Left Guard

Ben Grubbs doesn't score touchdowns or record interceptions, but the left guard provided a lift with his return to the Ravens' starting lineup in the team's 23-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night. Grubbs bolstered the offensive line as he reassumed his role as the starter. Andre Gurode had made five consecutive starts for Grubbs after straining ligaments in a toe on his right foot in the team's season-opening rout of Pittsburgh on Sept. 11. “So far, so good as far as that.

The Ravens released their first injury report of the week leading up to Saturday's AFC Divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos, and Bernard Pierce did not practice Wednesday. The rookie running back, who is described as dealing with a knee injury, did not appear to participate in Tuesday's session. Fullback Vonta Leach also did not practice. He aggravated a sprained right ankle in Sunday's 24-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wildcard playoff round. Leach has sat out the last four Thursdays without missing a start.

The Ravens' greatest strength just got stronger.Left guard/center Wally Williams arrived at camp yesterday, ending a 24-day holdout, and the Ravens' offensive line is intact.Williams practiced with the first team at left guard during yesterday's practice, a move coach Ted Marchibroda has hinted the past two days. Last year, Williams started the last 10 games of the season -- eight at center, two at left guard -- after recovering from an off-season Achilles' injury.Williams appeared near his playing weight of 315 as he went head-to-head with defensive tackle Tony Siragusa during full contact drills, looking effective most of the time.

When I keep hearing that second-year player Jah Reid might be getting some playing time at left guard, there is cause for concern. I knew he was a project when the Ravens drafted him in the third round out of Central Florida, but I haven't seen anything that would warrant him getting playing time. He has spent more time in the training room for rehab than on the practice and playing fields. I'm concerned. To be even having this conversation means the Ravens are in deep trouble at left guard.

SAN DIEGO - Casey Rabach didn't need much time to rattle off the position he will play tomorrow against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. "It's left guard this week," Rabach said immediately. It would have been understandable had Rabach needed a moment to remember. He is the top backup at all three interior offensive line positions, and has seen action at every one since the middle of the preseason. Rabach subbed for right guard Bennie Anderson for a series in Sunday's win against Cleveland, then replaced an injured Edwin Mulitalo for much of the second half of the game.

Wally Williams is glad to return to the position he played in college and high school.The Ravens announced the switch Wednesday afternoon, moving Williams from left guard to center for Jeff Mitchell, and inserting Ben Cavil at left guard. Center is the position Williams has wanted to play since he came into the league as a relatively unknown free agent out of Florida A&M six years ago.But since he has been with the Browns/Ravens, Williams has played both of the guard positions as well as center.

The Ravens originally signed James Atkins to give them depth at the offensive tackle position. This week, they will turn to Atkins by starting the five-year veteran at left guard.Atkins replaces second-year man Ben Cavil, who had started the past three games in place of Wally Williams, whom the Ravens have moved back to his customary spot at center in place of Jeff Mitchell.Cavil's performance against San Diego on Sunday included two false-start penalties."We thought that some improvement might be needed at that position," Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda said.

The Ravens' first lineup change to their struggling offense was part homecoming, part eviction. Shuffling their offensive line during the bye week, the Ravens moved Edwin Mulitalo from right tackle to left guard, benched left guard Casey Rabach and promoted journeyman Ethan Brooks to starting right tackle. In his first year as a right tackle, Mulitalo wasn't progressing fast enough and became too much of a liability against the pass rush coming off the edge. He returns to left guard, where he formed a powerful tandem with tackle Jonathan Ogden for the past three seasons.

Despite missing the second half of yesterday's practice because of tightness in his lower hamstring and knee, Edwin Mulitalo is feeling great. Nagging injuries aside, Mulitalo is right where he wants to be - entrenched as the left guard instead of in the early stages of a move to tackle as he was a year ago. "It always good to know that you are at a position that you are comfortable with," said Mulitalo, who will practice lightly on the injuries the...

The smell of a steaming plate of Kailua pig still can make Leo Goeas long for his native land of Oahu, Hawaii. But, eight years into an NFL career that has included three teams and two coasts, the transplanting of Goeas is complete.Goeas has purchased a spread of land in Colorado, where he plans to build his final home after his football career ends. He, his wife and three children have settled into their two-acre Fallston spread. And the Ravens are banking on Goeas becoming a fixture on their offensive line at left guard.

