a guy who was one of the best pass-blocking LT's in football for years who WILL get into shape given the respect he has to have for our veterans. A great pass-blocker at LT and a great run-blocker at RT (Oher) has the look of one hell of a line.

 

I think we signed Levoir because he came at the veteran minimum and even if we still get McKinnie, we have Reid as the backup RT and Levoir as the backup LT. We still needed the depth regardless. Before the Levoir signing I was pushing for signing McKinnie and Stinchcomb for that same reason.

[BMoreHon]

I don't think anyone questions this guy's play. It is the character and off the field stuff that is a concern. Perhaps he ate instead of clubbed during the lockout....you know trying to avoid more arrests!

 

So that said, it is interesting that he has a relationship with Oher. That probably helped with the character issue. I feel Ray vouching for him is like the 3rd party guarantor. I don't think he would put his word on the line if he didn't feel it.

 

Sometimes a change in scenery is all that is needed. I also drink the Koolaid though

[yagersports]

Suddenly the O-Line is deep and not a weakness! Cousins can back-up at Guard. Reid can back-up at Tackle and continue to learn. And Levoir can be the primary back-up at both tackle positions! We also have many great options to road grade! Put a double tackle set of Oher and Cousins next to Yanda. Mmmmm I can hear the pads crunch! lol

[cravnravn]

[varaven45]

 

Exactly, Crav. Doesnt he need to first pass his physical ?

[cravnravn]

Yes physical is pending, cant wait to see this 400 lb behemoth..

[colincac]

“@BryantMckinnie: Physical complete!”

 

Not sure if that means he passed, but it sure sounds like it.

[cravnravn]

Hes also states that he will be the left tackle

 

McKinnie Says He Will Play Left Tackle

 

Two questions immediately surfaced after the Ravens announced their pending two-year deal with tackle Bryant McKinnie:

 

Do the Ravens want him playing right or left tackle?

 

And, will the former first-round pick report to the Ravens' training facility in shape?

 

In an interview on ESPN Radio's "The Brian Kenny Show," McKinnie gave his answers to both questions.

 

 

When asked if the Ravens have told him what his role will be, McKinnie responded, "Yeah they told me.

 

"I'm going to play left [tackle]."

 

He then added that Michael Oher would move back to the right, a position Oher played well during his rookie season.

 

McKinnie, a nine-year veteran, has played his entire career at left tackle, and the Ravens have said they are comfortable with Oher playing on either side. But a big move like is pending a few other events, including passing his physical today.

 

 

[colincac]

Super Bowl or bust baby. We've got the best GM in the business.

 

“@1WinningDrive: OT Bryant McKinnie has passed his physical and officially signed with the #Ravens.”

[BMoreHon]

Wow...I gotta say at the beginning when the lockout lifted we were all freaking out and yelling at Ozzie about him doing nothing. The past couple of weeks I guess goes to show we actually do have the one of the best GMs in the biz. Hokey as it is "In Ozzie we Trust."

[papasmurfbell]

Has he passed that physical?

[colincac]

Has he passed that physical?

 

Yes. I wrote that two posts earlier lol. I'm happy the FO is planning on McKinnie at LT where he can contend with the best pass rushers. Oher and Yanda on the right side are going to open some HUGE holes in the run game.

[papasmurfbell]

Sun just reported it is a done deal

[oldno82]

Gee guys, this could be huge for the Ravens! And I don't mean his size . If he plays at the level he's played at before and Oher does the same at RT (without pouting, hopefully) the line could be awesome.

 

I'm starting to get really good vibes about this team. That purple Kool-Aid is fantastic!

[Guest BallTMore]

Oher does the same at RT (without pouting, hopefully) the line could be awesome.

 

 

I don't see Oher complaining. Mah-kool is great RT. As a LT he is average. I'm glad to see him move to the blind side...of a left- handed QB.

 

 

I like the signing of Mt. McFatty. As others have stated, low risk, high reward. I hope he gets motivated and kicks some ass.

[vmax]

Things are looking up.

 

Now the question is: Can Oher get acclimated to RT and McKinnie get in shape and learn the blocking assignments by 9/11?

 

The Steelers are definately going to try and confuse the shit out of this new line and come from everywhere.

 

I think all this has happened because Cam, Ozzie and Harbaugh realized that Reid would get abused at this stage of his development

[oldno82]

Things are looking up.

 

Now the question is: Can Oher get acclimated to RT and McKinnie get in shape and learn the blocking assignments by 9/11?

 

The Steelers are definately going to try and confuse the shit out of this new line and come from everywhere.

 

I think all this has happened because Cam, Ozzie and Harbaugh realized that Reid would get abused at this stage of his development

 

18 days is probably just enough time for Oher to get reacclimated to RT and McKinnie to get in shape. I'm a little less certain if the unit can get optimum cohesion and know the blocking assignments by then. But I do think thats one thing that will improve. Could be a number of false starts until they get to know each other well. We'll see.

 

Maybe the first team OL ought to play at least a half in the last preseason game to learn how to work together. Don't know if Birk will be ready by then but the rest could probably use the work as a unit.

 

I think you're right that Ravens' brain trust learned that Reid, who I think has a lot of potential, was just being asked to do too much to be ready to go up against the Steelers.