The Ravens have built some walls up
front.
San Francisco 49ers v Baltimore Ravens / Rob
Carr/GettyImages
No team can build a
foundation for success without a tremendous offensive line, and the Baltimore
Ravens are no different. In their early years, decade-plus of dominance in the early
2000s, and recent runs, the one common thread has been well above average play
up front.
While offensive linemen are never celebrated to their full
potential due to their lack of tangible stats and highlight-reel plays, there
is no more non-quarterback unit more important to nail than the big boys in the
trenches. Baltimore's short history has produced some Hall of Fame talent at
these positions.
These 10 offensive linemen
have cemented themselves as the best the franchise has ever seen. Prospective stars
like Tyler Linderbaum have multiple examples of consistency and excellent
performance to model themselves after. Perhaps they could end up on this list
soon.
Criteria for selection
These linemen were chosen based on a combination of:
·
Statistical Achievements
·
Impact on Success
·
Longevity
·
Memorable Moments
The top 10 offensive
linemen in Baltimore Ravens history
10. Michael Oher
Fans may remember Oher for his Hollywood
story chronicled in The Blind Side, but
the film has overshadowed his overall performance as a player. Picked in the
first round by the Ravens out of Ole Miss, Oher became a solid starter in five
seasons with the Ravens in the early 2012.
When the Ravens made it to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season and
won the franchise's second-ever championship, it was Oher who started at right
tackle. At his best, Oher was a solid pass blocker who was able to go up
against a gauntlet of top edge rushers in the AFC North and come out unscathed.
9. Orlando Brown Jr.
One-half of the father-son duo that had some of their best and
brightest moments with the Ravens, Brown's time with Baltimore was only three
seasons long. However, his time with the Ravens was so effective that he was
able to pile up the Pro Bowls.
Brown was named a Pro Bowler in his last two years with the
Ravens, beginning a streak of four consecutive Pro Bowl nods for one of the
biggest players in NFL history. Ultimately, Brown found his way out of town
when it became clear that Brown was not going to get the big left tackle deal
he was looking for.
Brown ultimately was traded to the Chiefs (where he won a
Super Bowl at Baltimore's expense) before signing with the rival Cincinnati
Bengals. While it stinks to see him putting on rival colors, and his time with
Baltimore didn't end on the best of terms, his Ravens tenure puts more respect
on his family's name.
8. Orlando Brown Sr.
In terms of his value to the Ravens, Senior's six-year tenure
gives him the edge over Junior. The first thing anyone ever thinks about when
referring to Brown, however, is his infamous penalty flag incident. After an
errant flag hit him in the eye, Brown missed three consecutive seasons due to a
bout with temporary blindness.
Brown, nicknamed "Zeus" in his prime, was an original
Ravens who spent his first few years in Cleveland. A powerful right tackle who
helped keep Vinny Testaverde upright during his Ravens tenure, Brown's return
to Cleveland was sullied by the penalty flag incident. Luckily, he spent. a few
more years with the Ravens after returning.
While far from the physical force of nature he was during his time
before the accident, Brown managed to start 35 games in three seasons and still
be effective until he turned 35. Brown unfortunately passes away at just 40
years old, but his legacy as a Raven is still solid gold.
7. Matt Birk
Birk's career was defined by a very productive stint with the
Minnesota Vikings, as the former Harvard alum was named to six Pro Bowl squads
in eight years. Birk didn't join the Ravens until he was 33 years old, but he
made his mark as one of the best interior linemen the franchise has ever seen.
Birk did not miss a single game during his career with the Ravens,
making him one of the most durable and reliable players up front the league had
during his 14 seasons in the pros. Having him help a young Joe Flacco find his
way was an invaluable tool.
While Birk never made a Pro Bowl with the Ravens, he routinely was
considered one of the best centers in the league. The Ravens' Super
Bowl-winning offensive line was nothing short of elite when they were at full
strength, and they wouldn't have been as well-regarded as they were without
Birk.
6. Ben Grubbs
Grubbs finished his nine-year career, in which he was named to two
Pro Bowls, with stints as a Raven, Chief, and Saint. The 2007 Ravens
first-round pick translated a stellar college career at Auburn to the pros, as
the Ravens' strong running game was due in part to Grubbs clearing the way.
Grubbs played for five seasons with Baltimore, making a Pro Bowl
and putting together multiple seasons that were worthy of consideration
alongside it. While the Ravens did win a Super Bowl without him, that doesn't
negate the fact that they turned him into a reliable run-blocker who helped New
Orleans' offense stay elite when he made the trip over.
