How good is this year’s corps of Ravens wide receivers?

“Entering the 2012 season, the Ravens may have the best group of receivers they’ve ever seen,” wrote Jason Butt.

With a stable of depth at the position, combined with the Ravens looking to implement a faster tempo with the no-huddle offense, there’s a chance the team keeps six receivers.

But only four are “locks” to make the team, says the CBSSports.com scribe.

The first three are pretty much indisputable: Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones.

Boldin had another standout performance in practice yesterday, making catches with a cornerback draped on his back. “After one of them, a Ravens PR person predicted that Boldin could be in for nice yr,” tweeted Carroll County Times’ Matt Zenitz.

Smith is a burner, but has added more weapons to his game and is looking to become a more complete receiver. Jones is supposed to be what Lee Evans couldn’t become last year – a speedy outside complement to Smith to help keep defenses honest.

Usually columnists say the competition gets a little murky after those first three players, but Butt is the first I’ve seen to declare second-year receiver LaQuan Williams as the “lock” at No. 4.

“Rarely has Williams dropped a pass in training camp,” wrote Butt. “Not only that, but some of the passes Williams has caught have been nothing short of outstanding. During the NFL lockout, Williams was working at a paint store and thought about enlisting in the military. Now he’s got a good chance of entering the WR rotation on Sundays.”

Now here’s where the battle gets interesting, says Butt, with one or two open spots remaining for four “bubble” players.

Tandon Doss “should make the team again” despite a hamstring injury limiting his training camp.

Doss leaves one potential spot remaining, which Butt currently gives to rookie free agent Deonte Thompson over sixth-round choice Tommy Streeter. David Reed is then projected to go on either PUP or IR.

“Thompson has made the most of each opportunity so far and has continued to receive reps, primarily with the second team,” Butt explains. “He’s got excellent speed and is a fluid route-runner. Like most rookies, he just has to work on consistency. He can contribute on special teams in both coverage and return units, and he could be an emergency return specialist.

“Streeter has yet to prove he belongs on the roster. Yet, at 6-feet-5, 220 pounds, he has ideal size as a wideout. He also has blazing straight-ahead speed. Coach John Harbaugh has described Streeter as a project, and his potential could be too much to risk placing [him] on the practice squad.”

Lock No. 1: Anquan Boldin
Lock No. 2: Torrey Smith
Lock No. 3: Jacoby Jones
Lock No. 4: LaQuan Williams
Bubble No. 5: Tandon Doss
Bubble No. 6: Deonte Thompson
Bubble No. 7: Tommy Streeter
Bubble No. 8: David Reed

Pats To Go 16-0? Not If Ravens Have Anything To Say About It

Last month, CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco made a bolddddd prediction: the New England Patriots will have a perfect 16-0 record in 2012.

Turns out, ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker saw Prisco at a Miami Dolphins practice this week and challenged the columnist’s projection.

“Point out a game they’re expected to lose,” Prisco responded to Walker.

So he did.

And the No. 1 team on his list to beat the Patriots? The Baltimore Ravens, of course, with a 60 percent chance of beating the Pats in an AFC championship rematch.

“Yes, the Ravens won’t have reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who is out with an Achilles injury, ” Walker wrote. “But I can tell you from experience that Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium is one of the NFL’s toughest venues for road teams. The Patriots will need their “A” game to beat the Ravens in their home stadium.

“This may end up being the toughest game on New England’s schedule.”

Below is a list of all the teams Walker thinks could beat New England, and their percent chance of doing so:

• Pats at Ravens: 60 percent chance of winning
• Pats at Bills: 40 percent chance of winning
• Texans at Pats: 40 percent chance of winning
• Broncos at Pats: 30 percent chance of winning
• Pats at Jets: 30 percent chance of winning
• 49ers at Pats: 30 percent chance of winning

Carr Reminded About Value Of Punter

Undrafted rookie linebacker Nigel Carr is trying to make this Ravens roster.

He knows he has to prove his worth on special teams if he’s going to get that chance, so he’s going all-out on every play.

