Baltimore coach Brian Billick was so impressed with the performance of rookie left tackle Jared Gaither during his team?s 29-3 victory over Philadelphia on Monday, he wanted to watch it again.
“I?ve got to look at the film,” Coach Brian Billick said. “But obviously for Jared to step in and do what he did at that left tackle spot on a drive like that, I would imagine it’s going to be fun to watch.”
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Gaither stormed out of the players? tunnel as his name was announced to the crowd of 71,060 at M&T Bank Stadium, marking the his arrival to the big time after he almost ended up in obscurity.
Gaither played for the University of Maryland the past two seasons before he was declared academically ineligible to play this fall, which caused him to enter the NFL?s Supplemental Draft last month. The Supplemental Draft is open to players who did not enter the regular draft because they thought they were academically eligible to play college football. The Ravens selected the 6-foot-9, 350-pound Gaither in the fifth round, meaning they will lose a fifth round pick in next year?s regular draft.
Gaither has made the most of his second chance, as he has established himself as one of the team?s top linemen and has filled in for future Hallof Famer Jonathan Ogden, who is expected to miss most of training camp nursing a toe injury.
“It was like a dream come true,” Gaither said. “Everybody dreams of that. For me to come to come and perform pretty well, it was a blessing.”
Ogden, who has been on the physically unable to perform list throughout training camp because of a hyper extended toe suffered last season, was on the sidelines watching Gaither against the Eagles. Gaither?s start was somewhat surprising, considering Marshal Yanda, who the team selected in the third round in the regular draft his past April, had been getting more time with the first team in recent practices.
Gaither, who was pleased with his overall performance against the Eagles, said is still adjusting to difference in speed between the NFL and college levels.
“There?s a number of things I could have done better, but this was definitely a good preseason game,” Gaither said. “There’s definitely some time to give me some film to work off of and I?m looking forward to that.”
