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OWINGS MILLS, Md. โ Much like the decision to fire offensive coordinator Cam Cameron less than 10 months ago, the Ravensโ move to trade for Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Eugene Monroe seemingly came out of nowhere Tuesday despite massive concerns on the offensive side of the football.
As was the case last December, making such a bold move in the middle of a season goes against what weโve come to recognize as the Ravensโ methodical DNA over the 18-year history of the franchise, but itโs difficult to argue against the effort to improve an offense ranked 28th in total yards, 28th in rushing yards, and tied for 15th in points per game through the first quarter of the season. The trade essentially signals the end of the Bryant McKinnie era in Baltimore โ whether the 34-year-old remains as a backup or is moved to another team remains to be seen โ but general manager Ozzie Newsome doesnโt act swiftly without the big picture in mind.
The decision to add the fifth-year tackle Monroe serves as a wake-up call to the entire offense more so than a simple indictment of McKinnieโs disappointing play through the first four weeks of the season as the veteran tackle was far from the only โ or biggest โ problem plaguing the Ravens. Monroe represents an opportunity to upgrade one area while sending a message that no one is beyond reproach.
โEverybody will take the message however they take it,โ coach John Harbaugh said. โI donโt know a message is so much intended. We always want to improve, we want to be the best team we can be every single way across the board, and whatever that message is, it is.โ
The response to Mondayโs trade in the Ravens locker room wasnโt bubbling over with optimism โ left tackles that play outside your division donโt exactly receive a ton of attention โ but a common theme expressed by members of the offensive line as well as other teammates was the need to keep working to improve. Considered no more than an above-average tackle by the most-generous talent evaluators, Monroe wonโt fix the Ravensโ other offensive issues at center, wide receiver, and tight end, but he could be a part of the solution the offense still seeks to fix a running game averaging just 2.6 yards per carry so far this season and to pump life into a passing game with few dependable weapons.
The outside addition of Monroe brings youth to the left tackle position, but substantial improvements offensively will need to come from within. The Ravens were still maneuvering as of Tuesday afternoon to fit Monroeโs $3.8 million base salary under the $123 million salary cap before it was reported later in the evening that Jacksonville would handle most of the bill in the form of a bonus. Baltimore will only be on the hook for $547,000 of his salary while the Jaguars will pay about $2.4 million of his salary, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
With such little cap space remaining, there are no easy fixes at this point.
โWe just put our heads down every day and go to work,โ right tackle Michael Oher said. โI donโt know what kind of message [the trade] can send. We just go to work and are trying to get things corrected.โ
The Ravens will send fourth and fifth-round draft choices to Jacksonville in exchange for Monroe, which isnโt a light price knowing how Newsome and the front office value those choices every year. However, the Ravens will receive four compensatory picks in next Aprilโs draft, easing the loss of those choices.
Even so, Newsome and the Ravens couldnโt pass on the opportunity of acquiring a 26-year-old tackle with the quickness to succeed in run-game coordinator Juan Castilloโs zone blocking schemes. Since the retirement of Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden following the 2007 season, the Ravens have searched for a long-term solution at left tackle with Jared Gaither, Oher, and the veteran McKinnie not fitting the part. And Newsome saw how difficult it was to find one this offseason with limited cap space for the open market and the 32nd overall pick of the first round, eventually settling on a two-year deal with McKinnie.
Hapless Jacksonville provided a unique opportunity for the Ravens to nab a left tackle before he hits free agency and the possibility of the kind of bidding war in which Newsome rarely engages. Only time will tell if the Ravens will sign Monroe to a long-term deal as Oherโs rookie contract will also expire after the season.
Playing for the woeful Jaguars his entire career, Monroe hasnโt lived up to the hype of being the eighth overall pick of the 2009 draft, but his age and athleticism could be attractive in providing the Ravens with long-term stability at a position thatโs been in flux for franchise quarterback Joe Flaccoโs entire career. Furthermore, the Ravens generally arenโt in the business of trading multiple draft picks for a short-term fix.
The possibility of Monroe being an answer at left tackle for the next few years would be much more valuable than the short-term wake-up call to help a flawed Ravens offense for the remainder of the 2013 season.
โTackle is a hot commodity in the league,โ running back Ray Rice said. โAnytime you find a young tackle thatโs as athletic as him, have a chance to get him, and take him out of a situation where he can get a fresh start โ it usually works out in the guyโs favor. Iโm looking forward to getting him here and catching him up to speed.โ
Ravens hope Monroe trade provides wake-up call as well as long-term dividend
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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