But he may have gone overboard in Tuesday’s practice when he rushed from the left side of the defensive line to attempt to block a Sam Koch punt.  

“Immediately afterward, [Special Teams Coordinator Jerry] Rosburg grabbed Carr and spoke to him for an extended period of time,” wrote Edward Lee.

Carr confirmed that Rosburg gave him a little talk about the value of the punter.

“He told me, ‘Don’t injure the kicker,’” Carr told Lee. “But that’s part of it. As a rookie, you try to do everything right. Even on the scout team, you know that everything counts. I just told him, ‘Yes, sir, won’t happen again.’ And I moved on with my practice.

“If they see you doing that on scout team, they’ll know you really want to be here and that you really want to be on the team. A person in my position, an undrafted guy, it’s going to be hard to make this 53-man roster. So I have to do everything right. It’s not as much the defense right now. It’s more about special teams, going out there and really being perfect on special teams. That’s what’s going to put my foot in the door.”

Allen, Berry Not Relinquishing Backup RB Role

Right now, analysts’ popular picks for the No. 2 and 3 running back spots are third-round pick Bernard Pierce and rookie free agent Bobby Rainey, respectively.

In the preseason opener in Atlanta, Allen gained just 9 yards on five carries and Berry gained 17 yards on seven. Meanwhile, Rainey put together one of the best performances of the night, churning out 143 all-purpose yards.

“Allen understands that his grip as the first tailback behind Rice on the team’s depth chart could be loosening,” Lee wrote.

But the second-year back isn’t giving up.

“Being a competitor, that’s the type of thing you want to see,” Allen said of battle to backup Rice. “You don’t want it to be given to you. You want to have to come out here and work because it’s going to make you better. So I think having guys like Bernard and Bobby and Damien Berry makes me try to step up my game every time I come out here on the practice field. Every time I’m in a game, every time I walk into the meeting room, every time I’m trying to study, I have to do better.”

Quick Hits

• @CSteele32: Great pic of the #Ravens @Navyathletics practice, taken by @RDPhotoOP. @raylewis52com @pkruger99 @Artj97 @TwentyER [Twitter]
• Bernard Pollard, who’s known to enjoy laying a hit or two on opponents, loved having a little fight in practice yesterday. … @Crushboy31: Today was the best day by far this camp!!! [Twitter]
• @GerrySandusky: Great moment at end of Ravens practice. Ray Lewis and Sherman Cypress, make-a-wish recipient. Dream come true. [Twitter]
• In case you missed the video footage, it’s a must-see … @TorreySmithWR: shoutouts to @MichaelOher for catching that punt today…thanks bro haha [BaltimoreRavens.com/Twitter]
• @jtuck9 [Justin Tucker]: Big thanks to outstanding punt returners @TheRealMtCody and @MichaelOher. Got to see The Campaign tonight after a little practice film [Twitter]
• @BryantMckinnie: Currently getting a massage, gotta make sure the body is feeling right.
• Steelers linebacker James Harrison underwent left knee surgery on Wednesday, clouding his chances of returning in time for the start of the regular season. [Associated Press]
• Former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick was at the practice in Owings Mills, Md. yesterday as the FOX crew gets ready to broadcast Friday’s game against the Lions. Billick met up with Nestor Aparicio to discuss some of the keys for the Ravens this season. [WNST]
• Is the Ravens secondary the best in NFL? Brad Jackson discusses. [CSNBaltimore.com]

Safety Omar Brown was running back to the sideline after nabbing his second of three – yes three – turnovers when Head Coach John Harbaugh stopped him.

“You’re trying to make this team, aren’t you?” Harbaugh asked.

“Yes, sir,” Brown simply replied.

The Ravens have to be feeling good about their rookie free agent class – which Harbaugh declared the best he’s seen since coming to Baltimore in 2008. Brown wasn’t the only one to make the head coach think twice about cutting him from the roster.

Below are four players – three being rookie free agents – that are longshots to make the team, but had glowing performances in the Ravens’ preseason opening 31-17 win in Atlanta.

