It's easy to stare at Vega Ioane, flash forward to games in January (or February), and ask if he has the stuff to line up across from a guy like recently-unretired Aaron Donald. As most know, if that were to occur this season, he and his Baltimore Ravens teammates would be doing so on the grandest stage football has to offer.
Until then, there's a regular season to prepare for. It's wise not to look too far ahead. The first-round draftee spent the summer competing along the interior offensive line and preparing for the challenge of protecting Lamar Jackson and creating running lanes for Derrick Henry.
But Baltimore may be preparing Ioane for more than one role. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, he revealed that he recently took snaps at center
during practice after assistant offensive line coach Shawn Flaherty encouraged him to continue expanding his versatility.
"I'm just staying ready. Coach 'Flats' came up to me yesterday saying, 'Get a couple in. You never know what can happen.'"
The comment was brief, but it offered a glimpse into how the Ravens view offensive line depth heading into the season. Baltimore has spent the offseason rebuilding portions of its offensive front, and versatility has become one of the most valuable traits an offensive lineman can possess. Injuries inevitably test depth over the course of a 17-game season, and players capable of filling multiple roles often become critical pieces of a roster.
Ioane acknowledged that there is still plenty to learn as he prepares for his first NFL season, but he believes his development has moved in the right direction throughout training camp.
"I feel ready to go. For me, there are a lot of things I have to fix in my game, a lot of things to learn. We still have a little over a week until we play, so using that time to my advantage to get ready for it as much as possible, but I feel pretty good."
Ioane also credited veteran teammates for accelerating his growth, specifically mentioning Danny Pinter's influence before his injury.
"He taught me a lot playing center and guard, things like that."
Whether those center reps are ever needed remains to be seen. It's impossible to tell if they will be, and the Ravens hope they never have to find out. Still, contenders survive long seasons by preparing for problems before they appear, and Baltimore's coaching staff appears to be doing exactly that. While fans focus on Ioane's potential as a first-round starter, the Ravens are quietly making sure he can be much more than that.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens rookie Vega Ioane is preparing to provide depth at center
