OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- It's fair game to criticize the Baltimore Ravens for not doing more this offseason to bolster their depth at cornerback and safety. The Ravens, though, should be complimented for the move they didn't make at right tackle.

They could've made a more aggressive effort to re-sign Michael Oher, a former first-round pick. They could've signed a veteran free agent like Eric Winston. And they could've used a top draft pick on a tackle.

Instead, the Ravens put their faith in little-used second-year player Rick Wagner, and the 2013 fifth-round pick has been among the most improved players in football.

Consider this: Wagner is the top-rated right tackle by Pro Football Focus and Oher is the lowest-rated one.

“After I found out [Michael Oher] was leaving, that was the first thing on my mind: ‘I have a great opportunity to take over the right side,'" Wagner said. "[I am] thankful that the coaches trusted in me.”

With Wagner and guard Marshal Yanda, the Ravens have gained the NFL's most yards before contact when running to the right side. Many of the Ravens' big runs are the result of Wagner sealing off his side. Oher, meanwhile, has graded out as the league's worst run blocker on a Titans team that ranks 20th in rushing.

Wagner has allowed one sack and no quarterback hits. Oher has given up four sacks and three quarterback hits. Wagner is also quite a bargain at $495,000, especially when you compare that to Oher's $2 million base salary and $4 million signing bonus.

"Probably the thing that jumps out at me is his consistency. Rick is very consistent," coach John Harbaugh said. "He executes the techniques exactly the way that the scheme calls for. He gets it right most all the time. If he does get beat, like anybody does at times, it’s physically, and that doesn’t happen very often."

Wagner has a quiet demeanor and acknowledged that he feels more comfortable playing before a sellout crowd at Heinz Field than standing at a microphone in front of a handful of reporters. His teammates are more verbose when it comes to his play.

Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs nicknamed Wagner "the salesman" because of his name, but he made it clear that Wagner is far from ordinary.

"He has been working his tail off, and I think that’s a feel good story," Suggs said. "He showed that he can hold his own, and he has been playing phenomenal for us. You have to tip your hat off to a guy that shows up to work.

Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt was not as effusive in his praise of Oher.

"Michael has worked hard," Whisenhunt said. "He was a guy that we were glad to get in here with our team. We haven’t played as a football team as well as we want to, so we’re all working to get better."

Another difference between the tackles is mistakes. Wagner has committed one penalty, and Oher has been flagged five times.

During his five years with the Ravens, Oher was known for his penalties, especially false starts.

“I’m definitely [going to] point it out to the referee, [and say], ‘Hey, you might want to watch that just a little bit,'" Suggs said.

Oher said there was a point in free agency that he thought he would return to the Ravens, but that lasted "for a second." He immediately felt at home in Nashville, Tennessee, which is close to his hometown of Memphis.

Asked about the crowd's reaction at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Oher said, “I really don’t have a clue. I’m really not worried about it. Just playing and seeing what a visiting team had to go through, [Baltimore has] such great fans -- loud crowd. I played a lot of games there, won a lot of games. It shouldn’t be anything too bad.”