Brown: “Omar Brown again?” tweeted Matt Vensel after the Marshall alumnus notched the trifecta  in his first NFL game. He recovered two fumbles and nabbed an interception, the first three-turnover game since high school. He also he tied Albert McClellan for the team lead with five tackles. Brown was a key contributor in the Ravens’ ability to come from behind and outscore Atlanta 31-3 down the stretch to secure the victory.

Receiver Deonte Thompson: This Florida rookie free agent’s standout performance didn’t come as a surprise to fans that have been following his buzz in training camp. Thursday night’s performance, in which Thompson led all Ravens receivers with three catches for 53 yards, was just a continuation of what he’s done in practice. He consistently got behind the Atlanta secondary and his biggest highlight was a 22-yard touchdown grab that gave the Ravens the lead for the first time. “[He] wore out the Falcons’ backup defensive backs, who simply couldn’t cover him,” wrote CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg.

But his bid for a roster spot is still far from over in a crowded receiving corps. In addition to Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams and David Reed, Thompson is also competing against Ravens sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter. Baltimore rarely likes to cut its draft selections. “[Streeter] has the size and speed (6-5, 4.4) that NFL teams covet,” wrote CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt. “But undrafted rookie Deonte Thompson might be leading him at this time in the race for the final receiver spot on the 53-man roster. His speed is unquestioned, and he certainly raised some eyebrows with his play.”

Running back Bobby Rainey: What a night for the compact 5-foot-8, 212-pounder who is competing  with rookie Bernard Pierce, first-year back Damien Berry and second-year vet Anthony Allen for the No. 2 job behind Ray Rice. “[Rainey] won this first game easily,” Eisenberg wrote of the competition.

Not only is the Western Kentucky star built like Rice (same height and weight), but he produced like the Pro Bowler too. He rushed for 36 yards on 12 carries and also caught three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown pass was Rice-like too, pulling in a screen pass and then zigging and zagging his way through defenders for the 18-yard score. Oh, and he added 76 yards on special teams. “Rainey made a case that he should be given some second-team reps next week, that is if third-round rookie Bernard Pierce remains out with a hamstring injury,” wrote Butt.

Quarterback Curtis Painter: The former Peyton Manning backup is trying to convince the Ravens to allocate a third coveted roster spot to the quarterback position. Painter threw three second-half touchdown passes to lead the Ravens in the come-from-behind win. He finished the night completing 7-of-14 passes for 76 yards and a 106.0 quarterback rating. “Curtis Painter, where has this been all training camp?” asked Vensel. For real. If the four-year veteran is going to stick around, he will need to do more of the same over the next several weeks.

‘Loving’ WR Smith’s New Tools

The chemistry between quarterback Joe Flacco and Torrey Smith picked up where it left off last season. The two combined for 43 yards on three catches, one going for 25, in a little more than a quarter of play Thursday night.

But there is something new with Smith – the weapons he’s added to his arsenal. Not only does he have more consistent hands, but he’s showing he is more than just a deep threat.

“I liked – make that loved – how the Ravens used Torrey Smith underneath. Those crossing patterns can be really dangerous,” tweeted Vensel.

“Also, if Torrey learns to run the comeback route half as well as Derrick Mason did, that might be unstoppable with DBs fearing his speed.”

Anthony Allen Didn’t Take Advantage

Thursday night was supposed to be Allen’s chance to separate from the rest of the field in the running back competition.

There ended up being separation, but it was Rainey who was ahead by the end of the night.

“In the battle for the backup running back job, Anthony Allen didn’t take advantage of Bernard Pierce being out with a hamstring injury,” wrote Eisenberg.

The team’s 2011 seventh-round draft pick only churned out nine yards on five carries, an average of 1.8 yards per rush. He also dropped a potential first-down pass in the first quarter while looking to avoid contact, and he gave up a sack.

Bryant McKinnie Didn’t Start, But Looked Good

The Ravens didn’t give incumbent left tackle Bryant McKinnie the start Thursday night, choosing instead to go with Michael Oher in his spot and Kelechi Osemele on the right side.

But that didn’t surprise McKinnie; he knew he needed the reps with the second team.

