Ravens offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees sits down with team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to discuss his opportunity to start, last year's ankle injury, how he's grown over the past year, playing between Tyler Linderbaum and Ronnie Stanley, and much more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are thrilled to sit
down with Raven's offensive lineman Andrew Voorhees. And Andrew I'll
start here. I I saw.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Him, Tyler learn him on the other day and I
was just chatting with him.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I was like, man, before he looks like big, Like
he looks like this off season program or something whatever
he's been doing. He looks pretty yoked up. And he
was like, are you sure it's not just the beard?
You know, you know he's got to humble everybody, you know,
So A is he just wrong?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
And B what's up with the beard?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Well, first of all, just thanks for having me on today. Yeah,
but Tyler, come on, man, I've been working out this
pretty much entire off season together.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
And he saw me short.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
He throws the bus man immediately people sometimes not often. Yeah,
Beard's new though, Ye, Beard's new for sure. Guys kind
of encouraged me at the end of last season to
uh just let it go. We'll see what happens. So
guys like Roger rose Garden and Tyler we're culprits and
(01:14):
that and I've since let it go and I've trimmed
it up since a little bit, but I've tried to
let it be as natural as possible because this is
my first time ever doing it, so it's been an experience.
My wife has grown fond of it. At first, she
was a little skeptical, but as I kind of went
through that awkward phase and it kind of filled out
(01:36):
and got to where it is now in terms of length,
she started to come around.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So, Okay, it's an offensive lineman, it definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I feel like the beer just gives you, like superpowers,
super blocking powers. No, Roger didn't have a beer though
he was baby faced last year, right.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I feel like he kind of ebbs and flows. I
feel like he does sometimes and then doesn't.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
One of those guys can't stick with it.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Actually, that's great.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
You've committed.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
You've committed. You've committed.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
Look, there's no beard. I could go for a month
with that jaf. I probably shouldn't have a beer, so
I will not have a beer in my future. But
it's funny you joke about with you and Tyler Linerbaum
working together this offseason. I literally feel like, do you
guys get your mail?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Delivered here.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
I mean, you guys have been here every single day.
I don't think I've seen you not in the building
since last season ended.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, obviously we took a little bit of time off.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Ran when season got over, like an afternoon.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
No, But in all seriousness, though, we took about two
weeks off. We did an O line trip which was
pretty fun. All of us for the most part were
they're and attended, so really enjoyed that. But then it
got away, took some personal time with my wife, and
then I wanted to get back here and start training.
I just the strength staff, we have the athletic training
(02:53):
staff as well. I think their top tier and and
they know what they're doing and I put my full
faith and trust in that to kind of develop my
body and get me right for what's to come. So
the off season program which is where we're at now,
and I feel like they did a really good job,
so I commend them for that. But yeah, Tyler and
I were pretty much here every day once we made
(03:16):
the commitment to come back and start our own off season.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, what was the offensive lineman trip?
Speaker 4 (03:24):
So super long story short, we decided to go down
to Miami together, so it was it was. It came
down to going to Arizona or Miami or Puerto Rico.
So kind of all good options, but kind of all random.
I think at that point, just with playing all the
(03:44):
cold games at the back half of last season, I
think we.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Were all ready to go enjoy some warm weather.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
So Miami was like high sixties, low seventies, and that
was like it might as well has been one hundred
degrees to its.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, Buffalo and it was.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I mean, you guys, remember just freezing cold and we're
faced up against all the elements.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, so yeah, it was a great time. Though.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
We spent a few days down there, we rented a
huge house, did all that. But it was fun because
we all got to spend time together as a group
as the twenty twenty four Ravens offensive line for one
last official time. So we all appreciated it and everyone
who went had a blast.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Was it almost everybody from the whole line?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
It was. Yeah, I think only one or two guys missed.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
I'm not going to name drop on the spot right now,
but I'm sure right, yeah, yeah, things come up. But
Charlie Kohler actually, as an honorary offensive line he got in. Yeah,
we enjoyed his presence down there and really he out
of the lot to the to the group, so that
was fun.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
He definitely does.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Going back to the weight room, you know, we joke about,
you know, you being bigger, but like you do legitimately
look bigger. Have you added more even mostly I mean
you're a big guy before, but have you even gotten
bigger and strogger?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
You feel like?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Yeah, I definitely feel like it.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
You know, time will tell once we go through all
of our testing and we get put on the DEXA
scan and all the muscle lean, muscle mass, different metrics
and stuff that we have and utilize here. So but
I definitely feel like I've gotten stronger. I think I
think all of our strength coaches would agree. I think
anadotically too. I think Tyler would agree kind of. I
(05:30):
guess behind closed.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Doors, I'm sure you would.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I'm sure. I still can't believe you threw me.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
That's Tyler, that's crazy.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Yeah, you got to give a hard time about that.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
It is like the time that you're spending here in
these off season, even before the official program started, like
as we're talking about, is really valuable. Do you like,
how how important is it in your mind to like
just invest the time, because honestly, since you've been.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Drafted, like you've been a guy who's just been here.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
You know, you're from the West Coast, but you've come
and you've made here, and you've really committed to being here.
The first year, you're working a way back from the
injury and now you're working you know, going into a
big off season and all that. Like, how important in
your mind and your development hasn't been to just commit
to the off season workout?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right in terms of from
California and went to school in Los Angeles and then
I ended up on the East Coast, So for me,
I might as well as be on the other side
of the world. I mean, I mean, I've never really
been out here before, so it's all been new to
me and it's been a great experience so far, and
I've really enjoyed my time out here and I really
(06:34):
have found home in Baltimore. So I just again, if
I'm out here, right, it might as well as be
here in the building getting better.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
That's kind of my whole philosophy.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And then again credit to our staff and our support staff,
right strength coaches.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Et cetera.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Really believe in them, and you know, I feel like
if I give them one hundred percent, they'll give me
a hundred percent return and we'll kind of see where
this goes. And again, like you said, I I basically
did this last year as well, and it paid huge
dividends and so feel confident in them doing this again.
And you know, I found myself here pretty much every
day in this offseason school.
Speaker 6 (07:12):
So I'm curious what you took away from last season?
Like you your rookie season was basically a right shert
year getting healthy, and then last year was your first
chance to play just play football again, play take NFL snaps, Like,
what did you take away from last year?
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yeah, I mean, just taking a year off from football
in regards to the injury and then getting back into
the speed of things was a huge adjustment. Right, So
it's obviously a big step when you when you go
up a level in terms of competition, right high school
to the college is a pretty big deal. But then
going from college to the National Football League, it's like whoa.
(07:50):
But then you compound that with being out for a
year coming off a major injury. You know, it was
a lot at first, and it took a while to adapt,
I feel like. But yeah, I mean last year was
interesting just dealing with what I was dealing with in
terms of my injury. But yeah, last year learned a
(08:13):
lot of great things, and going forward, I just think
it's another notch in my tool and my tool belt
that I feel like I kind of lean back on
in terms of adversity and grow and learn from it.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I mean, I thought it was pretty incredible that you
won the starting job out of training camp. I mean,
here you were, you were essentially a rookie, like you say,
coming off the major knee injury, and you won that job,
and then you start the first three games and then
unfortunately suffer an ankled ankle injury, which I'm sure had
to be pretty bad for you to come out of
(08:46):
the starting lineup. Can you talk about what that experience
early in the season, being a starter, winning that job,
what that does for you in terms of building the
floor for you for this year.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, I mean, just I just want to give credits
to my coaches, and I know last year was particularly
interesting with the passing of Joe d and dealing with
that at such a unique time. In terms of our
where we were right in terms of our our schedule
and year. Then coach Warhop came in and and really
(09:19):
took command of the room when kind of needed the
leader and needed a figure to come in and and
just guide us, right because we still had to go
play a football season. So you know, coach Op did
a great job, and you know, obviously, uh he gave
me the nod and and I earned the spot out
(09:39):
of camp. Then, like you said, suffered an inkle injury,
which was unfortunate in regards to not only the timing
but just because I just had come off a major
knee injury. Right, So it's hard to like describe, but
like if you just take a macro perspective and just
realize that it's just all part of the journey, it
(09:59):
really helps you just like clear in mind, because I
feel like if you focus on something, especially that after
my major knee injury, and it just could be like.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Daunting.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Yeah, exactly, But when you take the the thirty thousand
foot approach and really take a step back, you realize
that you're in the grand scheme of things. It's it's
I don't want to say, it's not a big deal.
