Willie Anderson said he’s spent his career chasing left tackle Jonathan Ogden.
They entered the NFL as first-round draft picks in 1996 and until recently, had played their entire careers in the same division, with Anderson in Cincinnati and Ogden in Baltimore.
But even as Ogden enjoys retirement before being enshrined in the Hall of Fame, Anderson, who is expected to make his debut for the Ravens on Sunday afternoon at 4:15 against the visiting Browns, still believes he’s trying to catch one of the greatest players in Baltimore history.
“I’m still chasing J.O.,” Anderson said. “I patterned myself after him and his game. He made this line better for years, and I wanted to do the same thing in Cincinnati.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he has liked what he’s seen so far from Anderson, a four-time Pro Bowl selection the Bengals waived last month. A few days later, the Ravens signed the 6-foot-5, 345-pounder to a three-year, $11 million contract. Anderson did not play in the Ravens’ season-opening, 17-10 win over the Bengals on Sept. 7.
“He plays as a real mauler, no doubt about it, but his personality is kind of quiet and cerebral — a student of the game,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been great with our guys as far as some of those fine points that only a player of his caliber could really give to the younger players.”
Harbaugh, however, has not indicated if Anderson will start against Cleveland (0-2). But if Anderson replaces Adam Terry at right tackle, his 13 years of NFL experience are three more than the rest of the line —left tackle Jared Gaither, guards Marshal Yanda and Ben Grubbs and center Jason Brown — combined.
“With no older guy on our line, Willie brings us a lot of experience,” Yanda said. “He’ll definitely give us a lot of insight after playing 12 years in the league. He knows a lot of stuff just by playing for so long and he help us out a great deal.”
But Anderson’s presence on the line likely would cause Terry to move to left tackle — the position that protects the quarterback’s blind side — and force Gaither to come off the bench.
“I’d do anything for this team,” Terry said. “Just to be a part of it is a heck of a deal. It’s great to have him around and it adds some veteran leadership to a young offensive line. He’s been around the block. This is not his first rodeo.”
Anderson said it will take time for him to adjust to playing for the Ravens. He also needs to prove he’s the same, Pro Bowl-caliber player after missing nine games last season because of an injured knee.
“I never talked about health as an issue until I took a thing to the knee last year for the first time in my career,” Anderson, who made 116 straight starts before the injury, said. It’s funny to me talking about health and being questioned about health status because I always prided myself in being ready to play every game.”
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