“Just started back practicing on Monday, only had 1 day n pads. So I needed the extra work 2nite 2 get back n rhythm. Felt good!” the 11-year veteran tweeted.

Not only did he feel good, but he looked good.

“The veteran appeared to move well and handle his assignments easily, with no breakdowns,” wrote Eisenberg.

Granted, the former Pro Bowler was playing against the Falcons’ reserves, but he is on his way.

Quick Hits

• Replacement referee, Craig Ochoa, just couldn’t get it right Thursday night as he had his birds confused and kept referring to Atlanta as the Arizona Falcons. [NFL.com]
• @MyMoment_Rainey: I want to thank everyone who came to support me at the game 2night! Thanks! I appreciate that! Felt great playing back at home! Thanks again [Twitter]
• @_KIDRaven_[CB Asa Jackson]: Tonight was an amazing experience. I couldn’t be more grateful… Thank u God and #Ravensnation for giving me this chance…. Man!!! [Twitter]
• @RayRice27: Great first pre season win now it’s time to get back to work can’t forget it’s still training camp #Ravens [Twitter]
• @TorreySmithWR: Had fun playing in a real game again..looking forward to finishing up camp strong….FYI I’m ok stop mixing me up with ED haha [Twitter]
• @brendon310: Just went head up on chicken sandwiches with Haloti. 3 each. I think he snuck in a 4th when I wasn’t looking. 230 vs 330 lol [Twitter]
• “Baltimore’s punt coverage team, which ranked 24th last season and gave up two touchdowns, is still a concern,” wrote Jamison Hensley. “The Ravens gave up a 45-yard return in the first quarter after Albert McClellan and Emanuel Cook missed tackles.” [ESPN]
• Without Terrell Suggs and Courtney Upshaw, the pressure on the quarterback wasn’t there … “The defensive front got little pressure on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, allowing him to throw for 155 yards and a touchdown,” wrote Butt. “Ryan could have done more damage if it wasn’t for a sneaky interception from linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who Ryan never saw. The Ravens’ defensive line failed to penetrate Atlanta’s offensive line, which was seen as makeshift heading in.” [CBSSports.com]
• @ProFootballTalk: Jared Gaither still can’t get on the field at Chargers camp [Twitter]
• @mattvensel: Corey Graham has looked good in camp, too, and at least three DBs have pointed out to be me unsolicited how impressed they are by him. [Twitter]
• Pretty sweet Ravens video set to the music from “The Dark Night Rises.” Created by reed20xhawk. [YouTube]

Ron Jaworski’s ranking of Joe Flacco as the ninth-best (and strongest-armed) quarterback in the league stirred up reaction from both fans and the media.

One argument that’s gained traction once again is who’s better between Flacco, the 18th-overall pick in the 2008 draft, or Ryan, the third-overall pick.

Flacco was ninth on Jaworski’s list while Ryan was 11th.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks put together a detailed comparison of the two quarterbacks. Here’s what he came up with:

Flacco wins on arm talent: “Flacco is a gifted passer with extraordinary physical tools. He boasts one of the strongest arms in the NFL, routinely delivering balls with exceptional zip and velocity. Combine this with pinpoint accuracy, and Flacco is able to fit balls into tight windows between multiple defenders.”

Flacco also wins on athleticism: “Flacco is an underrated athlete with uncommon movement skills for a big man (6-foot-6, 245 pounds).”

Ryan won in game management: “Flacco is an efficient game manager in his own right. He routinely avoids the big mistake in the pocket and his ability to keep the Ravens offense on schedule allows them to take advantage of scoring opportunities created by an aggressive defense.”

They tied on leadership: “Flacco’s leadership role is overshadowed by the presence of the Ravens’ veteran defensive core of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs. However, he has started to assert himself over the past few seasons and the offense has responded favorably to his leadership style.”

Ryan won in the clutch factor: “Flacco has been solid in the clutch, as well. He has directed 11 game-winning drives in four seasons, including six fourth-quarter comebacks, showing tremendous growth as a clutch player.”

