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Michael Oher had an exceptional rookie season, finishing second in the AP Rookie of the Year voting and proving that he was more than deserving of being the Ravens' selection with the 23rd overall pick in the 2009 Draft.
Oher was the Ravens' starter at right tackle seemingly from the minute he held up a purple jersey on draft day, and he brought a physicality and a mean streak to the position that helped Baltimore post the fifth-best rushing attack in the league.
But right tackle isn't the position that Oher is expected to occupy for the duration of his NFL career.
He played left tackle in college, is projected by many scouts to play that spot in the pros, and heck, he even has a movie based on his life titled after the position.
Despite all that, head coach John Harbaugh says he doesn't anticipate Oher making a move across the line to left tackle just yet.
"I think right now, Jared Gaither at left and Michael Oher at right is working pretty well," Harbaugh said. "But, that's going to depend on the ability of Jared to stay healthy and Michael to stay healthy and to be consistent. It's ability and it's durability. I want to have an offensive line where all five guys are in there every single game as much as possible. That's what you strive for, so that's what the offseason is all about.
"If we've got Jared Gaither on the left side and Michael Oher on the right side next year, I think we're going to be pretty pleased with that."
Harbaugh also was quick to praise both guys for the versatility that they bring to the table.
When Gaither missed five games this season with neck and foot injuries, Oher slid over to left tackle to fill in, something that very few tackles in this league could do, much less do at a high level.
"I think Michael Oher could play either side, and Jared Gaither could play either side," Harbaugh said. "That's the good news. That's exciting. I don't know how many teams in the league have that kind of a situation with their offensive line - to have two young tackles of that caliber. There's nobody else in the league that has that situation.
Oher's strong play while filing in for Gaither drew some talk that Oher could take over the left tackle spot as early as next season, bumping Gaither to the right side.
Harbaugh says that's not likely to happen, and asked for his take on the situation, Oher says he's fine with the current arrangement as well.
"We have a left tackle - Jared Gaither," Oher said. "He's a better player than I am, a better athlete, and it would be better if I was a right tackle and he was a left tackle. I think we're a better offensive line like that."
