Shakeups along O-line fail to lend positive results

December 14, 2010 3:47 PM by Dan Kolko View Comments

In hopes of adding more punch to their offensive line, the Ravens made a shakeup up front last night.

They moved right tackle Marshal Yanda back to the right guard spot at which he's played for most of his pro career, slid Oniel Cousins in at right tackle, and had their previous starting right guard Chris Chester move to the tight end position, using him in jumbo formations as an extra blocker.

The coaches were optimistic that those changes would add some bulk in the trenches and spur a running game which was averaging a paltry 3.6 yards per carry this season going into last night's game. That total ranked 31st in the NFL.

They also hoped that the new alignment would shore up some things in their pass protection schemes. The Ravens had allowed at least three sacks in four of their last five games, and had been having trouble keeping Joe Flacco upright.

Unfortunately, the changes didn't have their desired effect.

Flacco was sacked five times last night, and was hit nine times overall. He rarely had a comfortable pocket to step up into, and was pressured by the Texans' defense all night.

The Ravens have now allowed 32 sacks on the season, ninth-worst in the league, have given up 64 quarterback hits.

On the ground, Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain picked up just 63 yards on 24 rushes, which works out to 2.6 yards per carry. The Ravens' longest run on the night was 16 yards, and Rice was never able to get going against a tough Houston front-seven.

In addition, left tackle Michael Oher was flagged for yet another false start, his seventh on the season.

It was worth a shot to switch up the personnel up front and see if a new alignment would be able to get things going for this offensive line.

The results probably weren't what the coaching staff was hoping for, however.