Overall, Brooks said he’d take Ryan over Flacco, but said the debate is “as close as you will find in pro football.”

“Both players have won at a high level as young quarterbacks, and their consistent play has helped their respective franchises contend on an annual basis,” Brooks said. “I would rather have Ryan as my quarterback due to his ability to run the offense from the line of scrimmage and his history of engineering fourth-quarter comebacks. While I certainly recognize his playoff failures, I believe he is the more consistent playmaker and game manager, which gives him the nod in my mind.”

What do you think?

Also, Gregg Rosenthal waded into the strongest arm debate. He said putting Flacco as the strongest-arm quarterback is a “bold statement and one that is backed up by a ton of research.” Rosenthal has Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Michael Vick, Jay Cutler and Cam Newton on his list of top-five arms.

Best Ravens Training Camp Battle

Over the past week or so, Garrett and I have been running through all the competitions set to take place during training camp.

So which is the best?

ESPN blogger Jamison Hensley points to the one at cornerback between Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams for the No. 2 cornerback position.

Smith is the Ravens’ 2011 first-round pick who began his rookie campaign by injuring his ankle on the opening kickoff. That gave Williams, who was already slated to be the starter, the avenue to blossom and he never relinquished his spot. Williams was the team’s third-leading tackler (77) and second in passes broken up (18).

“Now, the roles are reversed,” Hensley wrote. “Williams couldn’t participate in team drills this spring after having hip surgery, which provided the opening for Smith to work with the starting defense all offseason.”

Smith came back to play in 12 games and start three last season. He notched three interceptions (including one in the AFC championship) while Williams didn’t snag one.

So what’s Hensley’s prediction?

“It looks like this is Smith’s job to lose in training camp,” he said. “The 2011 first-round pick has prototypical size and speed to be a shutdown cornerback in this league. Williams, though, has surprised before.”

Which AFC North Team Ain’t Making The Playoffs?

The AFC North had three playoff teams last season, a rare feat.

But one of them is likely not to make it this year. Who will it be?

Dating back to 1996, at least five teams have qualified for the playoffs that missed the postseason before. That means five teams that were in the year before were out the next.

Fans voted, and they don’t think the Ravens will suffer that fate.

Instead, the Bengals take the cake with 53 percent while the Ravens and Steelers are almost in a dead heat with 24 and 23 percent of the votes, respectively.

The Bengals haven’t put together back-to-back winning seasons since 1981-82. The Ravens have made it four years straight, the only team in the NFL to do so.

ESPN pundits Damien Woody and Marcellus Wiley agree with the fans. Hensley says he likes the Bengals’ chances of returning, but didn’t specify if he thought the Ravens or Steelers would be out.

No Leader In Running Back Competition

Speaking of good position battles, the one for the No. 2 running back spot is also a dandy.

There’s rookie third-round pick Bernard Pierce vs. Anthony Allen vs. Damien Berry.

And after Organized Team Activities and minicamp, there isn’t a clear leader yet, says the Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson.

“Although all had their moments during spring minicamps and organized team activities and Allen took the greater portion of the workload with the first-team offense in Rice’s absence, no one has separated himself from the pack yet,” he wrote.

This competition will heat up in training camp once the pads are on and hitting begins.

No Love For Ravens-Steelers?

When NFL.com put out a list of 2012 games that should be considered a national holiday (in observance of the 4th of July), I was just scrolling waiting to see Ravens-Steelers.

Wait a second…

Tom Brady’s Patriots versus Peyton Manning’s Broncos on Oct. 7 got three of seven votes, and there wasn’t a single one for the Ravens-Steelers, who play on Nov. 18 and Dec. 2.

Do we have to drum up the best rivalry in the NFL debate again?

