Breaking Down The Ravens Signing Of Jake Long
Here is what the Jake Long Signing means (and what it doesn’t mean)…
Related Story: Ravens Sign Veteran Tackle: Jake Long
Before you get excited that the Ravens added a former number one pick and a former Pro Bowl offensive tackle, remember that Jake Long is not the player he used to be. Long’s career has been devastated by injuries. Despite being a shell of what he used to be (he was possibly the best tackle in the NFL), Long was a great addition to the roster.
Long adds to the Ravens offensive line depth. He is a player that acts as an insurance policy to Ronnie Stanley at the left tackle position. The Ravens did not bring in Long because they don’t trust Stanley. All the Ravens proverbial eggs happen to be in the Stanley basket. That doesn’t mean the Ravens aren’t glad to add a veteran tackle as a plan B.
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Long provides more options at left tackle, which reserves other backups for the other four positions. It means that the Ravens don’t have to put Alex Lewis, a rookie who needs to develop, on the left side if Stanley gets hurt. It means Vlad Ducasse can stick to his natural position of offensive guard.
The Ravens should be credited with their commitment to a deep roster. Depth killed the purple and black last season. This season the Ravens look as fully stocked as they have ever been. The offseason has been an active one. Problems from 2015’s roster have all but vanished with the additions the Ravens have made.
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The acquisition of Long is just another example of the Ravens determination to be a deep roster. The Ravens did not peg Long as a starter. In a perfect world they won’t even have to use him. However, Long is a player that you can plug into the lineup. He knows what he is doing. He is solid when he is on the field. Long is injury prone, but as a plan B, that’s okay.