http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/...e.jsp?id=10152
On The Line
By Mike Duffy
May 30, 2006
After a 2005 campaign where the Baltimore Ravens' offensive line was in a state of flux throughout the season, the biggest offseason move to better the team could be no move at all.
Instead, the Ravens are making strides by working closely together as an offensive line group during spring Organized Team Activities (OTAs).
The team has a core of sturdy veterans that has held down the left side of the line since 2000 in tackle Jonathan Ogden, guard Edwin Mulitalo and center Mike Flynn. Last year, it was the right side that saw the most changes due to injuries and hard-fought competition. Right guard Keydrick Vincent (thigh) and right tackle Orlando Brown (back) were each sidelined with injuries in the middle of the season, allowing younger Ravens, such as Tony Pashos, Brian Rimpf, Adam Terry and Jason Brown to gain valuable experience.
"It's really nice that we have a good core of veterans that are returning," said Ravens offensive line coach Chris Foerster, who enters his second year on the Baltimore coaching team. "There aren't a lot of new guys, whereas last year, I was new, there were new players being injected into the lineup. We made some changes and tried to get some younger players involved."
Foerster thinks getting the young Ravens experience in 2005 will produce a benefit this year, something that has already shown up in the OTAs.
"We have some real good experience and history together over the last year," he continued. "I think the group will gel quicker, so in these first couple of weeks, it has been nice to be able to start ahead of the curve instead of behind."
Aside from re-signing restricted free agent Tony Pashos this year, the only other offseason transaction regarding the offensive line was through the draft, where the Ravens selected center/guard Chris Chester with their second-round pick.
So far, the younger players have stepped up and provided some competition for the veterans early in the offseason, which will only raise the level of play across the line.
"I think the main thing is keeping everybody healthy," said Terry, a second-round draft pick in 2005. "I think we have a core group of veterans that younger guys - like me, Jason Brown and Chris Chester coming in - can learn from. We have to step up as well, either to add depth or push the veterans. It's one of those situations where if the veterans stay healthy and we push them, then that's the best scenario."
And the veterans are responding to the challenge.
"We picked up some young guys, and anytime a young guy plays well, there's going to be a battle," said Mulitalo, who is in his eighth year. "I'm not giving up my spot that easily."
Mulitalo is one that will certainly excel after an offseason at full-strength. Last year, the lineman had surgery shortly after the end of the 2004 campaign to repair a torn triceps, which limited him in the Ravens' strength and conditioning program. Now, with a complete offseason at team headquarters, the guard and his fellow linemen are building a strong bond going into training camp.
"Everything's been good," commented Terry. "We're only missing Jonathan (Ogden) right now, but everybody's been working hard. The relationships and camaraderie have developed as time goes on."
With the great mix of young talent and proven veterans, the Ravens are looking not only to the present of the line, but developing for the future. Foerster likes both visions.
"We're in the process of the transition between what this offensive line was to what it will be in the future," said the coach. "We're interjecting Tony Pashos in the mix and we have some young draft picks that will be quality backup players.
"Is it a star-studded group? Not at this point, but there are some young guys that could ascend and some veteran players that, hopefully with a solid offseason, will have some of their better years here. There's some room for optimism in my mind."