Eugene Monroe is in need of a contract, and the Ravens should not just let him get away. He is a dominant left tackle, while a dominant offensive line is the key to success in the NFL. Just look at the 2012 Super Bowl run for Baltimore or the model of consistency, the New England Patriots.
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Many names have been in and out of New England. The Patriots go through running backs and receivers like bread and milk. The team has had two constants over the past decade: Tom Brady and a good offensive line. Three offensive linemen in particular had long stays with New England: Tackle Matt Light, guard Logan Mankins, and center Dan Koppen. Light was a second round pick in 2001, Mankins was a first round pick in 2005, and while Koppen was just a fifth rounder, he was given a five year, $20 million deal in 2006. Lineman Damien Woody was drafted in the first round in 1999. More recently, current starter Nate Solder was a first round pick, and tackle Sebastian Vollmer was a second round pick.
Simply put, Belichick made sure to invest high draft picks and big money into the offensive line.
The game is won in the trenches, and the Patriots knows that. Belicheck built a fortress around his star quarterback; as every year he is among the least sacked in the NFL. While known as a passing team, the Patriots are also capable of running the ball on almost any defense. Their offensive success is circled around investing in an offensive line to protect the quarterback and open holes for the running.
In the 2013 season, the Baltimore Ravens were failed by their offensive line; it was full of wildcards. Bryant McKinnie plays lackadaisically at times. Gino Gradkowski lacked experience and prototypical size for a center. Michael Oher’s career has been marked by inconsistency and, often times, mediocrity. Kelechi Osemele had a promising rookie season, but he did have some shaky moments, along with a back injury. The only proven quantity was guard Marshal Yanda, who may had his worst season of his career.
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Newsome would eventually trade for a new left tackle in Eugene Monroe, which helped stop the bleeding. When Osemele went down with a back injury, interior lineman A.Q. Shipley stepped in, but he failed. Oher played possibly the worse than ever before, and Gradkowski had growing pains.
This off season, Newsome has his work cut out for him in putting together a solid line. Oher, who has been a bust of a first round pick, is likely gone. Monroe, a franchise left tackle, is in need of a new contract, while Newsome should acquire a veteran center to compete with Gradkowski or start.
Monroe is going to test the waters, but Ozzie needs to lock him up at all costs. Without terribly overpaying, Ozzie should throw money at him the LT stalwart. Should Monroe go to another team, the Ravens would have three to fill on the line via free agency and the draft. If he does go, the only two capable starters left would be Yanda and Osemele; that’s a situation that no team wants to be in, while trying to contend next season.
If the Ravens brass is serious about rebuilding the line and the offense, they should follow the New England method; Baltimore is in need of quality linemen. They need to be willing to throw big money at Monroe, as franchise left tackles are hard to find. Ozzie should be willing to invest high draft picks to acquire potential starters and solid depth.
The Ravens invested big money in quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice. If they want to maximize the production of their offensive playmakers (while keeping them healthy as well), they need to invest big money in the trenches. Monroe could be the start, but it will still be a lot of work to improve on the porous 2013 performances of line.
