Ravens Legends Bracket: Marshal Yanda vs. Dennis Pitta

We continue our Ravens Legends Bracket series with two offensive players: Marshal Yanda and Dennis Pitta

Once again we have another great matchup in our Ravens Legends Bracket series. It’s been a great bracket so far with a lot of interesting battles.

This one features two current players on the Ravens offense: Marshal Yanda and Dennis Pitta. It’s tight end versus the offensive guard. Yanda has been a rock on the Ravens line for a number of years and is as consistent as they come. Dennis Pitta has been a very reliable option at tight end, even after suffering some major injuries.

Who will win this matchup? Let’s take a look.

Why Dennis Pitta made it to the 2nd round:

Pitta has essentially been a wide receiver for the Ravens since he was drafted. I do not consider him the best blocker, but he’s got soft hands that allow him to be a very reliable tight end in the passing game. His chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco gives the quarterback good sense of trust to be there between the two. When under pressure, Pitta always seems to be the security blanket for Flacco. He was a major reason for the quarterback’s success in the Ravens 2012 Super Bowl run.

Behind Mike Wallace, Pitta was the second leading receiver on the team last season. That is very impressive considering all that he’s been through. He fractured and dislocated his hip during the 2013 season and did it again in 2014. The injuries forced him to miss the entire 2015 and put his playing future up in the air. Pitta announced at the beginning of last season that he would return to football when medically cleared. He was cleared to play week 1 and got better as the season went on.

With many people questioning the Ravens receivers this season, Pitta will be a vital piece to the passing game.

Why Marshall Yanda made it to the 2nd round:

Marshall Yanda is the glue that’s held the Baltimore Ravens offensive line together for years. He is another example of a mid-round gem that Ozzie Newsome has found in the NFL draft. Yanda is a is a six time Pro-Bowler, a five time All-Pro and the best guard in all of football. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the stats. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the #1 guard the past three seasons.

Yanda’s natural position is at guard, but his versatility allows him to play all over the offensive line. Not only can he move around to other positions, but he plays well there. He slotted in at guard on both sides of the line last season when players dealt with injuries. Yanda himself also played through a number of injuries. After suffering a shoulder injury, he switched from right to left guard to allow his healthy shoulder to be on the inside. That alone shows the kind of player that he is. While most would choose to sit out and let the injury heal, Yanda put the team first while they were in the middle of a tight division race for the AFC North.

Winner: Yanda

Marshall Yanda won this matchup with a unanimous vote from the Ebony Bird staff. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise here. Yanda will go down as one of the best offensive lineman in in franchise history behind Jonathan Ogden. His toughness and hard nose style of football does not go unnoticed by Ravens fans.

Next: Throwback Thursday: The Baltimore Ravens first true rivalry

There’s no doubt Dennis Pitta has had a great career with the Ravens. His ability to come back from two major hip injuries is amazing. Most players would have not even given a second thought about coming back and playing. But in this matchup, Yanda takes the crown.

Depending on who he comes up against in the third round, I can see Yanda advancing far. He is a fan favorite and will continue to cement his legacy with the Ravens as long as he is on the offensive line.

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