But it's just another obstacle to overcome, you.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Know, as you had that starting experience, and then mcarey
stepped into the when you got hurt, he shoveled things around.
Roger went into the starting lineup, McCarry goes over to
left guard, and then and then he ends up, you know,
playing that for you know, he's playing well, and it's
like he was he kind of earned his force veteran player,
just kind a nice contract himself as So it's like,
(10:48):
how did you deal with that? Like when you're you're well,
like we were just talking about, you're working your way back,
and then injury happens and then you're just like all right,
I want to get back out there. I'm healthy now,
But like this guy's playing really well. So like, how
did you kind of busily wally pipped? Yeah, it's like
a tough, tough situation, but also knowing that, like you
could set back in at any point because offensive line
(11:09):
is a position that you cycle through a ton of guys.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
How did you deal with all that last year?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Yeah? Well, two things.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
So, first of all, the relationships that we have in
this offensive line room is super unique.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
I got dosh that I just saw you guys all
hanging out having lunch. I mean, he's like, there's a
party out there.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
No, we are great friends off the field, and you know,
I'm sure that's other teams can say that or other
position rooms or whatever, but I truly believe that we
are unique and that we are probably one of the
closest rooms in the National Football League. So just from
that alone, right, Like, there's no jealousy, there's no yeah,
(11:49):
no animosity. We all just want the best and want
team success first and foremost. So that's just a credit
to everyone's maturity in the room. And then, like I said,
because we are so close and have those relationships with
one another, uh, it kind of made it easy. And
in terms of like they're not being animosity like you're saying, Ryan.
(12:10):
And then secondly, uh, Patrick McCarey man, you talk about
an incredible person, was playing right tackle, right incredible athlete
playing right tackle, was working basically at right tackle all camp.
I go down after the Dallas game, he gets moved
from right tackle to left guard on a Tuesday and
(12:34):
is asked to go play We.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Played the Bills. Was that on?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Was that that was a Sunday night Sunday night fall
prime time against the Bills and goes out there plays
his plays an amazing game, right. I think the first
play the ruin.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I think left guard was the only position he had
not started a game at in his career, Like he's
a unicorn, but that was the only spot.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, that was the first start. So you can pletely
the the five PC.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
So yeah, yeah, But seriously though that anybody who's played football,
that's incredible and to be able to do that at
this level is unbelievable. Yea, So huge credit to him.
He earned it. U He went out there and played well.
Uh and so it was good to see that from him,
and obviously being a veteran in the room, Patrick McCarey, right,
(13:29):
it was awesome to see him shine and get his opportunity.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Yeah, what did you learn about yourself over those first
three starts?
Speaker 2 (13:38):
And how did you feel like you played?
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Where?
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Where did you feel like, all right, this is really
working or where do I need to improve? Just talk
about those three games.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Yeah, So obviously outcomes of the first two weren't what
we wanted, right, So you go out to to Kansas
City and lose on that Thursday night game, with devastating ending,
right because unlikely was a a pair of white cleats away.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Yeah from score. So that was that was interesting.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
That was my first game back right from my injury,
and that was my first game in the National Football League.
High The stadium was as you can imagine, rocking defending
Super Bowl champions on Thursday night football.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
That's a way to start for you, and that's cool.
I'm sure the butterflies you had to be.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Yeah, and I just again try to take it all in, right,
and that was an awesome experience. But yeah, go so
lose that game. Unfortunately, then we play the Raiders the
next week and have another devastating, just weird loss, I
mean know, kind of indescribable loss. Really didn't feel like
we should have lost it by any means. And then
(14:48):
go to Dallas and then we just have a running
fest there. I mean, Derrek Henry had however many yards
I think we rest for like almost two hundred and seventy.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, so that ball part.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
But then fortunately that's when I went down. But those
three games just wow, Like it's a lot different than college.
You know, you see it and it's one thing to
watch it, but when you go out there and experience
it for yourself for the first time or first couple
of times. Right for me, it was just it was
just fast paced. It was like, wow, like this is
(15:20):
this is it, this is what the highest level of
a football is like. So it's fun. I really enjoyed
it and look forward to more.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Do you feel like now entering this year and obviously
OTA's mini camp training camp have a long way to go,
but do you feel like I'm a much better player
than I was a year ago at the same point.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Yeah, And I think I agree with you. I think
that is true.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
You go back and had the opportunity to play late
in the season, so I gotta got a majority of
those snaps. Felt like right that between the Dallas game
and what was that week seventeen? Last week, Yeah, last
regular season game, I felt like I went out there
(16:09):
and showed to our coaching staff, my teammates right at
the world, really that I had developed and become a
much better player. And I think I think had a
pretty great game, and so I think that was exciting
to a lot of people, including myself. But yeah, I
think definitely, let's say I've become a better football player
(16:29):
through through all this, that's cool.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
So so now you go into this season and it's
a it's different in the sense that you're not coming
back from the injury and you've played and so it's
that stuff is all in the past. But you're in
a similar situation that you're coming in and you have
a chance to start for a compete for a starting job.
How do you look at that and just the competition
that you'll have in front of you over the course
of this offseason into training camp.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, I think I just go into every year just
trying to be the best football player I can be
and then just let the rest take care of itself.
You can get in your head and you start thinking
about numbers and positions and dratlet whatever. We just go
out there and do what you can do to be
the best football player that you can be. You'll put
(17:13):
yourself in a position of success for the most part, right.
I know, obviously things are sometimes out of your control
or non favorable, but that's kind of been my mentality
throughout my football career. Just work hard, do the right thing,
and the rest will take care of itself. I really
do truly believe that.
Speaker 6 (17:33):
How fun is it with this offensive line, Like, you
guys run the ball as well as anybody in the
league with Lamar and Derek and I know, offensive linemen
generally love if you can have a system that you're
running downhill and you're milking the clock in the fourth
quarter and you can control the game and kind of
take the will out of the opponent. That is just
like that offensivelignment chairs, Like, how much do you enjoy
(17:55):
playing in this system on an offensive line?
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:58):
No, I mean running the ball is an offensive line
is awesome just multiple reasons, right, You just eat up
the clock, you take away possessions from the opponents, you
keep the chains going, and it is demoralizing to defenders
when you're moving them off the ball and you're having
great success.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
So it's really fun. It is trying.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Like one of the gyms of being an offensive liignment
is being able to run the ball and run the
ball really well. So super grateful that, again, we have
an awesome offensive coordinator, awesome offensive line coach. Even our receivers,
like a lot of people don't realize it, but they
play a big role in the success of the run game,
and their selflessness out there is amazing. They'll sell out
(18:42):
and run across the field to go make a block
thirty yards away that Derrick Henry will then spring for
another twenty yards or touchdown or whatever. So it's awesome
to be around a bunch of selfless dudes who are
passionate and just want the the team to be successful.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
What's it like playing next to Tyler Linboum wise cracks
a side, you know, maybe this is your chance to
get him back.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Tyler threw.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Opportunity right. What's it like playing next to Tyler Linnenbaum?
