The Baltimore Ravens are about at the quarter point of the season. So, it Is a good time to look back at where the offensive line stands as they head into the middle part of their schedule. Who has started, and how have the Ravens offensive linemen looked? We will grade each position.
Baltimore Ravens left tackle
Patrick Mekari: 202 snaps
Primary matchup: Trey Hendrickson, Jonathan Greenard, Dayo Odeyingbo, Samson Ebukam, Myles Garrett
Patrick Mekari has been asked to step in for Ronnie Stanley since week one. His first week was fine, but he came in later in the game when the team led. Still, he shut down Trey Hendrickson in an impressive performance.
Issues have come in the following weeks, though. Mekari allowed a sack to Samson Ebukam that ended up with a Lamar Jackson fumble and a turnover. Then, he had the Myles Garrett experience. Garrett beat him all day and recorded five pressures and a holding penalty drawn, per PFF.
Mekari has shown that he is good for a spot start or two, and he can technically hold up, but the freaks like Garrett, or the speed merchants like Ebukam can get to him.
Ronnie Stanley: 49 snaps
Primary matchup: Jonathan Greenard
Ronnie Stanley did not play long, but he already allowed a sack. Jonathan Greenard got the better of him in week one, and before his day was over, he was back on the injury report. Stanley is looking to get back in week five, and if not, it feels like week six will be a good return. The last two weeks showed us how badly they need his presence. Still, you cannot blame the Baltimore Ravens for being slow with his return.
Patrick Mekari: C-
Ronnie Stanley: C-
Baltimore Ravens left guard
John Simpson: 269 snaps
Primary matchup: Maliek Collins, DJ Reader, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Jordan Elliott, Shelby Harris
John Simpson took his momentum from training camp into the regular season. Simpson had 64 snaps against the Houston Texans and it was his best performance of the year. That is good but also tells us that the last three games have not been as good. Unfortunately, they have not been nearly as good.
D.J. Reader got the better of his former Clemson teammate when they squared off in week two. Then, DeForest Buckner was in the backfield a few times, getting a push on Simpson. Simpson picked up a holding penalty against the Cleveland Browns, and his run-blocking left a lot to be desired.
The Browns bring a lot of heavy bodies in rotation, and getting Buckner and Reader back-to-back is not an easy test. Still, we are slowly learning why Simpson was set aside by his former team.
John Simpson Grade: D+
Baltimore Ravens center
Sam Mustipher: 155 snaps
Tyler Linderbaum: 114 snaps
Kurt Hinish, DJ Reader, Grover Stewart, Dalvin Tomlinson
Through four games, the center duties have been split nearly down the middle. Mustipher played the Colts game, which went into overtime, so he has the lead in snaps played, but Mustipher has two starts, and so does Tyler Linderbaum.
Linderbaum has been great when healthy. He showed up in week one ready to perform and did not get hurt until the last few snaps of the game. It caused him to miss two games, but he was a key performer in the Ravens win over the Cleveland Browns in week four. He still had an issue or two against this front, but he was a difference-maker.
Sam Mustipher can be commended for his job. He played great against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had a bad snap against the Colts that cost the team a drive, and his play was not as stout, but it is hard to be mad at that performance as a whole when you view each snap he took. For a backup needing to make two spot starts, he did his job.
Tyler Linderbaum: A-
Sam Mustipher: B-
Baltimore Ravens right guard:
Kevin Zeitler: 266 snaps
Primary matchup: Sheldon Rankins, BJ Hill, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Taven Bryan, Dalvin Tomlinson, Maurice Hurst
Kevin Zeitler had been off to a disastrous start to his 2023 season. He struggled in week one against Sheldon Rankins and was the worst offensive lineman of the starting five. He was not much better in week two and struggled to get push against B.J. Hill. Rankins and Hill have talent but are not the names you want to see Zeitler have issues with.
Things got worse when Taven Bryan beat him clean for a sack that ended in a turnover. Zeitler played a decent game overall when you factor in that one big mistake, but the rest of his play may have been a turning point.
Zeitler was not quite elite, but his best game of the season came against the Cleveland Browns. This was key because Dalvin Tomlinson had been having a strong year, and he was stonewalled consistently by Zeitler. With Myles Garrett in your face every snap, the Ravens needed stability elsewhere, and it was huge that Zeitler could provide that.
Kevin Zeitler Grade: D+
Baltimore right tackle:
Morgan Moses: 233 snaps
Primary matchup: Will Anderson, Sam Hubbard, Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Za'Darius Smith
Morgan Moses had been one of the few constants on the offensive line. The Ravens are shuffling at center and left tackle already. Right guard has been a let down, and John Simpson has not been a huge shock with his issues. This has left Morgan Moses as the reliable hand.
Will Anderson showed him how good his ceiling can be in week one. Morgan Moses handled his own, but it was impressive to see the flashes from the rookie. Moses bounced back in a big way against Sam Hubbard and had one of his best games against the Bengals, particularly in pass protection.
Against the Colts, he essentially shut down Kwity Paye as well, and it was starting to become a trend how consistent his play was. Unfortunately, week four was not the same. He only played 29 snaps, but in that time he allowed three pressures. Za'Darius Smith was getting the best of him, and you wonder if he played a few snaps with his injury. Now, he joins the list of question marks as he is likely to miss week five.
Morgan Moses Grade: B+
Daniel Faalele - 29 snaps
Primary matchup: Ogbo Okoronkwo, Za'Darius Smith
Daniel Faalele did not look good in his limited time. He played just 29 snaps and allowed a quick sack to Ogbo Okoronkwo. If Ogbo Okoronkwo was too fast for the lumbering lineman, what will happen against TJ Watt if he is asked to start?
Daniel Faalele Grade: D-