OWINGS MILLS — Ravens offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Ben Cleveland are playing in new positions, and coach John Harbaugh has been impressed with their versatility.
Faalele usually plays tackle but he started at right guard in the first preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night. Cleveland is usually a guard, but he moved to center in place of the injured Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum.
Both players performed well, according to Harbaugh.
“I thought he made a jump in the game,” Harbaugh said about Faalele. “The pass protection especially – [he] was really good with his feet, punched well, stayed square, stayed in front of people – I thought he played well. I thought he especially played well in pass protection; [in the] run game he was good, too, so that was kind of a … I’d say he passed the test – passed the first test. [I want him to] keep building from there and get to the next game. We have a big week of practice this week to keep building, but I was happy with Daniel, I was happy with Ben at center.”
Ronnie Stanley is entrenched as the starting left tackle, veteran Pat Mekari and rookie Roger Rosengarten are battling for the starting job at right tackle. So, the Ravens found that Faalele’s most valuable spot could be a guard, especially with his size — 6 feet 8, 380 pounds.
Second-year player Andrew Vorhees is the prime candidate to start at left guard. Cleveland could be the main backup at that position and he is also ready to play center if Linderbaum is out for an extended period. Cleveland is in the final year of his rookie deal, and if he can play multiple positions, the Ravens could offer him a contract extension.
“I thought Ben played well at center – maybe he’s a center,” Harbaugh said. “But he can also play guard, so there was a lot of good things.”
Harbaugh did not put a specific timeline for when he will name the starters on the offensive line. The Ravens play their second preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.
“How close are we to naming it? Probably another game, maybe two games, honestly,” Harbaugh said.