Is Jah Reid The Answer At Guard?

by lastcallbmore on Feb 21, 2012 7:00 AM EST

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 06: Jah Reid #76 (L) of the Baltimore Ravens blocks Cory Redding #93 (R) during training camp at M&T Bank Stadium on August 6, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Some have speculated that if the Ravens lose Ben Grubbs in free agency, back up tackle Jah Reid may be the answer at left guard.

As far as I can see Reid has never played guard before. below is his player bio from ucfathletics.com

REDSHIRT SENIOR SEASON (2010):
-All-Conference USA First Team
-Started in all 14 games on the season
-South Dakota 9/4:Started at right tackle

REDSHIRT JUNIOR SEASON (2009): Named to the coaches' All-Conference USA First Team...Played and started all 13 games at right tackle on the offensive line.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2008): Saw action in all 12 games at right tackle, making 10 starts.

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (2007): Named to the coaches' All-Conference USA Freshman Team ... Saw action in all 14 games on the place-kicking special teams units ... Earned his first-career start vs. Tulsa (Oct. 20) ... The start vs. the Golden Hurricane was the first of four in a row at right tackle for the Knights.

TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON (2006): A scholarship recruit, redshirted while practicing as a tackle for the offensive scout team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year letterwinner at Haines City High School for head coach Bill Buldini ... First-team All-Polk County honoree ... Second-team all-state selection ... Participated in the Central-South Florida All-Star Game.

Reid was slated as the Ravens starter at right tackle last season before the team signed Bryant McKinnie and moved Michael Oher to the right side. Jah Ried was then moved to the bench and was only used in the Ravens "jumbo package", when they were trying to pick up short yardage or goal line situations.

Reid struggled in pass protection in the preseason in 2011 but he did not seem completely lost. He definitely shows potential at the NFL level. With his size at 6'7" 324 lbs. Reid has the physical prowess to be a tackle, but does that mean he could be successful at guard? I guess we will have to wait and see.

Baltimore may find a way to keep Grubbs or draft someone ready to step in and replace him. In any case it will be interesting to see how this offensive line shapes up in the off season. The Ravens know they are a team in the Super Bowl hunt so they can not have any holes in their offensive line. This leaves them with some major work to do...

Poll

Should the Ravens consider using Jah Reid at Guard?

Yes

132 votes

No

69 votes

201 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I think it’s possible, but I also don’t think they will just rely on Reid and hope he makes the transition. He said they did have him work in at G during the year last year, so he may have a little familiarity with the position. Definitely will be interesting to see what happens.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 21, 2012 7:42 AM EST reply actions

Is he blocking him or trying to rip his jersey off.

Referees let that stuff slide with the Steelers, but not the Ravens.

by TheShadow on Feb 21, 2012 8:17 AM EST reply actions

You can grab the jersey as long as its within the shoulder pads and the defender doesn’t have his body turned. Happens in every game.

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 21, 2012 9:09 AM EST up reply actions

his blocking was poor

he lined up wrong a few times, causing unexpected time outs, and never played anywhere on the left side. That said, give him a shot starting in mini-camps to see. Otherwise, I say sign Gurode to play center for one year, draft a guy like Wisconsin center Peter Konz, put Konz at LG for one year then move him to center and figure it out from there who can play LG.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Feb 21, 2012 9:13 AM EST reply actions

I don’t get why some people think this is a terrible idea and something that could never happen. Yanda is a great example of a player who played OT all throughout college, and made the switch to Guard. (also drafted in the 3rd round)

I say give him a shot, the coaches and front office seem to think he has some great talent, so why not?

"Picture Me Rollin"

by Mr MaLoR on Feb 21, 2012 9:49 AM EST reply actions

Agreed. I don’t see any problem with seeing how it works out. Obviously we won’t just say Reid is our G and have no other plan, but if he’s capable of taking it over I don’t see a problem.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 21, 2012 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

+2

Makes total sense to check out all options with Reid.

by ursula on Feb 21, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah they like him a lot, so why not figure out a way to get all your best OL on the field. Sometimes it’s not trying to put the most talent our their on the OL, but trying to find 5 guys who work together the best.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 21, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

One reason

6-7, 330 is not your prototype OG. Now I can already hear you saying that Jonathon Ogden played a year at OG before moving outside, but that is still tough assignment for a guy that size. Also, if you look at the negatives in his scouting reports, the top issue was that he tends to play too high which means his height would be a liability at OG. So on that basis I would tend to think he is not our best option to play OG.

"the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge."
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

by Fandemonium on Feb 21, 2012 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

but his reports also show he has a natural bend which means the playing high is definitely correctable.Also when you look at some of the top G prospects this year they are of similar size. Cordy Glenn 6’6 346 pounds, Kelechi Osemele 6’5 333, Brandon Brooks 6’5 353. So while ideally that’s not the size he is a natural bender with some strong legs and for that he’s at least is worth giving him a shot at it.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Feb 22, 2012 7:48 AM EST up reply actions