And what can you tell us behind the scenes about.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Tyler is a special player and then Ronnie is too,
right running left tackle, they're both special players. But Tyler man,
he's he's wise out there. He sees stuff that a
lot of us don't necessarily see and is able to
process and it kind of predicts stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
So like blitzes and just alignments, you know, I.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Mean, defensive coordinators are smart, they try to hide stuff
and blitz is whatever it may be. Tyler is a
great job of sniffing it out. So it's incredible playing
next to him, just from his mental sharpness, but then
obviously his physical ability as well. You just see some
of the stuff he's able to do out there, and
(20:00):
it's just like how like it's so fast and it
plays with great leverage and great effort, and he always
ends up on our teach tape is what we call it,
kind of our highlight tape. So yeah, it definitely makes
football a lot easier when you're playing next to great players.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Yeah, hereious on the other side.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
So you mentioned Ronnie, Like with Ronnie, he's interesting because
last year he played great then obviously got another contract,
but he really took on like a leadership role on
the offensive line, and going into last year, there's this
questions you got to replace all these starters, and like
everyone was questioning on the offensive line, and like Ronnie
kind of stuck his neck out there for the group
as a whole, being like it's going to be a
(20:41):
good group. I have confidence in this group, Like everybody
chill out, like this is gonna be a good offensive line.
As one of like the young players who was competing
to win one of those starting jobs that people were
wondering about, what did it mean to you when you
had Ronnie who's like the leader, who's gotten the big contract,
he's a Pro Bowl player going out on the limb
and saying, like, everybody, chill this line. These young players
are going to be good.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Yeah, I mean it's awesome we have the veteran leadership
in the room like that. It's just they become the
focal point.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Right.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
So when obviously, again like all the adversity we faced
early season passing to Joe d Ronnie was really somebody
to lean on in our room, and so that was
huge for us. But then also he backed it up
last year. I felt like he played a majority, if
not all the snaps, right. I mean we could, we
could look at the numbers and see exactly what it was,
(21:31):
but he backed it up and he went out there
and I think he played at a high a high caliber.
It was a high caliber player last year for us,
and obviously was backed up by a pretty lucrative extension.
So that's exciting for him for sure. But yeah, definitely
having somebody like that in the room, especially in the
(21:54):
offensive line room, really helps us out because you know,
he kind of can get lost in the when you
don't have that veteran leadership. And I'm not saying other
guys didn't, but it was encouraging to see Ronnie kind
of take that role where and just kind of backed
it up right with us play, Yeah, and it was
(22:16):
just a cornerstone, cornerstone for us.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Obviously with Pat leaving in free agency, you know, that's
that's one loss. But for the most part, a lot
of continuity on this offensive line, a lot more than
the year prior.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Right when there's a ton of turnover. I mean, really,
you have starters coming.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Back in every single spot, including yourself, you know, So
how much of a difference do you think that will
make this upcoming season? And do you guys look around
the room and say, we can really be really special
if you know, I feel like the offensive line got
so much better as the course as the season went
on and kept growing and everything and Roger getting better. Like,
(22:54):
how good do you feel like this group can be
can be this season because of all that continuity?
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Yeah, I mean I think we could be as good
as we want to be. So again, you said like
there's a bunch of starters coming back, there's continuity in
the room, relationships, right or getting stronger between us, right.
But I'm excited to see what it looks like out
there when all five of us are are out there.
(23:20):
Whoever the five may be right, but ultimately I'm excited
and I think I think just all of it's going
to pay dividends on the back end for us, and
again just excited to see what we're about.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
The last one for me.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
We spend all this time talking about off season training
and going through the weight room stuff, which is all great,
but I feel like for an offensive lineman, you've got
to reach a point in the off season where you're like,
can we put a helmet on?
Speaker 5 (23:42):
Can we put shoulder pads on?
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Like there's always so much weightlifting drills, classroom work, Like
at what point do you just get tired of all
that stuff and like let's get into training camp put
the paths on.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
That definitely happens in phase three when we have just
the helmets on, yeah, you know, because obviously, like we
have the rules out there can and can't do, and
you know, we have helmets on, so you kind of
your head's protected and it's just like the rest of
your body is almost sacrificial out there. You feel like
you almost feel invincible. You got the helmet on, right,
it's like Zucker fully suited up. So you know, sometimes
(24:14):
that could get a little chippy out there, and you know,
it's hard for us in the trenches both sides of
the ball. We try to do our best and don't
want get pushed around. Yeah, when we have two three
hundred plus pound offensive defensive lineman butting heads who are
both not trying to get pushed around, it it kind
of creates a little bit of an interesting mix the least. So,
(24:37):
but we're excited and I think a lot of us
are anxious to get back out there again. We just
started Phase two this week, so we're out there on
the field, but we're all separate right in our own
position groups and stuff.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
But yeah, we're we're looking forward.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
To it for sure. It can't be fun to block
now the matter be game Travis Jones though.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
No, not at all, all our entire and it extends
beyond just them. Yeah, but man, does that get you better? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:06):
I mean having to go through that obviously, when I
came out of the starting lineup last year, being with
the scout team, I was blocking those guys every day.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Yeah, that's probably that's probably why you I mean the.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Development, Yeah, exactly part of my development for sure, testament
to it. So then getting the opportunity to go back
out there against Cleveland week seventeen. Again my play I
felt like showed, uh that I developed and became a
better football player.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
All right, last one for me is, you know every combine,
Now we bring back out the clip of you doing
the bench press with your the knee brace song, crutching
your way out there, you know for listeners who don't know,
and you put up the most bench press reps.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
How many was it?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Thirties?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
I think thirty eight?
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yeah, I was somewhere on them.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Yeah, yeah, high thirties with a torn a cl and
the the embrace and everything. So the question is, since
you've been to the weight room a lot and you
do look bigger is Tyler, do you think without a
shred and knee yeah, you think you could even beat that?
Like what's your what's your bench press?
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Live it? Yeah? I mean that that's such a unique.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Exercise that we do, and people have opinions on it
like why do we even do it at the combine,
like what what are we really measuring? And so it's
unique in a sense that, like, right, that's something that
we specifically focus on those couple of months that we
get the opportunity to train for the combine, so we
don't do stuff like that anymore. Definitely feel stronger than
(26:40):
I did back then. Who knows what I could do now,
Definitely feel like I could do more. But yeah, I
mean that, I mean, you know, that's a that's kind
of an old story. Yeah, not trying to beat a
dead horse. But learned a lot from that. It grew
as a football player, grew as a person more importantly.
(27:02):
But again it's just a thing I learned in college
or not learned. I guess heard in college. There's events
and responses to the events equals your outcome. We can't
change the events in our life, but we can change
our responses and that's going to dictate the outcome. So really,
(27:22):
at the end of the day, I saw my injury
as nothing more than an opportunity to learn, get better,
figure it out. And so, like I said, definitely felt
like I grew as a person and it was unfortunate
that it had to be there and then, but you know,
things all work out at the end of the day.
(27:44):
I'm grateful to be here. Probably won''t be here if
that wouldn't have happened. Who knows where I would have
ended up. So just thankful for everything that happens in life.
And you know, we'll see what happens next. Hopefully it's
nothing crazy like that. Every well, we'll figure it out.
And right like I said, every time those events come around,
(28:05):
we'll choose a great response and great outcomes will follow.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Well, I'm looking forward to a lot of great outcomes
this upcoming season beyond. Thank you so much, Andrew appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (28:17):
Welcome back into the last podcast we are coming to
you from the Sea Geek Studio. We want to mention
our partners at Draft King Sportsbook. They are an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sportsbook.
The Crown is yours. So really enjoy sitting down with Andrew.
He's one of our favorite guys. Just really smart, hard
working guy. Love his attitude, his perspective, and just he's
(28:37):
a good player and a great guy.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, yeah, good dude, And I'm really excited for what
could be in store for him in twenty twenty five.
I mean, you know, you think back and you're like, oh, well,
here's a seventh round pick, but really, he's not a
seventh round pick. I mean, the only reason he was
lasted that long was because of the ACL injury. He
would have gone who knows, third, fourth round. He would
(28:59):
have been a highly projected guy. So I look at
him still through that lens of here is a bona
fide dude from USC big body, got the work ethic,
got the great attitude, all those things, and now he's
really entering what's truly his second season. I think that
(29:20):
he could be one of the Ravens kind of big
surprise breakout players.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
Look, we all last year thought that he had real
potential to be a starter on this offensive line, and
he was. As we talked about, he won the starting
left guard job at a training camp, and I think
he would have I think he would have remained the
starter all year had he not had the injury. And
then basically as we discussed it was, McCarry came in there,
Roger rosen Garten moved into at right tackle, and some
(29:47):
mccarrey switched position. It works, and then the offensive line
was playing well and they started rattling off a few minutes.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Well you have an eighty some yard Derrick Henry touchdown
run on the first touch with that new offensive line configuration.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
You're like, you know what, maybe we'll stick with that, right, But.
