5 major storylines from Baltimore Ravens first preseason game

4. Ben Cleveland is completely out of the Baltimore Ravens left guard competition

Heading into OTAs, most people would assume that Ben Cleveland was going to start at left guard. Leaving OTAs, the thought was that Cleveland would be in a three-man competition to start. Now, it is pretty clear that he is not even in a competition to start at all. He is competing to be a backup right guard and a backup right tackle.

The Ravens used every snap on Saturday to settle their starting left guard spot, but that meant splitting the snaps between just two players. Sala Amuavae-Laulu played 33 snaps, and John Simpson played 23 snaps. Simpson started, and he also played right guard a little when Sala got the nod. Still, those were the only two, signaling they were the only two competing to start.

Cleveland played the 23 snaps that Simpson was at left guard at right guard. Then, he played 28 of the 33 snaps with Sala at right tackle. Cleveland actually played well, and it is clear that if he does end up in a competition this year, it will be with Daniel Faalele for the backup right tackle spot. Still, this is not where he wanted to be.

Simpson probably too the lead in the left guard battle, but it was a spot where Cleveland could not beat out a veteran who was cut by the Raiders, and a sixth round rookie. That is rough.