The Baltimore Ravens are sitting at 2-2 in the AFC north this season, tied with yes, the Cleveland Browns and after losing to the Buffalo Bills the team made a major personnel move, trading for offensive lineman Eugene Monroe from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
According to ESPN.com, the Ravens made the stunning move after dropping the Week 4 game to the Bills and it also could be to help replace Bryant McKinnie, who was involved in the party bus fight with Jacoby Jones and has not been as good as expected this season. The rushing game has been struggling and so has the protection for quarterback Joe Flacco, which spurred the move from GM Ozzie Newsome. The report says that Monroe, a former first round pick with the Jags, was shocked by the trade and now he will be moving to the Ravens.
The Jaguars felt they could move Monroe likely because they just drafted Luke Joeckel with the number two pick in the draft and now he likely will be moving from his spot to the left side of the line. The Jaguars have been a mess this season and this could be a sign that they are giving up already. Monroe has been a steady starter for the team since 2009, playing in over 60 games during his five seasons and according to ESPN.com, he has played in the last 30 games.
The Ravens rushing game has been terrible, ranking in the bottom part of the NFL with just 256 yards thus far this season and now adding Monroe will help beef up the line for the team. ESPN also reports that the team has allowed over 10 sacks already and that is alarming for a team that prides itself on having good protection up front. The rushing attack of Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce has not done much and now Monroe will be moving on and another reason was likely due to the fact that he was in the final year of his contract.
McKinnie has not played up to expectations and the Ravens decided to make a move early rather than closer to the deadline. The Ravens had four more sacks on Sunday and now Monroe will come in before the team plays a road game against the Miami Dolphins.