Okay, you’re coming off a Lombardi Trophy winning season… You’ve already announced that last year’s Super Bowl victory means nothing to what is relevant now. You’ve lost 12 players to free agency or retirement. You’re doing everything the right way to avoid the dreaded Super Bowl relapse…
But you forge ahead…
I like the “teen spirit” of the Ravens going into 2013 training camp. It seems that they get the big picture. They know what is required of the organization to at least make a valid attempt to repeat the success of 2012— despite the loss of some key pieces.
I turn to the pages of one of the best regional sports blogs out there right now— Baltimore Sports and Life.com…
These guys get it. And yes, I am a tad partial to their coverage of the Ravens, because my young nephew Luke Jackson is on staff now as a Baltimore Orioles baseball analyst after a nice collegiate career at the University of Maryland.
But I digress..
Here is their football writer Mike Randall’s expert analysis of the most likely prospects of the Ravens going into the first week of NFL training camp:
Ravens depth chart 3.0
Photo courtesy of The Baltimore Sun
Mini-camps and OTAs are through, so we won’t see our Ravens suited up and practicing until training camp begins on July 21st. Since the first wave of practice broke, here is the depth chart you can expect entering training camp. These are what I believe to be the top 60 men in line to make the team, with the seven guys on the bubble of making the final 53-man roster. New additions to this season’s squad are denoted in bold. Players on the bubble are denoted with an asterisk*.
Discuss your opinion on the depth chart, and bubble guys on our message board.
QB-Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor, Caleb Hanie* RB- Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Anthony Allen FB- Kyle Juszczyk (4) TE- Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, Billy Bajema WR- Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, Deonte Thompson, Tandon Doss, David Reed, Aaron Mellete (7), Laquan Williams*, Tommy Streeter* LT- Bryant McKinne, Ramon Harewood, Ricky Wagner (5) LG- Kelechi Osemele, Jah Reid C- A.Q. Shipley, Gino Gradkowski, Ryan Jensen (6)* RG- Marshall Yanda, Jah Reid RT- Michael Oher, Ramon Harewood, Ricky Wagner DE- Marcus Spears, Arthur Jones, Pernell McPhee, John Simon (4) Deangelo Tyson* DT- Haloti Ngata, Chris Canty, Brandon Williams (3), Terrence Cody* OLB- Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, Courtney Upshaw, Albert McClellan. MLB- Daryl Smith, Arthur Brown (2), Josh Bynes, Albert McClellan, Bryan Hall, Jameel McClain* CB- Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, Corey Graham (Nickel), Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson, Chris Johnson, Michael Huff SS- Matt Elam (1), Michael Huff, James Ihedigbo, Marc Anthony (7) FS- Michael Huff, Matt Elam, Christian Thompson (Suspended) K- Justin Tucker P- Sam Koch LS- Morgan CoxChanges since the last depth chart:
Offense: Vonta Leach was released after the team and Leach couldn’t agree on a reduced salary. That makes Kyle Juszczyk the feature FB. Billy Bajema was resigned by the team following the Leach cut, and will serve as the teams 3rd TE. This move bumps Matt Furstenburg off the bubble.
Defense: Daryl Smith was signed by the Ravens in the wake of Arthur Brown’s injury, and a not quite healthy yet Jameel McClain. Pertaining to McClain, Dean Peas noted that the starting MLB job is McClain’s to lose once he is healthy. That was before the Daryl Smith signing. Chris Canty moves ahead of rookie Brandon Williams. Coaches seem very impressed with Canty early in mini-camp. Adrian Hamilton suffered a muscle contusion that doesn’t appear to be serious. However, he has fallen off the bubble
Seven guys on the 53-man bubble:
Caleb Hanie – On the bubble should Coach Harbaugh want to roll with just 2 QBs given Flacco’s durability. Emergency QB in the past, Anquan Boldin, is no longer here. Tommy Streeter, Laquan Williams – The Ravens carried just six WRs last season. A lot of guys will be challenging for a couple spots as a true WR. Most of the young guys will take their licks on special teams, especially if a veteran is brought in. I can’t see the Ravens trying to pass Mellete through waivers to the practice squad since he received draft grades as high as the fourth round, whereas Streeter and Williams need to prove that they are not expendable. Ryan Jensen – If the Ravens fall in love with A.Q. Shipley, as well as Gino Gradkowski, I can’t see them carrying three centers. Deangelo Tyson, Terrence Cody – Tyson has some tough competition coming from John Simon who could be used in a Paul Kruger role as a third down pass rusher. Also the addition of Marcus Spears creates a log jam at DE. Brandon Williams could be what we were hoping Terrence Cody would have been. With the bolstered line, Cody really needs to impress to stick around and make the coaches make a tough decision on his future. Jameel McClain –Not that he’ll get cut, but Jameel still hasn’t been cleared by doctors for full contact. An outside chance he goes on the PUP list and unavailable until week 6. If he looks to be on the roster week 1, move the asterisk to maybe a CB like Chris Johnson.Next four out:
Omar Brown – S Adrian Hamilton – OLB Matt Furstenburg – TE Bobby Rainey – RBPost OTA/Mini-camp injury round up:
Haloti Ngata – Limited in OTAs, rehabbing that sprained knee he suffered in the Super Bowl. Lardarius Webb – Limited in OTAs, participated in individual drills, and is ahead of schedule with his rehab. Marshall Yanda – Didn’t participate in OTAs following offseason surgery on his shoulder. Jameel McClain – Participated in individual drills, not cleared for more than that after suffering a spinal cord contusion. Arthur Brown – Should be ready by camp after sports hernia surgery. It bothered him in 2012, so having it repaired should only make him better. Pernell McPhee – Full participant after offseason groin surgery. Albert McClellan – Sidelined for OTAs following offseason surgery on a torn labrum. Ed Dickson – Suffered a strained groin, but was sidelined as a precautionary measure, nothing serious. Terrence Cody – Sat out OTAs recovering from offseason hip surgery. Jah Reid – Full participant after toe surgery that put him on IR in the end of 2012.
With the exception of McClain, whose timetable for a return is unknown, all players are expected to be full participants in training camp.
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