The Ravens indeed have, for a long time, been having a loophole in their center. The six-time division champions, however, ticked that box in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They struck ‘gold’ in Remington trophy winner and center Tyler Linderbaum with the 25th overall pick.
And when the Baltimore Ravens rookie had his number called, he didn’t disappoint either. Iowa star Tyler Linderbaum gave fans a reason to smile and a sleek peek into why he was selected 25th overall in the first round.
So almost a week after, it’s still difficult to process how the Baltimore Ravens ended up with a 42-38 loss against the Miami Dolphins in their second game of the season.
Let’s look at the team’s overall performance and how Linderbaum brought changes to the game.
Linderbaum checking the box at his pro day 👏
Matches the tape too. pic.twitter.com/TJ49VBsVnn
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) April 11, 2022
So, Who Is Tyler Linderbaum?
Linderbaum is an Iowan of German descent. He was born on April 7, 2000, in Solon and later attended Solon High School. The former Hawkeye All-American center comes from a sporting family. His parents are Lisa and Todd Linderbaum. His father was an aggressive athlete at Higher Iowa College, while her mom had distinctive softball and basketball abilities.
From Solon, Linderbaum proceeded to Iowa, where he started his career as a defensive lineman before moving to the center before the 2019 season.
In 2020, he returned as the starter and was named a finalist for the Rimington trophy and an All-American. In 2021, he won the Rimington Trophy while being named the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year. The Rimington trophy is usually awarded to the best center in college football.
At the NFL draft, he measured in at 302 pounds and 6-foot-2 — which is undersize for a center. Also, at 31.13 inches, his arms are the third shortest of any center in NFL’s history.
The Baltimore Ravens selected Linderbaum in the first round as the 25th overall pick, and it’s rumored that he will sign a four-year deal worth $13.24 million with a $6.8 million signing bonus.
Thank you Iowa. pic.twitter.com/MRQbBIUupm
— Tyler Linderbaum (@TLinderbaum) January 14, 2022
Baltimore Ravens’ Performance In Week Two
The Baltimore Ravens did enough in week one to emerge victorious against the New York Jets. They had higher expectations heading into the season, especially with the addition of one of the best centers from the 2022 draft in their midst. They, however, had a rough time maintaining the lead in only their second game of the season against the Miami Dolphins.
But for anybody who watched that game, the Ravens ticked many boxes in three quarters. Then hell broke loose in the last 15 minutes of the game.
In two consecutive weeks, they didn’t have any problems generating explosive plays. With Lamar Jackson on standby, the Ravens had no problems firing killer shots against the Dolphins’ defense. Furthermore, Jackson’s 79-yard touchdown run and Rashod Bateman’s 75-yard touchdown catch became the main highlights of the game.
They had a total of 10 plays going for 15 yards and a lot more that went for 10+ yards. So for this, we can say luck wasn’t just on their side.
Through two weeks, the Ravens rank 18 in NFL yards per game and 13 in yards per carry. Maybe to call a spade a spade, they rank last in efficiency metrics according to most media houses.
Still, the Ravens have had it so rough in the last three years. From injuries to poor team management, they have been undergoing some of the worst moments in the team’s history. Remember, since 2019, they have never finished a season in any position below 11.
.@TLinderbaum taking part in warmups pic.twitter.com/onQX0ooMR6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 27, 2022
Tyler Linderbaum’s performance
The Baltimore Ravens must have found one of the best centers in Tyler Linderbaum. After being picked in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, Linderbaum played his first NFL game for the Baltimore Ravens against the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. We know there are many expectations of the 22-year-old, but based on what we’ve seen, this kid is a rare gem.
It was only a few snaps, but Linderbaum proved to the masses that in good health, he really knows how to do his thing.
He had an exemplary performance as a pass blocker, which earned him a PFF pass blocking grade of 77.7. He was also careful enough not to be called for a penalty through the first two weeks of the season. The kid also had the highest PFF grade among the Ravens offensive linemen after finishing with an overall 66.1.
We must, however, admit that he had some struggles in his NFL debut. He didn’t know how to manage Quinnen Williams properly and was also exposed for his relative lack of length and size. And he ended up surrendering one pressure.
Remember, the rookie center had previously suffered a foot injury that blocked him from the first two preseason games. He, however, joined his teammates in week three against the Washington Commanders.
watch the Center #64 Tyler Linderbaum get to the second level and maul the linebacker pic.twitter.com/lUDfKV4Ghl
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 14, 2022
Credits on Featured Image: Maize & Blue Nation, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
