As you might have heard, the Baltimore Ravens have had some issues adjusting to a revamped offensive line. Right guard Daniel Faalele has had some noticeable struggles, but head coach John Harbaugh made it clear earlier this week that Ben Cleveland has not done anything to beat out Faalele.
“If Ben had earned the job at right guard, he would be the starting right guard,” Harbaugh told the media on Monday.
“You look at the tape, and he didn’t beat out Daniel or anybody. I think Ben is a good player. I like Ben. I want Ben to take the next step.
“He’s in his fourth year. Ben knows what he needs to do. If he wants playing time, he knows how he needs to play and how he needs to practice when he gets that chance.
“So our evaluation right now is that Daniel outplayed Ben. Just facts, straight up. Matter of fact. … If I see that Ben is playing better than Daniel, then Ben will be the starting guard. He practices every day. Just like I tell all the guys: show me.”
Well, it just does not get any more straightforward than that. Harbaugh epitomized the idea of “tell us what you think.”
But of course, Cleveland heard all this, and he won’t take it lying down. Cleveland had made it clear that he would keep fighting to try and win a starting spot.
“I feel like I’ve been my most consistent and most proactive throughout camp,” he said in an interview with the Baltimore Sun.
“It’s been a struggle having to move around positions with injuries and stuff like that. But as far as adapting to other positions and just playing where I’m asked, I feel like I’ve been extremely consistent and competitive.”
The injury situation within the position group disadvantaged Cleveland. When Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum missed a few weeks due to injury this summer, someone had to take the snaps at the position.
That job fell to Cleveland, forcing him to miss time at the position where he could conceivably see major playing time.
“There weren’t a whole lot of right guard reps taken by me during camp just because of injury and all the above,” Cleveland continued on in the interview.
“So just staying ready for when my number gets called to go in and play.”
You knew there was going to be an adjustment period and some growing pains for a line that is replacing three out of five starters. Unfortunately, the next task is a formidable Dallas Cowboys pass rush led by the All-Pro Micah Parsons.
On paper, this doesn’t seem like a “get right game” for the OL.