Hall of Fame Game: 3 things we want to see from Baltimore Ravens

2. Young offensive linemen showing growth:

The Ravens offensive line has to depend on some young players to get through the preseason. Some of these young players like Orlando Brown Jr., who was drafted in the third round, could become starters. This will be the first game snaps for Brown Jr., Bradley Bozeman, and Nico Siragusa. These are the players that you need to keep an eye on.

Brown Jr. is coming into the NFL off a poor showing in the NFL combine. He can put a lot of worries to sleep, by looking spry and athletic on the field. The thing to look for is how he moves his feet. If his feet are slow, or he doesn’t keep them chopping, he’ll have trouble despite his physical gifts. If Brown Jr. gets his footwork right early, everything will fall in line. You don’t have to worry about his strength, it’s all about doing the little things right in his efforts to win the right tackle job away from James Hurst.

Bozeman is a rookie center from Alabama. He needs to show that he is more than just big and strong. Those are the obvious traits that Bozeman has. He needs to show that he can move. He also needs to demonstrate that he gets the mental aspects of the position. What happens if the the Bears throw some stunts at the Ravens’ offensive line? Bozeman has to show that he is ready for it, to get into a battle for the starting job at center.

Siragusa has a chance to wow people. He was a phenomenal run blocker at San Diego State. He needs to show that nobody can make a rushing lane spring open the way that he can. He needs to show the Ravens that he should be a starter. From a talent standpoint he may be as capable as anyone the Ravens can plug at left guard. Due to his injury last year, we didn’t see that. Siragusa has to show that the injury didn’t change him, and he is what he was on tape in college. Siragusa could be a diamond in the rough, and it’s his job to make us believe that.