With Organized Team Activities starting this week fans may finally start to get a glimpse of just how all of the new faces on this totally revamped Ravens roster will be able to work together on the field in the coming season. “Next Man Up” has been the mantra of the Ravens organization for the past several years so, who needs to shine in 2013 for Baltimore to continue their run of consistent success?
I’ve got six players in mind, but of course you may have others. As always feel free to post them on the board (here) or in the comments below.
Tandon Doss- The time has come for the third-year receiver to take on a increased role now that he is no longer stuck on the depth chart. With Anquan Boldin gone he seems like a natural to fit for his position in the offense. He has good size at 6’2″, can line up inside or outside and a reputation for decent hands to make tough catches over the middle. In limited action last season he had 7 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown and I expect Doss to get the first chance to prove that he can do more given the opportunity and should emerge from a crowded field of contenders with little experience on the field.
Arthur Brown- There is a lot of excitement surrounding Baltimore’s second round draft pick. As a result of circumstances beyond his control he’ll be asked to contribute immediately much like fellow rookie Matt Elam on a new-look and hopefully improved defense. But how much can we truly expect out of the Kansas St. star? If Jameel McClain is healthy and that’s still a big “IF” at this point I would expect him to quarterback the defense until Brown has his feet wet. Otherwise he could be thrust into the role right away out of necessity. Will he be able to handle those responsiblities and produce at a starter level right away? He might have to.
Jimmy Smith-The former first round pick has been plagued by injuries the first two seasons of his pro career. He’s big and fast and has shown glimpses of tremendous skill but it’s time to start talking about his production instead of potential. With Lardarius Webb recovering from his second ACL tear and Cary Williams moving on the Ravens need him to contribute now more than ever.
Bryant McKinnie-Despite a rocky relationship over the past two seasons the Ravens and McKinnie decided that it was better for both of them if they stayed together. After signing a 2-year deal all that remains is for McKinnie to show that he’s the player that was dominant during the playoffs on a consistent basis during the regular season. His signing was vital because it now allows the offensive line situation to settle itself with Osemele at Left Guard, (where he should be) Oher and Yanda anchoring the right side and either Gino Gradkowski or A.Q. Shipley taking over for Matt Birk. If McKinnie has his weight and work-ethic issues behind him his performance should also have a positive impact on signal caller Joe Flacco who had hardly a scratch on him in the last four games.
Terrence Cody- Cody is still recovering from hip surgery and seems to be progressing well however he won’t be able to participate in OTAs and is instead aiming to be ready for Training camp. And he’ll need to be ready since he’s coming off a disappointing 2012 where he was pushed around too much and the Ravens have added several defensive lineman in the off-season as well as drafting 345 pound monster Brandon Williams. Is the handwriting already on the wall that Cody’s time may be up in Baltimore?
Joe Flacco- After signing one of the richest contracts in NFL history and winning his first Super Bowl trophy expectations will be off the charts for this season. Over his five years in Baltimore he still has his detractors and he always will but it’s still hard to project just how much more we should expect him to improve over the regular season in 2013. After an all-world playoff performance where he truly led the team to a title can he show those same skills over a seventeen week season? With vocal leaders like Ray Lewis and Anquan Boldin now gone how much more of a leadership role will Flacco take on? Stats are always something that people use to measure players and to compare them to each other. While Flacco has been a proven winner statistically he don’t possess the gaudy numbers that others in his class might. For example, he hasn’t thrown for more than 25 touchdowns in a season and for a player with such money invested in him the expectation would be on getting greater return on that investment.
Matt has lived in Maryland his entire life and is a graduate of Calvert Hall and Towson University. has always been an avid Baltimore sports fan. Since 2007, he has been writing and talking about Baltimore sports, especially the Ravens. His work has appeared on Ravens Gab, Russell Street Report, and he currently co-hosts a podcast “The Blitz- A Ravens podcast” with Brent Harris.