Speaker 6 (29:59):
I don't think it it was I think it had
more to do with the fact that this this new
group was playing so well and not really anything to
do with Andrew's play, you know. I think it's like
he was just he got hurt, and I think I think, like,
as we look at it now, this offensive line configuration,
I know it's gonna be a competition, nothing's gonna be
handed over, but I think that he's going to be
(30:20):
the starting left guard as way I look at it
right now, I think he's the odds on favorite for that.
And if he does end up in that position, I
think he's just gonna play well. I think he's gonna
be a good player.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Well, the team kind of signaled that with their moves
this offseason, right They they haven't gone out and gotten
a veteran guard to compete with Andrew Voor. He's not
yet and maybe they still could at some point, right,
but you know, they re signed benk Cleveland, who Andrew
beat out for the job last year, and then they
(30:48):
drafted Emory Jones Junior in the third round. But he
has a laboram issue right now, so he might not
be on the field until training camp. So you know,
Emory was a player that I think a lot of
us looked at and said, all right, here's the competition
for four. He's well, he's going to be late to
that competition. And uh, you know, maybe Emery develops and
and eventually becomes that guy. But and Boor, he's going
(31:11):
to try to do to Emory Jones what Patrick McCay
did to him, you know, and Boor he's just gonna
be like, I want to win that starting job, and
if I play well enough, if I play great, then
Emory's gonna have to wait. Yeah, you know, and so
and he's Andrew's certainly capable of doing that, and so
you know, and then they the Ravens signed Joe Noteboom,
(31:33):
who's tackle really more than a guard. So the path
is there for Andrew and and I think that he
has all the ability to capture.
Speaker 6 (31:42):
And it's just interesting because like when you compare it
to a year ago, like there was all concern about
the offensive line, understandably so when you're having to replace
three starters, but now you're bringing back four out of
five starters, and you could even make the argument that
it's all five at least from the start of it,
you know, when you when you look at it on
the on the whole. Yeah, I understand McCarey getting got
that nice contract, and so I'm cherry picking a little
(32:05):
bit if I say all five, but like you.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Have guys who may you have five guys who started
games last year where he started the first three exactly,
Rose and Garden started the last whatever.
Speaker 6 (32:15):
I was fourteen, right, So I think that, like, I
actually look at this offensive line and I'm like, could
this be a real strength of the team, Like compared
to a year ago when it was what's this line
going to look like? Is it gonna be okay? And
these guys gonna how's Ronnie gonna come back? And how's
all this stuff?
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Yeah, I mean I think, you know, obviously Ronnie has
to stay healthy again just like he did last year
and he proved himself, and I you know, I think
he will. He's certainly putting in the work to physically
to stay healthy. We just got done talking about before.
He's in the potential that he has. I mean, right now,
he's probably the biggest question mark on the line just
because he has the least experience, but feel pretty darn
(32:55):
good coming out of this conversation and before we had
this conversation about his ability to do the job's Tyer
Lennenbraum's a pro bowler. Daniel Filelly has got to continue
to progress, you know. I mean, certainly from where he
started last season to where he finished, he was a
much better player, and he did some things really really well,
and he's got to continue to develop and grow his game,
and I think he's only going to get better. He's
(33:17):
another hard working guy and who got a ton of
experience last year.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And then Roger Rosengarten was awesome. That's a rookie. What
strides can he make? What jumps can he make? In
year two? So I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
I think that.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
What was originally the biggest worry going into last season
is not nearly as worries some going into this year
and could turn out to be a real strength the
way it finished last year.
Speaker 6 (33:41):
Right, and if it plays out the way that you
just described, where this offensive line just builds off of
what it did last year and plays well. Man, you
look at this offense and there's like there's no holes.
There's no holes on the offense, and the offense was
historically good last year, but it's like, where could this
thing even go from here?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
If what you just lay it's gonna stay healthy. I
think that's that's the key, That's the big thing, you know.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Voorhees was really kind of one of the bigger injuries
on offense than Zay going down late late in the
year in the right right at the end. But other
than that, I mean, the offensive line was healthy all
season long, which is very rare. K not what that
can happen? Again, that was that was major that the
Ravens were healthy on offense.
Speaker 5 (34:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (34:24):
Well the other thing too is we look at the
offensive line beyond the five likely starters, like when they
get out there, when all the rookies get integrated with
the veterans here over the course of the next couple
of weeks in practice, like that offensive line group is
basically got a double because they drafted three rookies. They
drafted Emery Jones, they drafted Garrett Dellinger, and they drafted
Carson Vincent and so all those guys are going to
(34:45):
come into the mix there and I think I think Carson,
Vincent and Dellinger are more developmental, especially Vincent as a
tackle like a little bit more developmental.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Dellinger is an LSU starter.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
I think he's more he's a depth piece for now
and developing CV and become a starter later on.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
He'd seventh round pick.
Speaker 5 (35:04):
Just like you know Andrew Vorries, right, And so that's
that's eight guys right there.
Speaker 6 (35:08):
Then you add in Bank Cleveland who you mentioned, and
Nick Samak as well, who was a late round pick
last year backup center, can also mix in at guard.
He's another guy who's in that mix too. And so,
like you know, there's a competition, like not just for
the starting jobs, but competition to make the team is
going to be really tough. Neck this, I mean, that's
gonna be one of the as I look at it
right now, I think one of the biggest battles of
(35:30):
training camp is the spots for the competition for roster
spots on the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Yeah, then you have some guys who are coming back
from the practice squad, Corey Bullock and other guys like that.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
I mean, I agree, I think and.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
Joe Noteboom as well in that mix as well. You
mentioned him.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
But like we have Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Voorhies, Tyler Linderbaum,
Daniel foul Roger Roseengard. There's what you would project is
the starting five right now. Note Boom's your number six
swing tackle. Your backup guards would Ben Cleveland and Dellinger
and Emory Jones and Emory Jones, and then Vincent makes ten.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Right, and then Nick Samak is a backup guard.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Eleven.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
Yeah, so that's eleven guys right there. And I don't
think they're gonna have eleven spots for offensive linemen on
this team. I don't know how many they're going to
have exactly, but eleven.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
You're probably looking at it coming down to a Dellinger
versus sam Ac versus Cleveland versus Cleveland competition.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
Yeah, and and of.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
Course all this is you got to stay healthy and
all this stuff. You know, there's a lot of like
caveats that you got to throw out here, and there's
a lot of time between now and.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
The Can Dellinger take snaps? Would surprise me if we
see him taking some snaps this summer.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
They look at all that, you know, and also like
they look at okay, Emory Jones. Emory Jones, remember now
was a tackle in college, but he likely projects as
a guard. Where is he taking the majority of his snaps?
Like when he gets out there and once he's healthy,
I mean that's a tough assignment. You got to get
healthy then you make the jump to the NFL, just
like we talked about with Andrew, and you're changing positions
(37:03):
like those are tough things. So like when he gets
out there in training camp, what position is you playing?
Left guard, right guard, right tackle? Like where's you playing?
All that stuff is going to be interesting to watch it.
And I and again, I think that the offensive line
is probably going to be one of the most contested
battles to make the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
Yeah, I would agree with that anyway. Thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
As always, you can reach us at the Lounge at
Ravens dot NFL dot net.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Big Week This week, Big Week.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
The NFL schedule drops May four teams Wednesday night. That's right,
circle with that on your calendars. We'll have tons of
content as well as our.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Schedule release video, which is always fun.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Never gonna want to miss that, Yeah, so make sure
and we'll be coming back on the lounge here to
give you our full reaction to the schedule and all
the twists and turns that it gives, and then of
course the travel drifts, so looking forward to that. Thanks
for listening, we'll be back later this week.
