Early Camp Battles and Depth Chart – Offense

With the 2015 NFL Draft in the books, let’s review what the Ravens Offensive Depth Chart currently looks like, and preview the likely battles to watch in Training Camp.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

QB
Starter: Flacco

Backup: Schaub 

The Ravens appear all but set at QB, with a dearth of draft picks the latter spots on the roster are going to be rather tight. It’s not only going to be somewhat of a dogfight for some positions but just for roster spots. As they have in past seasons, I do not expect there to be a meaningful battle for QB3.

WR
Starter: Smith, Perriman
If the Ravens don’t add another veteran WR this offseason, Perriman is going to be the guy. His hands in minicamp were said to be solid and he’s a guy that looks as fast as his times.

Backups: Campanaro, Aiken, Brown
This is the biggest battle of the camp to me. If I had to guess these guys will all be guaranteed spots Brown and Aiken both played roles on special teams last year and both did an admirable job. It’s likely they will reprise these roles or at a minimum have an edge because of their already declared willingness to play ST. My best guess is that Brown/Aiken split the reps the Ravens will try and work in for Smith to keep him rested. But who sees the most reps, will Brown finally be used in the red zone. Will Aiken continue to provide steady production? There will be reps there for when Smith gets banged up and as Perriman is learning on the job. And one of these guys will need to step into the role. 

My surprise (or perhaps not) is Campanaro gets the most snaps on offense of these three. I think his role will be come vital, and in 3 WR sets with Williams and he being able to work open spaces in the middle of the field, I think we’ll see more passes between the hash marks for Flacco this season as Trestman will continue to have Perriman/Smith stretch the field on the outside.

Fighting for a spot: Aldrick Robinson, Jeremy Butler, DeAndre Carter, Darren Waller, Cam Worthy.

There’s likely only two spots here. Do you remember Jeremy Butler, he kept showing up in the preseason last year. Including six catches, 50 yards and a TD. He’s a 4.5 guy and with Campanaro and Perriman speed might not be what he needs to stick around. At 6’2” he’s got the makings of a Trestman WR. I think he’s got the inside shot at the 6th spot to actually be on the roster.

Darren Waller, will be Butler’s biggest competition for this spot. He’s Butler but a bit better in appearance at every spot. He’s taller, about .05 faster in the 40 and he’s raw. My guess is he’s on the team or the IR for sure though. The trick is going to be can he or Butler play ST. If neither of them can, I don’t see the Ravens carrying 7 WRs. If one, or both can, I think there’s a chance.

Robinson is lightning fast but just can’t seem to stick anywhere. Carter is known to be quick off the line but at 5’8” I don’t see him making this roster. Worthy appears to be PS material, I’m guessing we don’t see a lot of him and they stash him since no one saw too much of him because of injuries for pro work outs.

Running Back/Fullback
Starter: Justin Forsett/Juszczyk
Can he stay healthy? Will Juszczyk have a signifcant role? I think that’s the biggest two questions for RBs. I was surprised/impressed by Forsett’s durability last year, but let’s be honest, he really wore down at the end of the year and showed some injury. 

How much will Juice (I’m not spelling that a third time) get on the field. I think we see him more early in the season and less and less as the WR and Joe get comfortable. If Campanaro stays healthy, he’s going to steal reps from Juice, even if we are running a lot. 

Backups: Taliaferro and Allen
Taliaferro was a very good special teamer last year and could finally emerge as the short yardage back that makes sense for him. Allen seems destined to be a quality 3rd down back if we need one, just depends on his blocking ability. All three guys are relatively versatile and could be used interchangeably. It makes me think that we’re all set for the RB spot and the other guys will land on the practice squad.

Fighting for spots: Magee and Toussaint
In the past Touissant only was rostered when he was needed, he spent some time on the practice squad. The former Michigan starter is unlikely to make the squad unless he can claim his role in Special Teams which may be a particular area of need based on the WR situation. He was called up when the Ravens needed him last year, I’d expect to see him in a similar role next year. 

Magee seems like a jack of all trades, decent hands for a RB, played some WR and picked the Ravens over the Falcons…Not a lot of hope here.

TE
Starter: Pitta, Williams
Obviously a lot rides on Pitta’s health, but how happy would the Ravens be if they can rotate these two guys at the TE1 spot this year. Or even in some passing sets go with two potential pass catching TE’s. I’m skeptical we ever see Pitta return to form, but comfort-ability seems to be lacking in Joe’s pass receivers and if Pitta plays, we’ll see Joe forcing him the ball some this year.

More realistically, you expect Pitta to start the year on the PUP for roster space which really opens up room for Gilmore to take a more prominent role if Williams isn’t ready. I leave Pitta as a starter because it’s pure boom or bust. He’s either the starter, or he just isn’t healthy and he’s on the IR. 

Backups: Gilmore, Boyle
I’ll say that another interesting battle is going to come down to being Supernaw vs Boyle. Supernaw knows the system and is a guy that seems to stick around. But Boyle seems tough as nails and he and Gilmore could be a really interesting set of jumbo package guys. The Ravens obviously liked Boyle enough to seem to be a drafting out of the blue. I think they want him in the locker room and he’s a guy they think plays like a Raven. 

This means it’s likely the Ravens carry 3 or 4 TEs. That’s sucking up some more roster space though. It’s a lot of insurance to carry for Pitta. Boyle might end up on the PS, but who knows if he makes it there and doesn’t get snatched up.

Fighting for a spot: Supernaw, Reuland, Resiner

Supernaw’s the favorite here. Reuland has bounced around the league and likely won’t stick, Reisner has been around less and hasn’t seemed to stick either. These guys are all gone, with Supernaw being a wildcard if Pitta shows injury/rust. He’s a guy that the Ravens will be able to go back and out and get even if they don’t start the year with him on the team.

C/G
Starter: Zuttah/Yanda/Osemele
This is going to be a big battle to me. The Ravens like Urcshel and he brings versatility and depth. He looked better than Zuttah who at times really got beat the point of attack last year. I think he holds onto his job, but if he gets hurt, he better watch out.

Backups: Urschel, Jensen
Urschel is going to push everyone. And Jensen who was an early favorite finally seems healthy now that he’s been diagnosed for with the breathing disorder and seems to be getting better. They seemed to really like him at first, so let’s see if the injury was part of what held him back. 

Fighting for a spot: Myers, Clausell, Easton
I think Myers has a season ending injury at the end of training camp. Claussell seems destined to move inside or back up RT if anything. Easton is said to be smart and mobile a good fit for zone blocking. He’s going to have a tough time getting onto the team that with Urschel/Jensen/Myers seemingly clearly ahead of him. I think he or Claussell gets onto the PS though.

Tackle
Starter: Monroe/Wagner
These guys are pretty much uncontested as starters. 

Backups: Hurst, Reid
Is Reid really still around? I’d love to see the Ravens fill his spot with someone that’s got more upside. 

Fighting for a spot: Wesley, Baldwin, Claussell
Baldwin has a great frame, but not a lot of mobility, which seems to make him a bad fit. Wesley had a good broad jump and vertical and anchored the line for BYU. I put Claussell here too because there’s some flexibility in his game. I’d take Wesley and Claussell as the guys that get to the PS or roster of the bunch for early appearances.