5 Ravens Who Don’t Get Enough Credit

Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals inside linebacker Nick Vigil (59) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals inside linebacker Nick Vigil (59) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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2. Marshall Yanda

Marshall Yanda has never been one to receive a significant amount of credit for anything, because he plays right guard. According to ProFootballFocus, Yanda was the best guard in the NFL last season. He has held that honor multiple times in his 10-year career.

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Last season, Yanda impressed even more. He battled a shoulder injury that caused him to miss three games. Yanda had only missed one or more games twice in his career before this injury, so it was obviously significant.

It was significant enough that Yanda, normally a right guard, shifted over to left guard for the second half of the season. Playing left guard made things easier on Yanda’s left shoulder. It also helped the Ravens because Alex Lewis got sidelined with an injury. He still played through a lot of pain, but it was less pain than he would have played in if he had been at right guard.

Yanda is a six-time pro bowler who has been the anchor of Baltimore’s offensive line for a decade. He is the second best offensive lineman the Ravens have ever had (Jonathan Odgen being #1), and the Ravens’ offensive line would struggle mightily without him.