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Mink
here with Garrett Downing, and we are thrilled to sit
down with Raven's offensive lineman Andrew Voorhees. And Andrew I'll
start here. I I saw.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Him, Tyler learn him on the other day and I
was just chatting with him.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I was like, man, before he looks like big, Like
he looks like this off season program or something whatever
he's been doing. He looks pretty yoked up. And he
was like, are you sure it's not just the beard?
You know, you know he's got to humble everybody, you know,
So A is he just wrong?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
And B what's up with the beard?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Well, first of all, just thanks for having me on today. Yeah,
but Tyler, come on, man, I've been working out this
pretty much entire off season together.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
And he saw me short.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
He throws the bus man immediately people sometimes not often. Yeah,
Beard's new though, Ye, Beard's new for sure. Guys kind
of encouraged me at the end of last season to
uh just let it go. We'll see what happens. So
guys like Roger rose Garden and Tyler we're culprits and
(01:14):
that and I've since let it go and I've trimmed
it up since a little bit, but I've tried to
let it be as natural as possible because this is
my first time ever doing it, so it's been an experience.
My wife has grown fond of it. At first, she
was a little skeptical, but as I kind of went
through that awkward phase and it kind of filled out
(01:36):
and got to where it is now in terms of length,
she started to come around.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So, Okay, it's an offensive lineman, it definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I feel like the beer just gives you, like superpowers,
super blocking powers. No, Roger didn't have a beer though
he was baby faced last year, right.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I feel like he kind of ebbs and flows. I
feel like he does sometimes and then doesn't.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
One of those guys can't stick with it.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Actually, that's great.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
You've committed.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
You've committed. You've committed.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
Look, there's no beard. I could go for a month
with that jaf. I probably shouldn't have a beer, so
I will not have a beer in my future. But
it's funny you joke about with you and Tyler Linerbaum
working together this offseason. I literally feel like, do you
guys get your mail?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Delivered here.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
I mean, you guys have been here every single day.
I don't think I've seen you not in the building
since last season ended.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Yeah, obviously we took a little bit of time off.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Ran when season got over, like an afternoon.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
No, But in all seriousness, though, we took about two
weeks off. We did an O line trip which was
pretty fun. All of us for the most part were
they're and attended, so really enjoyed that. But then it
got away, took some personal time with my wife, and
then I wanted to get back here and start training.
I just the strength staff, we have the athletic training
(02:53):
staff as well. I think their top tier and and
they know what they're doing and I put my full
faith and trust in that to kind of develop my
body and get me right for what's to come. So
the off season program which is where we're at now,
and I feel like they did a really good job,
so I commend them for that. But yeah, Tyler and
I were pretty much here every day once we made
(03:16):
the commitment to come back and start our own off season.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, what was the offensive lineman trip?
Speaker 4 (03:24):
So super long story short, we decided to go down
to Miami together, so it was it was. It came
down to going to Arizona or Miami or Puerto Rico.
So kind of all good options, but kind of all random.
I think at that point, just with playing all the
(03:44):
cold games at the back half of last season, I
think we.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Were all ready to go enjoy some warm weather.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
So Miami was like high sixties, low seventies, and that
was like it might as well has been one hundred
degrees to its.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, Buffalo and it was.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I mean, you guys, remember just freezing cold and we're
faced up against all the elements.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, so yeah, it was a great time. Though.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
We spent a few days down there, we rented a
huge house, did all that. But it was fun because
we all got to spend time together as a group
as the twenty twenty four Ravens offensive line for one
last official time. So we all appreciated it and everyone
who went had a blast.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Was it almost everybody from the whole line?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
It was. Yeah, I think only one or two guys missed.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
I'm not going to name drop on the spot right now,
but I'm sure right, yeah, yeah, things come up. But
Charlie Kohler actually, as an honorary offensive line he got in. Yeah,
we enjoyed his presence down there and really he out
of the lot to the to the group, so that
was fun.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
He definitely does.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Going back to the weight room, you know, we joke about,
you know, you being bigger, but like you do legitimately
look bigger. Have you added more even mostly I mean
you're a big guy before, but have you even gotten
bigger and strogger?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
You feel like?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Yeah, I definitely feel like it.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
You know, time will tell once we go through all
of our testing and we get put on the DEXA
scan and all the muscle lean, muscle mass, different metrics
and stuff that we have and utilize here. So but
I definitely feel like I've gotten stronger. I think I
think all of our strength coaches would agree. I think
anadotically too. I think Tyler would agree kind of. I
(05:30):
guess behind closed.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Doors, I'm sure you would.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I'm sure. I still can't believe you threw me.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
That's Tyler, that's crazy.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Yeah, you got to give a hard time about that.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
It is like the time that you're spending here in
these off season, even before the official program started, like
as we're talking about, is really valuable. Do you like,
how how important is it in your mind to like
just invest the time, because honestly, since you've been.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Drafted, like you've been a guy who's just been here.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
You know, you're from the West Coast, but you've come
and you've made here, and you've really committed to being here.
The first year, you're working a way back from the
injury and now you're working you know, going into a
big off season and all that. Like, how important in
your mind and your development hasn't been to just commit
to the off season workout?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right in terms of from
California and went to school in Los Angeles and then
I ended up on the East Coast, So for me,
I might as well as be on the other side
of the world. I mean, I mean, I've never really
been out here before, so it's all been new to
me and it's been a great experience so far, and
I've really enjoyed my time out here and I really
(06:34):
have found home in Baltimore. So I just again, if
I'm out here, right, it might as well as be
here in the building getting better.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
That's kind of my whole philosophy.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And then again credit to our staff and our support staff,
right strength coaches.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Et cetera.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Really believe in them, and you know, I feel like
if I give them one hundred percent, they'll give me
a hundred percent return and we'll kind of see where
this goes. And again, like you said, I I basically
did this last year as well, and it paid huge
dividends and so feel confident in them doing this again.
And you know, I found myself here pretty much every
day in this offseason school.
Speaker 6 (07:12):
So I'm curious what you took away from last season?
Like you your rookie season was basically a right shert
year getting healthy, and then last year was your first
chance to play just play football again, play take NFL snaps, Like,
what did you take away from last year?
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yeah, I mean, just taking a year off from football
in regards to the injury and then getting back into
the speed of things was a huge adjustment. Right, So
it's obviously a big step when you when you go
up a level in terms of competition, right high school
to the college is a pretty big deal. But then
going from college to the National Football League, it's like whoa.
(07:50):
But then you compound that with being out for a
year coming off a major injury. You know, it was
a lot at first, and it took a while to adapt,
I feel like. But yeah, I mean last year was
interesting just dealing with what I was dealing with in
terms of my injury. But yeah, last year learned a
(08:13):
lot of great things, and going forward, I just think
it's another notch in my tool and my tool belt
that I feel like I kind of lean back on
in terms of adversity and grow and learn from it.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I mean, I thought it was pretty incredible that you
won the starting job out of training camp. I mean,
here you were, you were essentially a rookie, like you say,
coming off the major knee injury, and you won that job,
and then you start the first three games and then
unfortunately suffer an ankled ankle injury, which I'm sure had
to be pretty bad for you to come out of
(08:46):
the starting lineup. Can you talk about what that experience
early in the season, being a starter, winning that job,
what that does for you in terms of building the
floor for you for this year.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, I mean, just I just want to give credits
to my coaches, and I know last year was particularly
interesting with the passing of Joe d and dealing with
that at such a unique time. In terms of our
where we were right in terms of our our schedule
and year. Then coach Warhop came in and and really
(09:19):
took command of the room when kind of needed the
leader and needed a figure to come in and and
just guide us, right because we still had to go
play a football season. So you know, coach Op did
a great job, and you know, obviously, uh he gave
me the nod and and I earned the spot out
(09:39):
of camp. Then, like you said, suffered an inkle injury,
which was unfortunate in regards to not only the timing
but just because I just had come off a major
knee injury. Right, So it's hard to like describe, but
like if you just take a macro perspective and just
realize that it's just all part of the journey, it
(09:59):
really helps you just like clear in mind, because I
feel like if you focus on something, especially that after
my major knee injury, and it just could be like.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Daunting.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Yeah, exactly, But when you take the the thirty thousand
foot approach and really take a step back, you realize
that you're in the grand scheme of things. It's it's
I don't want to say, it's not a big deal.
