QUARTERBACK: Troy Smith vs. Kyle Boller vs. Joe Flacco
Uncertainty always clouds Baltimore’s quarterback slot, and this season is no different. There is no incumbent. All three quarterbacks have a legitimate chance to win the job. Considering that a new offensive system is being installed, all of the quarterbacks have to absorb the playbook at the same pace.
The question is which quarterback is the best fit in Cam Cameron’s offense? Cameron’s quarterbacks need touch to loft the long ball and lead swings and dump-offs to tailbacks coming out of the backfield.
Smith appears to have the slight advantage, given his mobility and decision-making skills. Boller has the arm to make the types of throws needed to be completed in Cameron’s scheme, but he is also wildly erratic as an intermediate passer, and he is turnover prone.
The wildcard is obviously Flacco. Concerns regarding Flacco’s inexperience handling the ball from under center could be squelched, given that the quarterback in Cameron’s offense handles a lot of snaps from the gun. In addition, Flacco is the best downfield passer on the team.
And the winner is: Realistically, this contest will be won by either Smith or Boller. Boller’s time has run out. Under Smith, the offense has a better chance to run efficiently. Smith manages the clock better, gets the offense moving at a quicker pace and is less of a liability to lose yardage for the team, by getting sacked or mishandling the ball. Those plus points that Smith offers and Boller doesn’t gives the edge to the second year QB and it gives the Ravens a better chance to win on Sunday.
RUNNING BACK: Ray Rice vs. Cory Ross vs. P.J. Daniels
In Ray Rice, the Ravens have an intriguing prospect who has the chance to be special. Rice is an explosive runner with deceptive power and wiggle. Although he is diminutive (5-foot-9, 195-pounds), Rice packs a wallop because he hits the hole hard and keeps his pads low. He appears to be the perfect third-down back to spell Willis McGahee. Rice will not be handed the job, though. He’ll have to pry it away from Ross and Daniels.
Ross made a solid impression in the season finale against Pittsburgh. He is a compact runner with good open-field awareness. He could serve as a receiving option on screens, but his ability to pick up the blitz on third down is questionable.
Then there is Daniels, who has not seen the field in two seasons. Daniels was projected to develop as a primary backup to McGahee but he has been plagued by the injury bug. When he is healthy, Daniels is a quick runner with the ability to elude tacklers.
The scouts have raved about his potential since he was drafted. Now is the time for Daniels to prove them right.
And the winner is: As long as Rice shows that he can handle pass protection duties on third down, he should be able to hold off Ross and Daniels for the chance to earn scavenger carries behind McGahee. As Rice gets more and more comfortable in the offense, he will become a major cog in the Ravens’ rushing attack.
WIDE RECEIVER: Mark Clayton vs. Demetrius Williams
Clayton and Williams were on the mend for much of the ‘07 campaign, so neither player was able to establish himself as the clear No.2 option behind Derrick Mason.
Of the two, Clayton may have the most to prove. After posting a career best in yardage and receptions in ‘06, Clayton had an injury and mistake riddled follow-up season. With a new coaching staff in place, Clayton is not assured of anything.
A lot was expected of Williams as well, but he played in only nine games. In Cam Cameron’s offense, there is potential for Williams to flourish. He has the size, length and leaping ability to be a true vertical threat. The issue with Williams is whether he is strong enough to sustain a steady barrage of punishment for an entire season without breaking down.
And the winner is: Both players will be winners since Cameron is likely to use a lot of three-wide sets. Still, Williams will end up being the guy lined up wide when the offense is in a two-wide look. Clayton’s game is more suited for the slot. He is shifty and moves quickly in close quarters, so he’ll be better at sitting down on routes against zone coverage. Meanwhile, Williams is a natural fit to run the deep in routes, fly routes and go routes that are staples in Cameron’s offense. He’ll benefit from the coverage that Heap and Mason will draw underneath.
LINEBACKER: Tavares Gooden vs. Prescott Burgess vs. Bart Scott (Mike/Will)
The Ravens run a hybrid 3-4/4-3 scheme. Depending on the shift, the weak-side backer will slide closer to the middle next to the Mike or he will hover wider, in front of the left tackle.
On paper, this is a role that Scott can aptly fulfill. He has the range, athleticism and power to take on blockers, drop into coverage pockets or rove from sideline-to-sideline. But last year, Scott had too many mental lapses. He seemed to react improperly at times, and was caught out of position, especially in coverage situations. He also missed too many tackles.
The coordinators will try to use Scott more as a blitzer, which is how he was used the year before.
