Marshal Yanda - NFL playoff performer

The University of Iowa has sent many good offensive linemen to the NFL over the last two decades. Another has emerged who is making a big impact, one who didn't go into the pros with as much fanfare as several other ex-Hawkeye blockers.

Marshal Yanda of Anamosa had himself a day Sunday in his Baltimore Ravens' 33-14 pounding of the New England Patriots.

Wrote Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun:

The Patriots will see guard Marshal Yanda pulling down the line in their sleep.

Right guard Yanda had a particularly effective block on Ray Rice's 83-yard touchdown run that opened the game's scoring.

From Dan Kolko of MASNsports.com:

On the game's first play from scrimmage, Rice got a carry on a play that he calls a "slow to, fast through". He hesitated getting to the hole on the right side, but got a great seal from right guard Marshal Yanda and center Matt Birk, and busted through the line.

That was echoed by Michael Vega of the Boston Globe.

Capitalizing on the crisp blocking of center Matt Birk and right guard Marshal Yanda, who teamed up to wall off Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork and put him on his ample backside, Rice took the scenic route to the end zone, going 83 yards for a touchdown that gave the Ravens a 7-0 lead just 17 seconds into yesterday's 33-14 blowout.

“I think to start off with the big run was a statement by our offensive line and by Ray,'' said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whose team snapped a five-game losing streak to the Patriots and avenged a 27-21 loss at Gillette Oct. 4. “To start the run by the offensive line and to finish it the way Ray did, obviously, that was a huge statement.''