After the Ravens’ offense played well on Monday night with Michael Oher as the starting left tackle and Bryant McKinnie as a backup, that’s the way Baltimore’s offensive line will remain.
Oher will remain as the start left tackle and McKinnie will remain a backup going forward, sources told NFL.com.
McKinnie agreed to take a pay cut just before the season, when the Ravens said they’d cut him if he didn’t. The fact that he’s not in the team’s plans as a starter strongly suggests that they were serious about getting rid of McKinnie if he wouldn’t agree to play for less pay. Although McKinnie has been a Pro Bowl left tackle and Oher has less experience, the Ravens apparently see Oher as a more reliable player, as well as a better-conditioned player, which makes him a better fit for the no-huddle offense the Ravens plan to keep running regularly.
On Monday night Oher started the Ravens’ 44-13 win over the Bengals and got 53 offensive snaps. McKinnie came in for Oher late in the game and got 10 snaps on offense. McKinnie and Oher are both on the Ravens’ field goal/extra point unit, so they both got eight special teams snaps on Monday as well.
Kelechi Osemele is the starter at right tackle. McKinnie would move into the starting lineup at left tackle if either Oher or Osemele got hurt; if Osemele goes down Oher will move back to right tackle.
Oher, who’s the NFL’s most famous offensive lineman thanks to his life being turned into the bestselling book and hit movie The Blind Side, is expected to continue protecting Joe Flacco’s blind side all season.