5. Edwin Mulitalo
It didn't take very long for the gargantuan Mulitalo, a
fourth-round pick in 1999, to become a starter after taking to the role during
his rookie season. His career with Baltimore after that ascension made him one
of the best guards the team has ever seen and an underrated performer when
compared to his peers.
Mulitalo never made a Pro Bowl for the Ravens, but he is one of
just four offensive linemen in Ravens history to start over 100 games for
Baltimore. Mulitalo was the starting left guard on the Super Bowl-winning 2000s
team and a 2003 offense that helped Jamal Lewis run for 2,000 yards.
Mulitalo ending his career as an injured member of the 0-16 Lions
is a travesty, as it ended a very solid career on a sour note. Not only is
Mulitalo one of the best linemen in team history, but he is clearly one of the
most effective Day 3 selections this well-drafting franchise ever made.
4. Mike Flynn
While it would take even the staunchest Ravens fan a bit of time
to single out Flynn as one of the top performers of his era, his impact on the
team's offensive line should be held in higher regard than it is. Flynn was an
omnipresent fixture on some of the most memorable teams in franchise history.
Flynn, who got his start as an undrafted free agent from Maine in
1997, played both center and right guard for the Ravens while serving on the
same championship-winning offensive line as Mulitalo. Flynn played 10 seasons
with the Ravens, starting 115 games in the process.
Bringing versatility, effort, and power to the table in one
compact package, Flynn was one of the most rock-solid players Brian Billick had
at a time when his offenses were often in flux. The fact he seemed to always
level up in the postseason, especially when blocking for Lewis and Trent Dilfer
in 2000, should be noted.
3. Ronnie Stanley
While Ravens fans may be used to the declining
player who has suffered some destabilizing injuries, the overall body of work
Stanley has put together in Baltimore puts him in a class very few tackles in
team history have ever reached. Stanley heads into the future trying to recapture his past glory.
Stanley has a Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro nod under his belt,
showing there was at least one year where some writers believed the Notre Dame
star was the best at his position. Injuries have taken their toll, as he played
seven games in two seasons after 2019 and hasn't played more than 13 games in a
season since that campaign.
Stanley's time in Baltimore may not extend much further than this
season, but his overall body of work appears to be much more impressive than
his recent downturn in form would suggest. The Ravens took a risk by picking
him at No. 6 overall in a deep draft, but Baltimore would likely still say they
are happy with this choice.
2. Marshal Yanda
If Yanda doesn't end up in
the Hall of Fame relatively soon, the committee has made a severe technical
error. Yanda was as good a right guard as the game had for a decade, which isn't bad for a
player the Ravens took a chance on as a third-round pick out of Iowa.
Yanda was named a Pro Bowl
player eight times in nine seasons, playing just two games in the lone season
without those honors he had mixed in. To further add to his greatness, he was a
First-Team All-Pro twice in that span while adding five more Second-Team nods.
No. 73 did it without bending the rules, as he was called for holding just 11
times in his 13-year career.
Yanda has the distinction of starting in between Birk and Oher for
Baltimore during their Super Bowl run. A Ravens lifer, Yanda was a unanimous selection to the
2010s All-Decade team. In a world where anything and everything can be debated,
Yanda's status as one of the best guards of his era and the best guard in
Ravens history is unquestioned.
1. Jonathan Ogden
The Ravens' inaugural first round will go down as one of the best
such rounds in NFL Draft history. While they landed an all-time great
linebacker on Ray Lewis later in the draft, they used their first pick on a
player who would become an immovable object at left tackle for a decade.
At 6-9 and 350 pounds, the former UCLA star toyed with opposing
defenders on his way to a championship and status as one of the greatest to
ever play this game at any position. Ogden's tape was comical at times due to
his dominance, and his accolades back up his legendary status.
Ogden, who has just 11 holding calls and 13 false starts in 12
years, was an 11-time Pro Bowl, with his rookie year being the only time he
missed out. He was an All-Pro nine times, four of which were First-Team
selections. Ogden was honored as a 2000s All-Decade First Team performer
alongside Seahawks great Walter Jones and a Hall of Fame tackle in 2013.
Ogden was added to the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time
Team, making him just one of just seven tackles to be honored as
such and one of two who began their playing careers after 1990. It is by no
means hyperbole to call Ogden the greatest offensive player in Ravens history
and a top-five offensive tackle in NFL history.
The 3 best offensive
linemen in Ravens history by games started
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Years with Ravens
|
Starts
|
|
1
|
Jonathan
Ogden
|
1996-2007
|
176
|
|
2
|
Marshal
Yanda
|
2007-2019
|
166
|
|
3
|
Mike
Flynn
|
1998-2007
|
115
|
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