But it's just another obstacle to overcome, you.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Know, as you had that starting experience, and then mcarey
stepped into the when you got hurt, he shoveled things around.
Roger went into the starting lineup, McCarry goes over to
left guard, and then and then he ends up, you know,
playing that for you know, he's playing well, and it's
like he was he kind of earned his force veteran player,
just kind a nice contract himself as So it's like,
(10:48):
how did you deal with that? Like when you're you're well,
like we were just talking about, you're working your way back,
and then injury happens and then you're just like all right,
I want to get back out there. I'm healthy now,
But like this guy's playing really well. So like, how
did you kind of busily wally pipped? Yeah, it's like
a tough, tough situation, but also knowing that, like you
could set back in at any point because offensive line
(11:09):
is a position that you cycle through a ton of guys.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
How did you deal with all that last year?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Yeah? Well, two things.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
So, first of all, the relationships that we have in
this offensive line room is super unique.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
I got dosh that I just saw you guys all
hanging out having lunch. I mean, he's like, there's a
party out there.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
No, we are great friends off the field, and you know,
I'm sure that's other teams can say that or other
position rooms or whatever, but I truly believe that we
are unique and that we are probably one of the
closest rooms in the National Football League. So just from
that alone, right, Like, there's no jealousy, there's no yeah,
(11:49):
no animosity. We all just want the best and want
team success first and foremost. So that's just a credit
to everyone's maturity in the room. And then, like I said,
because we are so close and have those relationships with
one another, uh, it kind of made it easy. And
in terms of like they're not being animosity like you're saying, Ryan.
(12:10):
And then secondly, uh, Patrick McCarey man, you talk about
an incredible person, was playing right tackle, right incredible athlete
playing right tackle, was working basically at right tackle all camp.
I go down after the Dallas game, he gets moved
from right tackle to left guard on a Tuesday and
(12:34):
is asked to go play We.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Played the Bills. Was that on?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Was that that was a Sunday night Sunday night fall
prime time against the Bills and goes out there plays
his plays an amazing game, right. I think the first
play the ruin.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I think left guard was the only position he had
not started a game at in his career, Like he's
a unicorn, but that was the only spot.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, that was the first start. So you can pletely
the the five PC.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
So yeah, yeah, But seriously though that anybody who's played football,
that's incredible and to be able to do that at
this level is unbelievable. Yea, So huge credit to him.
He earned it. U He went out there and played well.
Uh and so it was good to see that from him,
and obviously being a veteran in the room, Patrick McCarey, right,
(13:29):
it was awesome to see him shine and get his opportunity.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Yeah, what did you learn about yourself over those first
three starts?
Speaker 2 (13:38):
And how did you feel like you played?
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Where?
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Where did you feel like, all right, this is really
working or where do I need to improve? Just talk
about those three games.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Yeah, So obviously outcomes of the first two weren't what
we wanted, right, So you go out to to Kansas
City and lose on that Thursday night game, with devastating ending,
right because unlikely was a a pair of white cleats away.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Yeah from score. So that was that was interesting.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
That was my first game back right from my injury,
and that was my first game in the National Football League.
High The stadium was as you can imagine, rocking defending
Super Bowl champions on Thursday night football.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
That's a way to start for you, and that's cool.
I'm sure the butterflies you had to be.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Yeah, and I just again try to take it all in, right,
and that was an awesome experience. But yeah, go so
lose that game. Unfortunately, then we play the Raiders the
next week and have another devastating, just weird loss, I
mean know, kind of indescribable loss. Really didn't feel like
we should have lost it by any means. And then
(14:48):
go to Dallas and then we just have a running
fest there. I mean, Derrek Henry had however many yards
I think we rest for like almost two hundred and seventy.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, so that ball part.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
But then fortunately that's when I went down. But those
three games just wow, Like it's a lot different than college.
You know, you see it and it's one thing to
watch it, but when you go out there and experience
it for yourself for the first time or first couple
of times. Right for me, it was just it was
just fast paced. It was like, wow, like this is
(15:20):
this is it, this is what the highest level of
a football is like. So it's fun. I really enjoyed
it and look forward to more.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Do you feel like now entering this year and obviously
OTA's mini camp training camp have a long way to go,
but do you feel like I'm a much better player
than I was a year ago at the same point.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Yeah, And I think I agree with you. I think
that is true.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
You go back and had the opportunity to play late
in the season, so I gotta got a majority of
those snaps. Felt like right that between the Dallas game
and what was that week seventeen? Last week, Yeah, last
regular season game, I felt like I went out there
(16:09):
and showed to our coaching staff, my teammates right at
the world, really that I had developed and become a
much better player. And I think I think had a
pretty great game, and so I think that was exciting
to a lot of people, including myself. But yeah, I
think definitely, let's say I've become a better football player
(16:29):
through through all this, that's cool.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
So so now you go into this season and it's
a it's different in the sense that you're not coming
back from the injury and you've played and so it's
that stuff is all in the past. But you're in
a similar situation that you're coming in and you have
a chance to start for a compete for a starting job.
How do you look at that and just the competition
that you'll have in front of you over the course
of this offseason into training camp.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, I think I just go into every year just
trying to be the best football player I can be
and then just let the rest take care of itself.
You can get in your head and you start thinking
about numbers and positions and dratlet whatever. We just go
out there and do what you can do to be
the best football player that you can be. You'll put
(17:13):
yourself in a position of success for the most part, right.
I know, obviously things are sometimes out of your control
or non favorable, but that's kind of been my mentality
throughout my football career. Just work hard, do the right thing,
and the rest will take care of itself. I really
do truly believe that.
Speaker 6 (17:33):
How fun is it with this offensive line, Like, you
guys run the ball as well as anybody in the
league with Lamar and Derek and I know, offensive linemen
generally love if you can have a system that you're
running downhill and you're milking the clock in the fourth
quarter and you can control the game and kind of
take the will out of the opponent. That is just
like that offensivelignment chairs, Like, how much do you enjoy
(17:55):
playing in this system on an offensive line?
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:58):
No, I mean running the ball is an offensive line
is awesome just multiple reasons, right, You just eat up
the clock, you take away possessions from the opponents, you
keep the chains going, and it is demoralizing to defenders
when you're moving them off the ball and you're having
great success.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
So it's really fun. It is trying.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Like one of the gyms of being an offensive liignment
is being able to run the ball and run the
ball really well. So super grateful that, again, we have
an awesome offensive coordinator, awesome offensive line coach. Even our receivers,
like a lot of people don't realize it, but they
play a big role in the success of the run game,
and their selflessness out there is amazing. They'll sell out
(18:42):
and run across the field to go make a block
thirty yards away that Derrick Henry will then spring for
another twenty yards or touchdown or whatever. So it's awesome
to be around a bunch of selfless dudes who are
passionate and just want the the team to be successful.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
What's it like playing next to Tyler Linboum wise cracks
a side, you know, maybe this is your chance to
get him back.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Tyler threw.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Opportunity right. What's it like playing next to Tyler Linnenbaum?
And what can you tell us behind the scenes about.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Tyler is a special player and then Ronnie is too,
right running left tackle, they're both special players. But Tyler man,
he's he's wise out there. He sees stuff that a
lot of us don't necessarily see and is able to
process and it kind of predicts stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
So like blitzes and just alignments, you know, I.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Mean, defensive coordinators are smart, they try to hide stuff
and blitz is whatever it may be. Tyler is a
great job of sniffing it out. So it's incredible playing
next to him, just from his mental sharpness, but then
obviously his physical ability as well. You just see some
of the stuff he's able to do out there, and
(20:00):
it's just like how like it's so fast and it
plays with great leverage and great effort, and he always
ends up on our teach tape is what we call it,
kind of our highlight tape. So yeah, it definitely makes
football a lot easier when you're playing next to great players.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Yeah, hereious on the other side.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
So you mentioned Ronnie, Like with Ronnie, he's interesting because
last year he played great then obviously got another contract,
but he really took on like a leadership role on
the offensive line, and going into last year, there's this
questions you got to replace all these starters, and like
everyone was questioning on the offensive line, and like Ronnie
kind of stuck his neck out there for the group
as a whole, being like it's going to be a
(20:41):
good group. I have confidence in this group, Like everybody
chill out, like this is gonna be a good offensive line.