It will be interesting to see how Scott plays at the beginning of the season because Gooden and Burgess will be nipping at his heels for playing time. Despite the fact that Gooden is an incoming rookie, he is a playmaker with the versatility to play inside or outside.
Meanwhile, Burgess displayed better coverage range and quickness than anticipated. He was lost for half of the ‘07 season due to a hip injury. If Burgess is completely healthy, he will also make a strong push for playing time. The former Wolverine is a hard-hitter who is not afraid to throw his body around.
If Scott should falter, defensive coordinator Rex Ryan may not hesitate to make a quick switch using either player.
And the winner is: Scott will have every opportunity to keep his job, and he will have a bounce back season in his final year with the team. Gooden and Burgess are the future and it would not be a surprise if Ryan used them in various defensive packages. If Scott is unable to stay on the field for any given reason, he will lose his job and never get it back again.
LINEBACKER: Jarret Johnson vs. Antwan Barnes vs. Edgar Jones (Sam)
During the first quarter of the 2007 season, Johnson – the player whom everyone was watching on the defensive side of the ball – was the most productive defender on the team. As the season progressed, Johnson’s play began to unravel and he was not as consistent as he had been before.
Johnson was picked on when he floated into space. From the strong-side spot, Johnson was not able to get as much pressure as a pass-rusher as he needed to.
What Johnson does best is crash through gaps and push through blocks to stuff the run. In fact, Johnson brought more tenacity and physicality to the run defense than his predecessor, Adalius Thomas.
Still, Johnson will need to bring more dimensions to his game. Like Scott, Johnson will also be under the gun to perform well or he could lose his job.
Barnes is perhaps the team’s best pure pass-rusher. He predominantly played with his hand down, on third down. Barnes was a force at times, especially on a Monday Night against the Patriots. As he is improving as an edge rusher, Barnes will also need to show some light coverage skills if he is to take on more of a linebacker role this season.
Jones is an intriguing prospect who will likely play as strictly a defensive end when the team uses more four-man fronts. Still, Jones has the athleticism to play standing up. He is a raw defender who will need to improve his technique and recognition to garner more playing time.
And the winner is: Neither Barnes nor Jones is a complete enough linebacker to take Johnson’s full-time spot in the lineup. Barnes may have a chance later in the year, if he improves his run defense and his coverage skills.
CORNERBACK: Samari Rolle vs. Fabian Washington
The Ravens did not bring in Washington through a trade with Oakland simply to compete for the nickel position. He will also be expected to push Rolle.
The grizzled veteran took a pay cut to stick around for another season. This could very well be his last season as an NFL corner.
Rolle displayed tremendous courage when he played through bouts of epilepsy. It was clear that when he was in the lineup, the defense, especially on the back end, was in much better shape.
Still, Rolle’s health is a major question mark going into the season. Even when healthy, Rolle has struggled in man-to-man coverage situations. His technique and instincts are still sound, but his recovery speed is not what it used to be.
Washington was a player worth gambling on. At worst, he could end up being a solid backup, capable of providing the type of depth that the team sorely lacked a season ago. At best, he could regain the form he had before ‘07, when he was a steady starter for the Raiders.
And the winner is: When Rolle plays, the Ravens are a much better defensive outfit. Unless he breaks down physically, he should continue to play on the outside on first and second down. On third down, the team could slide Rolle to the inside to serve as the nickel, just as they did in a couple of games last season. In these situations, Washington could be a better option to handle defending the sideline.
SAFETY: Tom Zbikowski vs. Haruki Nakamura vs. Jim Leonhard
Aside from quarterback, this could be the fiercest training camp battle that takes place.
Between Zbikowski, Nakamura and Leonhard, the team has three talented safeties behind Ed Reed and Dawan Landry. Unlike a year ago, the front office made sure to stock up on the position to improve depth and provide greater flexibility to the coaches.
Unless Zbikowski is a major dud during the preseason, he will land one of the backup jobs. In fact, expect Zbikowski to be used in certain coverage packages as a hybrid linebacker/safety. He will also be counted on to be a major cog for the special teams.
Given that the Ravens will definitely keep five corners, if not six, it is highly unlikely that both Leonhard and Nakamura will make the team. Both players are potential special teams contributors. The difference is that Leonhard has experience in the league while Nakamura has yet to play a down.
And the winner is: Whether the Ravens keep the veteran or rookie will depend on their view of Nakamura as a prospect. If Nakamura plays well during the preseason, he should get the nod, considering he may have potential to be more than a backup some time in the future. The same cannot be said of Leonhard, who is strictly a quality backup.
