A man that was recently 400 pounds can’t exactly slip under the radar.
Baltimore’s signing of former Viking Bryant McKinnie got plenty of attention when it happened a few weeks back, but we didn’t know McKinnie’s impact until Sunday. The man looked ready to go.
McKinnie had a terrific game run-blocking. With Michael Oher on the right side where he is more comfortable, Baltimore’s rushing attack looked like it did in 2009. They piled up 170 yards on Pittsburgh.
“McKinnie slapped around Pittsburgh All-World outside linebacker James Harrision, at times knocking him silly with one big paw,” Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun wrote.
(That sound you hear is Vikings fans falling out of their chairs.)
Joe Flacco got great protection throughout the game. It appears the Ravens got a motivated McKinnie.
"[Minnesota] tried to make it seem like I lost it. Well, I guess I found it in Baltimore. It’s good motivation,” McKinnie said after the game.
Decent starting left tackles are not easy to find. McKinnie only has to be average on the left side to greatly help Baltimore’s line. He frees Oher up to vastly upgrade the right side, where Oher is more comfortable.
It was only one game, but the Ravens must feel like they found a rather large diamond in the free agency rough.
