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Baltimore Ravens year in review: The offensive line

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 10: Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley #79 of the Baltimore Ravens is intoduced before the start of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 10: Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley #79 of the Baltimore Ravens is intoduced before the start of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 10: Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley #79 of the Baltimore Ravens is intoduced before the start of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 10: Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley #79 of the Baltimore Ravens is intoduced before the start of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

It’s time for the Baltimore Ravens year in review. Things start up front so we will begin on the Ravens offensive line. It was interesting to say the very least:

The Baltimore Ravens offensive line walked into the 2017 season with a story that was pretty hard to believe. Before there was one snap of football the Ravens lost Alex Lewis and Nico Siragusa for the season. To make things worse, Ryan Jensen (who could have been a starting center) retired heading into training camp. Austin Howard was then signed to man the right tackle position. At this point the starting offensive line was as follows: Ronnie Stanley, James Hurst, Ryan Jensen, Marshall Yanda and Austin Howard.

Week two added injury to injury (yes that’s what I meant to say). Marshall Yanda sustained an injury that would keep him sidelined for the entire season. The 2-0 start was soured by the fact that Baltimore would have to line up with out their future Hall of Fame worthy right guard. Now the offensive line was in serious trouble. The Ravens were fine at the tackle positions. Ronnie Stanley continued to be a rock while Austin Howard was inconsistent but good enough. In between that, the Ravens weren’t on plan B, they were on plan F.

The Ravens worked through several options. There were cameos by Luke Bowanko, Tony Bergstrom and Jermaine Eluemunor. The answer that seemed to stick was James Hurst at left guard and Matt Skura filling in Yanda’s spot. While Alex Collins was certainly a surprise at the running back position, one could argue that Matt Skura was the biggest surprise of the season. He started 12 games for the purple and black and it went better than anyone expected.

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