Courtesy: Washington Post
NFL rosters are nearly 70 percent larger right now (90 players) than they will be when the final cut is made (53 players).
Now that the draft is over, coaches can begin studying their personnel in earnest. Free agents, draft picks and veterans from last year will compete for one of the precious 53 roster spots.
It’s no surprise the Baltimore Ravens wanted to get younger and more athletic, particularly on defense. Although that’s a good goal to have, that goal comes with no guarantee a prospect will deliver.
On offense, the Ravens are pretty much intact. They traded Anquan Boldin, but locked up Joe Flacco on a long-term teal. They were also able to re-sign left tackle Bryant McKinnie, who can be very effective when he’s “on.”
In 2012, Baltimore was 17th in total defense and set a team record for points scored (398). Do the math.
Thanks to ourlads.com, we’re able to get a peak at the Ravens’ current depth chart. Although the final cuts are likely to be made on Aug. 30 (the day after the final preseason games are played), these next 116 days will pass easier with banter about who will make it and who won’t.
Defensive Line
Analysis
Baltimore’s run defense was flat out bad last year. It ranked 20th. That also caused the defense to lose the time of possession battle in most games, which caused it to burn more energy than it should have.
Brandon Williams was drafted to play the nose tackle and control the point of attack, which he did very well at Missouri Southern State.
In my opinion, Haloti Ngata’s best position is defensive tackle. I also think he’s the best defensive lineman in football, so obviously he’s capable of playing the other two positions (nose tackle, defensive end) well.
Between Ngata, Arthur Jones, Chris Canty, Marcus Spears and DeAngelo Tyson, they could probably all play each of the three positions on the defensive line.
To label Baltimore defensive linemen is relative. Each player can play multiple positions, even though they are just listed as one position on a depth chart.
Ravens coaches may want to add one more defensive lineman, but seven seems like a good number, especially given the versatility of this group.
Linebackers
Analysis
Courtesy: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
After a fax snafu and a shrewd trade in the draft, this group of linebackers doesn’t look so bad, does it?
Terrell Suggs will presumably be 100 percent healthy by the time training camp starts. Elvis Dumervil is a Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro in 2009.
Courtney Upshaw was a huge “get” in the draft last year and got better each game. Arthur Brown shows signs of being a special player and more importantly a strong leader.
Jameel McClain is a good player, but let’s hope his neck is fully healed before he gets on the field again. If he’s good to go, McClain will likely be the captain of the defense.
Albert McClellan, John Simon and Josh Bynes are really athletic players who work hard. The Ravens will need their toughness and determination this year.
Michael McAdoo is a 6’7″, 245-pound outside linebacker who looks more like a tight end in person. If he can get healthy, he can become what Dan Cody and Sergio Kindle weren’t: an explosive pass-rusher who made it after a long period of injury and doubt.
The key for McAdoo may be his mental strength. He hasn’t played football in three years (2010: suspension, 2011: injured reserve (knee), 2012: injured reserve (Achilles).
Cornerbacks
Analysis
Assuming Lardarius Webb is fully healed, the Ravens should be fine at this position.
When Webb was healthy (2011), he had better stats than Darrelle Revis, who’s considered by most to be the best cornerback in football.
From training camp through the Super Bowl, Corey Graham blanketed receivers and showcased impressive intuition in multiple big games (including two interceptions in the AFC Divisional Game at Denver).
Jimmy Smith may even move to safety (not permanently, not yet) in order to allow the most dynamic combination of defensive backs on the field at the same time.
Chykie Brown played in every game last season, which helped him a lot. He’s no longer just a special teams player.
Chris Johnson and Asa Jackson provide good depth on special teams and in third-down situations.
Safeties
Players
Analysis
Baltimore is going to ask a lot of its first-round pick, Matt Elam, this season. He looks to be the starter at free safety eventually. Thankfully, he will get to first learn from eight-year veteran Michael Huff.
James Ihedigbo is the only safety on this list who has started for the Ravens before (three starts in 2012). But as mentioned, Huff is a veteran and Elam is a star in the making.
Omar Brown is 24 and made some plays last year but is still learning. The Ravens won’t likely keep more than four safeties, and after those first three, I think Brown has the strongest bid to be the fourth.
Special Teams
Analysis
Similar to the quarterbacks, these special teams players have clearly defined roles. Justin Tucker, Sam Koch and Morgan Cox are all excellent in what they do, and they get along really well to boot.
2012 was another successful year for Koch, as he averaged the seventh-best net-yards-per-punt mark in the league.
His most important play of the year was when he purposely took a safety and eight seconds off the clock at the end of Super Bowl XLVII.
Tucker was a tremendous player for the Ravens last season. He was an undrafted free agent and shined in practice every day during camp. That momentum carried over to the regular season, as he converted 90.9 percent (30-of-33) of his field-goal attempts.
Tucker also had 49 touchbacks in 2012 (fifth-best in the league).
In other words, this group is pretty much set in stone.