As one of like the young players who was competing
to win one of those starting jobs that people were
wondering about, what did it mean to you when you
had Ronnie who's like the leader, who's gotten the big contract,
he's a Pro Bowl player going out on the limb
and saying, like, everybody, chill this line. These young players
are going to be good.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Yeah, I mean it's awesome we have the veteran leadership
in the room like that. It's just they become the
focal point.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Right.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
So when obviously, again like all the adversity we faced
early season passing to Joe d Ronnie was really somebody
to lean on in our room, and so that was
huge for us. But then also he backed it up
last year. I felt like he played a majority, if
not all the snaps, right. I mean we could, we
could look at the numbers and see exactly what it was,
(21:31):
but he backed it up and he went out there
and I think he played at a high a high caliber.
It was a high caliber player last year for us,
and obviously was backed up by a pretty lucrative extension.
So that's exciting for him for sure. But yeah, definitely
having somebody like that in the room, especially in the
(21:54):
offensive line room, really helps us out because you know,
he kind of can get lost in the when you
don't have that veteran leadership. And I'm not saying other
guys didn't, but it was encouraging to see Ronnie kind
of take that role where and just kind of backed
it up right with us play, Yeah, and it was
(22:16):
just a cornerstone, cornerstone for us.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Obviously with Pat leaving in free agency, you know, that's
that's one loss. But for the most part, a lot
of continuity on this offensive line, a lot more than
the year prior.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Right when there's a ton of turnover. I mean, really,
you have starters coming.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Back in every single spot, including yourself, you know, So
how much of a difference do you think that will
make this upcoming season? And do you guys look around
the room and say, we can really be really special
if you know, I feel like the offensive line got
so much better as the course as the season went
on and kept growing and everything and Roger getting better. Like,
(22:54):
how good do you feel like this group can be
can be this season because of all that continuity?
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Yeah, I mean I think we could be as good
as we want to be. So again, you said like
there's a bunch of starters coming back, there's continuity in
the room, relationships, right or getting stronger between us, right.
But I'm excited to see what it looks like out
there when all five of us are are out there.
(23:20):
Whoever the five may be right, but ultimately I'm excited
and I think I think just all of it's going
to pay dividends on the back end for us, and
again just excited to see what we're about.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
The last one for me.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
We spend all this time talking about off season training
and going through the weight room stuff, which is all great,
but I feel like for an offensive lineman, you've got
to reach a point in the off season where you're like,
can we put a helmet on?
Speaker 5 (23:42):
Can we put shoulder pads on?
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Like there's always so much weightlifting drills, classroom work, Like
at what point do you just get tired of all
that stuff and like let's get into training camp put
the paths on.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
That definitely happens in phase three when we have just
the helmets on, yeah, you know, because obviously, like we
have the rules out there can and can't do, and
you know, we have helmets on, so you kind of
your head's protected and it's just like the rest of
your body is almost sacrificial out there. You feel like
you almost feel invincible. You got the helmet on, right,
it's like Zucker fully suited up. So you know, sometimes
(24:14):
that could get a little chippy out there, and you know,
it's hard for us in the trenches both sides of
the ball. We try to do our best and don't
want get pushed around. Yeah, when we have two three
hundred plus pound offensive defensive lineman butting heads who are
both not trying to get pushed around, it it kind
of creates a little bit of an interesting mix the least. So,
(24:37):
but we're excited and I think a lot of us
are anxious to get back out there again. We just
started Phase two this week, so we're out there on
the field, but we're all separate right in our own
position groups and stuff.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
But yeah, we're we're looking forward.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
To it for sure. It can't be fun to block
now the matter be game Travis Jones though.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
No, not at all, all our entire and it extends
beyond just them. Yeah, but man, does that get you better? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:06):
I mean having to go through that obviously, when I
came out of the starting lineup last year, being with
the scout team, I was blocking those guys every day.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Yeah, that's probably that's probably why you I mean the.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Development, Yeah, exactly part of my development for sure, testament
to it. So then getting the opportunity to go back
out there against Cleveland week seventeen. Again my play I
felt like showed, uh that I developed and became a
better football player.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
All right, last one for me is, you know every combine,
Now we bring back out the clip of you doing
the bench press with your the knee brace song, crutching
your way out there, you know for listeners who don't know,
and you put up the most bench press reps.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
How many was it?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Thirties?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
I think thirty eight?
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yeah, I was somewhere on them.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Yeah, yeah, high thirties with a torn a cl and
the the embrace and everything. So the question is, since
you've been to the weight room a lot and you
do look bigger is Tyler, do you think without a
shred and knee yeah, you think you could even beat that?
Like what's your what's your bench press?
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Live it? Yeah? I mean that that's such a unique.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Exercise that we do, and people have opinions on it
like why do we even do it at the combine,
like what what are we really measuring? And so it's
unique in a sense that, like, right, that's something that
we specifically focus on those couple of months that we
get the opportunity to train for the combine, so we
don't do stuff like that anymore. Definitely feel stronger than
(26:40):
I did back then. Who knows what I could do now,
Definitely feel like I could do more. But yeah, I
mean that, I mean, you know, that's a that's kind
of an old story. Yeah, not trying to beat a
dead horse. But learned a lot from that. It grew
as a football player, grew as a person more importantly.
(27:02):
But again it's just a thing I learned in college
or not learned. I guess heard in college. There's events
and responses to the events equals your outcome. We can't
change the events in our life, but we can change
our responses and that's going to dictate the outcome. So really,
(27:22):
at the end of the day, I saw my injury
as nothing more than an opportunity to learn, get better,
figure it out. And so, like I said, definitely felt
like I grew as a person and it was unfortunate
that it had to be there and then, but you know,
things all work out at the end of the day.
(27:44):
I'm grateful to be here. Probably won''t be here if
that wouldn't have happened. Who knows where I would have
ended up. So just thankful for everything that happens in life.
And you know, we'll see what happens next. Hopefully it's
nothing crazy like that. Every well, we'll figure it out.
And right like I said, every time those events come around,
(28:05):
we'll choose a great response and great outcomes will follow.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Well, I'm looking forward to a lot of great outcomes
this upcoming season beyond. Thank you so much, Andrew appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (28:17):
Welcome back into the last podcast we are coming to
you from the Sea Geek Studio. We want to mention
our partners at Draft King Sportsbook. They are an official
sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft King Sportsbook.
The Crown is yours. So really enjoy sitting down with Andrew.
He's one of our favorite guys. Just really smart, hard
working guy. Love his attitude, his perspective, and just he's
(28:37):
a good player and a great guy.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, yeah, good dude, And I'm really excited for what
could be in store for him in twenty twenty five.
I mean, you know, you think back and you're like, oh, well,
here's a seventh round pick, but really, he's not a
seventh round pick. I mean, the only reason he was
lasted that long was because of the ACL injury. He
would have gone who knows, third, fourth round. He would
(28:59):
have been a highly projected guy. So I look at
him still through that lens of here is a bona
fide dude from USC big body, got the work ethic,
got the great attitude, all those things, and now he's
really entering what's truly his second season. I think that
(29:20):
he could be one of the Ravens kind of big
surprise breakout players.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
Look, we all last year thought that he had real
potential to be a starter on this offensive line, and
he was. As we talked about, he won the starting
left guard job at a training camp, and I think
he would have I think he would have remained the
starter all year had he not had the injury. And
then basically as we discussed it was, McCarry came in there,
Roger rosen Garten moved into at right tackle, and some
(29:47):
mccarrey switched position. It works, and then the offensive line
was playing well and they started rattling off a few minutes.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Well you have an eighty some yard Derrick Henry touchdown
run on the first touch with that new offensive line configuration.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
You're like, you know what, maybe we'll stick with that, right, But.
