Negative side to Willie Anderson signing
How can signing a four-time Pro Bowler be a negative? Let's first look towards how it will affect the rest of the offensive line.
Adam Terry had been slotted to start at right tackle, Willie Anderson's spot on the line. Terry will now likely move over to left tackle and challenge Jared Gaither for playing time.
Gaither, in his second season, has been talked about as the Ravens' left tackle of the future. He's got great size (6-foot-9, 330 pounds), and has good speed and agility for a big man.
But the Ravens don't know how good Gaither can be. He's got all the talent in the world, but the knock against him has been his work ethic. Is he willing to work hard enough to become an elite left tackle?
This was going to be the season the Ravens would find out. Barring injury, he was set to man Joe Flacco's (or Troy Smith's) blind-side for the whole season, or at least until he proved he wasn't up to the job.
If Terry moves to the left side and takes snaps away from Gaither, head coach John Harbaugh and GM Ozzie Newsome still won't know if they have a cornerstone left tackle, or a guy who isn't ready for the big stage yet.
Gaither might out-play Terry and get his chance to play full-time. But if he has a bad game, Terry will be sitting there, and Gaither might not have as much of a chance to work through his troubles as he did before big Willie Anderson came to town.
Oh, and then there's Anderson's contract.
$11 million over three years for a 33-year-old who missed most of last season with knee and foot injuries.
Eek.
I've read several places that the problem with Gaither is his attitude and work ethic. Assuming this, I don't understand how adding competition and possibly losing snaps is a bad thing. It seems to me this should provide him with motivation to study the playbook and stay on the field. And worst case, he'd sit down while Terry plays, and it wouldn't effect his physical gifts, but may show him that, yes, he does need to get a better attitude.
Needless to say, I'm excited about this signing.
LETS GO RAVENS!
I'm GREAT with this signing; we needed a more veteran presence on the OL when JO decided his toe would never be good enough to give it another go.