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Throwback Thursday: Bad offensive line dooms 2013 Ravens

By Chris Schisler

Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) during the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) during the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2013 Ravens were the first team coached by John Harbaugh not to make the postseason. The offensive line was a main reason why:

In the 2013 season, Joe Flacco was beaten up and abused by opposing defenses. Flacco was sacked 48 times, and the Ravens lost over 300 yards because of it. If the 2013 Ravens won their last two games, they would have gone to the playoffs. In the week 15 game against the New England Patriots, Flacco was obviously hurt. He could barely walk, and he was sent out there to run for his life a good bit.

To Flacco’s credit, he didn’t throw the offensive linemen under the bus. He didn’t really acknowledge the fact that he was playing hurt. Flacco was tough as nails, but that season changed things for number five. The Flacco we know in 2017 throws off his back foot, and is a bit gun-shy. His injury in 2015 surely helped these problems arrive, but it started in 2013.

The Ravens run game was affected too. Ray Rice led the Ravens with rushing in the 2013 season with just 660 yards. Rice averaged 3.1 yards per carry, which is not even kind of good. Bernard Pierce did even worse. Pierce averaged 2.9 yards per carry. With a running game that didn’t exactly strike fear into the opponent, Flacco was stuck in an endless loop of sacks.

Related Story: Baltimore Ravens O-line is still the top concern

Why was the offensive line so bad?

Remember Kelechi Osemele? Well Osemele got hurt that season and played in only seven games. A.Q. Shipley, a short-armed guard took his place. Then at the center position, Gino Gradkowski got the start. He wasn’t just the worst center the Ravens ever had, he was the worst that I have ever seen. In the middle of the offensive line, the Ravens had two of the worst players in the NFL. It was not pretty.

The offensive tackle situation was pretty bad too. Bryant McKinnie only played in five games being sent to the Miami Dolphins. Eugene Monroe ended up a solid in season addition from a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Monroe had his bad moments though. Michael Oher played all 16 games, but had a boat load of struggles. At no point did the Ravens have any consistency in their offensive line. It became a game of musical chairs, with Marshall Yanda and Oher being the two linemen who played in all 16 games.

The Lesson we must learn from the 2013 train-wreck

Let’s get back to the 2017 Ravens, because the reason we remember history is to avoid the pitfalls of the past. The offensive line is a major concern for the purple and black. The Ravens don’t want to go into the season with James Hurst as their right tackle. They may shower Hurst with compliments in the media, but remember he’s been terrible. Baltimore has options at center, but none of them are established options. With the exception of John Urschel the best candidates for the job aren’t natural centers.

Next: Most anticipated games of the 2017 Ravens schedule

The 2013 Ravens offensive line was painful to watch. Let’s hope the 2017 season goes much differently for Baltimore in the trenches. Follow Ebony Bird for everything you need to know as we get closer to training camp.

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