Ravens' Chester has stepped up
I've been pleasantly surprised by the play of right guard Chris Chester. I, as well as the Ravens, apparently had given up on Chester after a disappointing 2007 season. In fact, the Ravens had already moved him to tight end when starting right guard Marshal Yanda went down with an injury earlier this season.
Chester has done well, and picked up blitzes up the middle, something he struggled with last season. He has always had quick feet, and he has made some key blocks in the second level of defenses. I think the key for Chester was new offensive line coach John Matsko. Matsko's attention to detail has made a major improvement not only in Chester, but the offensive line as well.
Comments
I salute the new coaches as well a Rex Ryan and his staff for the turn around of the Ravens this year.
Last year, the Ravens could not survive the lost of so many key players for so long, This year the suspect offensive line and battered defensive back field has performed beyond expectations.
As a result of these over achievers, no team they face the remainder of the year are an automatic loss. That includes the Cowboys and Steelers.
This has been a delightfully improbable year thanks to Cam, John, et al!
Posted by: Fred Neil | December 4, 2008 2:23 PM
Right on, Mike. As a season ticket holder who goes to all the games, I've been saying this for weeks. Chester has stepped up big-time. Not Pro Bowl caliber but no longer a weak link at all.
Posted by: Tom | December 4, 2008 2:59 PM
Beautiful music to my ears! Another great post, Mike.
Posted by: Attila the Hon | December 4, 2008 3:01 PM
While we are still in this year, a healthy offensive line with this depth is going to create a monster next year.
Posted by: Tom | December 4, 2008 4:58 PM
Go ahead and slide Chris Chester down to tight end on a few plays. Keep putting Flacco out there with Troy Smith coming in as QB. Put Haloti in on the offense and throw him the ball. This is the wide open Ravens offense we could only dream about for years!
Posted by: Chuck in Edgewood | December 4, 2008 5:43 PM
Next year will be interesting with Yanda coming back. On the other side of the ball, Dwan Edwards and Kelly Gregg will be coming back. We have plenty of linebackers, assuming we resign Ray and Suggs.
Trevor Pryce might be a concern because of age, but he is playing better now then at the beginning of the year, and he is a fitness freak. Big Willie is playing well, it would be nice if he could come back and play one more year next year, still not sold yet on Adam Terry.
The Ravens should concentrate on WR and CB in the draft and free agency.
Posted by: doug | December 4, 2008 7:47 PM
You daydream and think about what help these already excellent++ Ravens are going to get in the draft - but just think about the never metioned 2nd "draft" from the Injured Reserve list our Ravens will get potential starters such as: Yanda, Landry, Kelly Gregg, Dwan Edwards,Demetrius Williams (healthy & ready for his breakout year, McCalister (maybe) Sipnewski tight end and others I am not even remembering - add THOSE beasts into the "NEW/additional talent to next year's squad and factor in the continued developement of Flacco, Rice, McClain etc. can you spell WOW??? Boggles the mind to think of it! GO RAVENS!!!
Posted by: shoreman | December 5, 2008 3:57 PM