Speaker 6 (29:59):
I don't think it it was I think it had
more to do with the fact that this this new
group was playing so well and not really anything to
do with Andrew's play, you know. I think it's like
he was just he got hurt, and I think I think, like,
as we look at it now, this offensive line configuration,
I know it's gonna be a competition, nothing's gonna be
handed over, but I think that he's going to be
(30:20):
the starting left guard as way I look at it
right now, I think he's the odds on favorite for that.
And if he does end up in that position, I
think he's just gonna play well. I think he's gonna
be a good player.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Well, the team kind of signaled that with their moves
this offseason, right They they haven't gone out and gotten
a veteran guard to compete with Andrew Voor. He's not
yet and maybe they still could at some point, right,
but you know, they re signed benk Cleveland, who Andrew
beat out for the job last year, and then they
(30:48):
drafted Emory Jones Junior in the third round. But he
has a laboram issue right now, so he might not
be on the field until training camp. So you know,
Emory was a player that I think a lot of
us looked at and said, all right, here's the competition
for four. He's well, he's going to be late to
that competition. And uh, you know, maybe Emery develops and
and eventually becomes that guy. But and Boor, he's going
(31:11):
to try to do to Emory Jones what Patrick McCay
did to him, you know, and Boor he's just gonna
be like, I want to win that starting job, and
if I play well enough, if I play great, then
Emory's gonna have to wait. Yeah, you know, and so
and he's Andrew's certainly capable of doing that, and so
you know, and then they the Ravens signed Joe Noteboom,
(31:33):
who's tackle really more than a guard. So the path
is there for Andrew and and I think that he
has all the ability to capture.
Speaker 6 (31:42):
And it's just interesting because like when you compare it
to a year ago, like there was all concern about
the offensive line, understandably so when you're having to replace
three starters, but now you're bringing back four out of
five starters, and you could even make the argument that
it's all five at least from the start of it,
you know, when you when you look at it on
the on the whole. Yeah, I understand McCarey getting got
that nice contract, and so I'm cherry picking a little
(32:05):
bit if I say all five, but like you.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Have guys who may you have five guys who started
games last year where he started the first three exactly,
Rose and Garden started the last whatever.
Speaker 6 (32:15):
I was fourteen, right, So I think that, like, I
actually look at this offensive line and I'm like, could
this be a real strength of the team, Like compared
to a year ago when it was what's this line
going to look like? Is it gonna be okay? And
these guys gonna how's Ronnie gonna come back? And how's
all this stuff?
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Yeah, I mean I think, you know, obviously Ronnie has
to stay healthy again just like he did last year
and he proved himself, and I you know, I think
he will. He's certainly putting in the work to physically
to stay healthy. We just got done talking about before.
He's in the potential that he has. I mean, right now,
he's probably the biggest question mark on the line just
because he has the least experience, but feel pretty darn
(32:55):
good coming out of this conversation and before we had
this conversation about his ability to do the job's Tyer
Lennenbraum's a pro bowler. Daniel Filelly has got to continue
to progress, you know. I mean, certainly from where he
started last season to where he finished, he was a
much better player, and he did some things really really well,
and he's got to continue to develop and grow his game,
and I think he's only going to get better. He's
(33:17):
another hard working guy and who got a ton of
experience last year.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And then Roger Rosengarten was awesome. That's a rookie. What
strides can he make? What jumps can he make? In
year two? So I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
I think that.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
What was originally the biggest worry going into last season
is not nearly as worries some going into this year
and could turn out to be a real strength the
way it finished last year.
Speaker 6 (33:41):
Right, and if it plays out the way that you
just described, where this offensive line just builds off of
what it did last year and plays well. Man, you
look at this offense and there's like there's no holes.
There's no holes on the offense, and the offense was
historically good last year, but it's like, where could this
thing even go from here?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
If what you just lay it's gonna stay healthy. I
think that's that's the key, That's the big thing, you know.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Voorhees was really kind of one of the bigger injuries
on offense than Zay going down late late in the
year in the right right at the end. But other
than that, I mean, the offensive line was healthy all
season long, which is very rare. K not what that
can happen? Again, that was that was major that the
Ravens were healthy on offense.
Speaker 5 (34:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (34:24):
Well the other thing too is we look at the
offensive line beyond the five likely starters, like when they
get out there, when all the rookies get integrated with
the veterans here over the course of the next couple
of weeks in practice, like that offensive line group is
basically got a double because they drafted three rookies. They
drafted Emery Jones, they drafted Garrett Dellinger, and they drafted
Carson Vincent and so all those guys are going to
(34:45):
come into the mix there and I think I think Carson,
Vincent and Dellinger are more developmental, especially Vincent as a
tackle like a little bit more developmental.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Dellinger is an LSU starter.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
I think he's more he's a depth piece for now
and developing CV and become a starter later on.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
He'd seventh round pick.
Speaker 5 (35:04):
Just like you know Andrew Vorries, right, And so that's
that's eight guys right there.
Speaker 6 (35:08):
Then you add in Bank Cleveland who you mentioned, and
Nick Samak as well, who was a late round pick
last year backup center, can also mix in at guard.
He's another guy who's in that mix too. And so,
like you know, there's a competition, like not just for
the starting jobs, but competition to make the team is
going to be really tough. Neck this, I mean, that's
gonna be one of the as I look at it
right now, I think one of the biggest battles of
(35:30):
training camp is the spots for the competition for roster
spots on the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Yeah, then you have some guys who are coming back
from the practice squad, Corey Bullock and other guys like that.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
I mean, I agree, I think and.
Speaker 5 (35:42):
Joe Noteboom as well in that mix as well. You
mentioned him.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
But like we have Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Voorhies, Tyler Linderbaum,
Daniel foul Roger Roseengard. There's what you would project is
the starting five right now. Note Boom's your number six
swing tackle. Your backup guards would Ben Cleveland and Dellinger
and Emory Jones and Emory Jones, and then Vincent makes ten.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Right, and then Nick Samak is a backup guard.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Eleven.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
Yeah, so that's eleven guys right there. And I don't
think they're gonna have eleven spots for offensive linemen on
this team. I don't know how many they're going to
have exactly, but eleven.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
You're probably looking at it coming down to a Dellinger
versus sam Ac versus Cleveland versus Cleveland competition.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
Yeah, and and of.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
Course all this is you got to stay healthy and
all this stuff. You know, there's a lot of like
caveats that you got to throw out here, and there's
a lot of time between now and.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
The Can Dellinger take snaps? Would surprise me if we
see him taking some snaps this summer.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
They look at all that, you know, and also like
they look at okay, Emory Jones. Emory Jones, remember now
was a tackle in college, but he likely projects as
a guard. Where is he taking the majority of his snaps?
Like when he gets out there and once he's healthy,
I mean that's a tough assignment. You got to get
healthy then you make the jump to the NFL, just
like we talked about with Andrew, and you're changing positions
(37:03):
like those are tough things. So like when he gets
out there in training camp, what position is you playing?
Left guard, right guard, right tackle? Like where's you playing?
All that stuff is going to be interesting to watch it.
And I and again, I think that the offensive line
is probably going to be one of the most contested
battles to make the fifty three.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
Yeah, I would agree with that anyway. Thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
As always, you can reach us at the Lounge at
Ravens dot NFL dot net.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Big Week This week, Big Week.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
The NFL schedule drops May four teams Wednesday night. That's right,
circle with that on your calendars. We'll have tons of
content as well as our.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Schedule release video, which is always fun.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Never gonna want to miss that, Yeah, so make sure
and we'll be coming back on the lounge here to
give you our full reaction to the schedule and all
the twists and turns that it gives, and then of
course the travel drifts, so looking forward to that. Thanks
for listening, we'll be back later this week.
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