A part of the game generally taken for granted played an exaggerated role in the two losses to the Baltimore Ravens this season. The center’s poor rush to the quarterback particularly hurt the Ravens in the 23-17 loss to the New England Patriots on 15 November and a 17-3 loss in the playoff to the Buffalo Bills on 16 January.
Because of this, a possible move to the center of former Handley High School and Alabama highlight Bradley Bozeman is an off-season issue in Baltimore again.
Bozeman has worked as a left guard for the Ravens for the past two seasons, but served as the Crimson Tide’s starting center in 2016 and 2017, with Alabama winning the CFP national championship last season.
During his end-of-season press conference on Monday, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was asked whether Bozeman could be the answer to Baltimore’s currency problems.
“I would give in to Bradley’s coaches,” said DeCosta. “Bradley played as a pivot, but we will play against who we think should play in that position. We have a few other guys who can play in this position. We played a few games this year when we didn’t catch the ball very well. Both games, by the way, were games with really bad weather conditions – strong wind, rain, monsoon in New England. We certainly have to do a better job of returning the ball to the quarterback. We think we have some options in the position. We have some good young players.
“What I like about the offensive line is that we have a lot of young and very good players. We are not sure who these guys are going to be and who are the starters for us, but we have a good depth, what I would call shallow depth. We have some guys who can play. Many players played for us – many young players, emerging talent. We will also have the chance, I think, with the draft and the free agency to increase those positions as well.
“Bradley is an important part of the mix. We have a few other guys who can play in that position too, so let’s find the top five guys and the best backups behind them and start in September. “
Against the Patriots, a bad snap with running back Mark Ingram lined up in a wild formation in the fourth to 1 on Baltimore’s 48-yard line resulted in an 11-yard loss. The third quarter error prepared New England for a field goal and a 23-10 lead.
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The bad snap was one of three in Matt Skura’s second half that fell like fumbles.
Skura did not return to play as a pivot until the end of the season and has no contract for the 2021 season.
Patrick Mekari started in five of the last seven games of the regular season and then in both center playoff games. Trystan Colon-Castillo saw his only action in the NFL so far as the Baltimore starting lineup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 2, when Mekari was on reserve / COVID-19, and against Cincinnati Bengals on January 3, when Mekari had a back injury.
One of Mekari’s unsuccessful plays against Buffalo passed over quarterback Lamar Jackson’s head in the final game of the third quarter, and he suffered a concussion as he recovered football in the Baltimore final loss.
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In the last off-season, the Ravens were wondering if Skura would be available to handle the snap. In her third season as a Baltimore center, Skura suffered a devastating knee injury in the 11th game of 2019, suffering from anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral and lateral collateral rupture and a dislocated patella.
An undeveloped newcomer, Mekari also ended 2019 in place of Skura, and DeCosta was the first to publicly mention that Bozeman could end up in the center in 2020 depending on Skura’s status.
Bozeman, instead, stood still. In his second season on the left guard, Bozeman was the only offensive striker from Baltimore to start all games in the same position in 2020.
Not only were the Ravens adjusting to the retirement of right guard Marshal Yanda – a Pro Bowler eight times and twice by the first All-Pro team during his 13 seasons with Baltimore – but 2019 All-Pro left Ronnie Stanley played only in six games in 2020.
Orlando Brown Jr., who moved from right to left when Stanley was injured, and Bozeman played 1,026 and 1,016 offensive plays, respectively, in the regular 2020 season.
Skura was third in game time among the Ravens’ forward strikers with 661, or 64 percent of the snaps. Nine attackers played at least 125 snaps for Baltimore this season, and the Ravens used seven starting combinations on the offensive line in 2020, with two left tackles, one left guard, three centers, three right guards and three right tackles used in these lineups while over 16 games.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @ AMarkG1.
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