The Ravens deactivated a few surprises for Sunday's home game against the Dallas Cowboys, including starting left guard Ramon Harewood. Harewood had started the first five contests, but he appeared to struggle slightly in his last two outings. The Sun reported Friday that Harewood would be replaced in the starting lineup by Bobbie Williams. The team also elected to sideline kick returner Deonte Thompson. The undrafted rookie ranked 13th in the NFL in kick return average (25.9 yards)

The Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens' opponent this Sunday, boast the top-ranked run offense in the NFL. But the very foundation of that ground attack could also be their area of vulnerability. Ryan Lilja will be making his second consecutive start at center against the Ravens. A converted left guard who had never started at center until this season, Lilja replaced Rodney Hudson, who was placed on injured reserve Sept. 26 after breaking a bone in his left leg in the team's 27-24 overtime win against the New Orleans Saints.

Every morning, Monday through Friday, blogger Matt Vensel will hook you up with reading material -- mostly on the Ravens but with some other Baltimore sports stuff, too -- to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday. That way he'll have an excuse to do the same to start his workday, too. The biggest question for the Ravens entering the season opener, at least offensively, is who will start along the offensive line. It hasn't been officially announced, but reading the tea leaves, it seems likely that Bryant McKinnie will reclaim his starting left tackle spot and Michael Oher will be at right tackle.

Ravens rookie offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele says the coaching staff has told him he would play a very substantial role this season. I agree. In fact, they should start him at left guard in the season opener Monday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens have shuffled offensive linemen throughout the preseason, and the No. 1 group should be Bryant McKinnie at left tackle, Matt Birk at center, Marshal Yanda at right guard, Michael Oher at right tackle and Osemele. It wasn't the upgrade Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome promised at the end of last season, but it's a good, solid starting five.

Ravens running back Ray Rice, who on Wednesday spoke to reporters for the first time since signing a five-year contract extension last week, believes the competition at left guard during training camp “is going to bring the best out of everybody.” Bobbie Williams, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, looks to be the frontrunner, but youngsters such as Kelechi Osemele, Gino Gradkowski and Jah Reid also will be in the mix. Williams, who joined the...

Many of the eyes Wednesday at the Ravens' first organized team activities (OTA) workout that was open to the media were fixated for a decent chunk of practice on the team's offensive line. Team officials had identified that area as one they would like to improve this offseason, and they have attempted to do so by spending a pair of draft picks on linemen, Kelechi Osemele (second round) and Gino Gradkowski(fourth). The Ravens rotated several linemen with the first-team offense, including second-year players Jah Reid and Justin Boren.

Defensive line: The reconfigured front four that will open tonight's game has Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary on the ends and Sam Adams and Lional Dalton at tackle. Burnett did not play against Philadelphia last week because of a bruised jaw. Adams, slowed by a neck burner, will make his Ravens debut at left tackle. Barring the return of holdout Tony Siragusa, Dalton will go into the season as the starter on the right side. The second-line ends are veteran Keith Washington and rookie Adalius Thomas, who had two sacks last week.

Wally Williams considers himself a center, now and in the future. And if the Ravens eventually decide to move Williams to left guard -- a position he has played effectively -- Williams said he would not agree with the decision, but still would accept it.According to Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda, Williams has nothing to worry about, since the team plans to keep him as the anchor of its offensive line."

The Ravens' Plan A at left guard was re-signing Pro Bowl performer Ben Grubbs, who eventually signed with the New Orleans Saints. Plan B was an aggressive bid at free agent Evan Mathis, who opted Saturday to re-sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. What is Plan C? The Ravens, of course, aren't going to publicly announce that to the media, but don't be surprised if it includes giving second-year player Jah Reid an extended look at left guard. Regardless of their plans for Reid, I think the Ravens will sign at least one free agent offensive lineman and add one or two more offensive linemen in the draft.

Owner Steve Bisciotti made one thing clear at the annual State of the Ravens address Wednesday: The face of the Ravens' offense will not change this offseason. "Ray [Rice] and Joe Flacco will be part of this football team next year, guaranteed," Bisciotti said. Rice, who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and scored a franchise-record 15 touchdowns, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Flacco, the much-maligned quarterback who was likely a dropped pass by Lee Evans away from leading his team to the Super Bowl, is entering the final year of his rookie contract.