Quick Hits

• Bryant McKinnie is apparently continuing his workouts during the time off before training camp. BryantMckinnie: Just finished a good workout, & it hot as hell outside [Twitter]
• Ravens: Show your #Ravens pride by designing our team flag & you could WIN a trip to 2012 #NFL Kickoff! Fan Flag Challenge [Twitter]
• RT @TonyVillani: Now [former NFL receiver] Cris Carter spending time with @Ant_Allen working on routes. [Twitter]
• Yes, the use of fireworks is illegal in Maryland unless you have a permit. Bummer. BryanHall68: So… I can’t pop no fireworks in Maryland? Smh… [Twitter]
• Looks like Courtney Upshaw is meeting some fiiiiiiine Americans during his time off back home in Alabama. 334Upshaw41: Check out the ride yo lmao[Twitter]
• Torrey Smith ran into his advertisement. TorreySmithWR: Prince is famous….#pitbull love [Twitter]
• I really hope I see Kelechi Osemele on MTV. KOsevenDeuce: Getting ready to shoot the music video w/ @Chiefdoodle [Twitter]
• Crushboy31 [Bernard Pollard]: Just arrived at Towson University for the Youth football camp, and they are wearing equipment… Head knocking!!! Good ole memories… [Twitter]
• Anquan Boldin is busy with the Q81 Summer Enrichment Program. AnquanBoldin: In #Pahokee to speak w/ Everglade Prep. Let’s encourage our high school seniors to get those college submissions in! [Twitter]
• Check out this video shout out from Kabul, Afghanistan on this 4th of July holiday. [Defensive Video & Imagery Distribution System] 

At first thought, Haloti Ngata, Ray Lewis and Marshal Yanda came to mind. They’re all massive and intense.

Now I’m taking backup running back Anthony Allen.

Turns out, Allen is a first-degree black belt in Taekwondo, a detail that somehow came up when chatting about the running back competition.

“Every now and then I might be walking down the street and a guy like Ed Dickson might be walking by [Dickson was walking by at the time of the interview] and I may unleash it on him real quick just to let myself know I still got it,” Allen said with a laugh.

Allen studied under his father, who learned the martial art when stationed in Korea with the Army. It took the young “Grasshopper” about 12 years to earn his black belt.

“Other guys can pay to get theirs,” Allen said. “I had to work to get mine. It was a lot of discipline and mental training.”

Allen was apparently a pretty dominant kid. While traditional Taekwondo is more about the poses, he learned Professional Taekwondo, which focusses more on actual combat with actual rounds like boxing.

He won more than 100 fighting competitions, including the prestigious U.S. Open in Orlando, Fla., three years in a row from ages 10 to 12. Competitors travel from around the world, and Allen said he beat kids from Puerto Rico, the former Yugoslavia and England.

So does this training still help Allen in any way?

He said he sometimes brushes up on a few things because it’s good for strength and core workouts. But mostly, it’s good for bragging.

Allen plays around with defensive tackle Art Jones, who has done mixed martial arts training with his brother and UFC champion Jon “Bones” Jones. The two have done just some light sparring.

“I’ll tell Art, ‘Now I know this stuff. You don’t want to try me!’” Allen said with a laugh.

But is Allen willing to step in against “Bones” Jones?

“That’s a different story,” he said. “I might have to kick him in the kneecaps or something.”

But the battles for positions don’t have to wait until camp.

Rookies and veterans are fighting for roster spots and starting jobs right now, and many of those competitions will continue up until the start of the season.

Here are some of the key positions battles to watch throughout the remainder of the offseason:

Outside Linebacker: Both outside linebacker positions will be up for grabs in training camp this year, as Jarret Johnson left in free agency and Terrell Suggs is out for an unspecified amount of time with an Achilles tendon injury.

The likely candidates for the starting jobs are Paul Kruger, Sergio Kindle, Albert McClellan and rookie Courtney Upshaw.

Kruger has the most experience at outside linebacker of anyone in the group, as he has spent much of his three years in the league as a pass-rush specialist.

Kindle is heading into his third season and still has to prove himself after a head injury set him back during his rookie season. He has potential, but hasn’t had much of an opportunity to show it early in his career.

McClellan spent most of last season as an inside linebacker, even starting in place of Ray Lewis when Lewis was down with a toe injury. He is a versatile player and could make the switch outside.

Upshaw played the rush linebacker position in college, which is similar to the role that Suggs plays. Moving into that position while Suggs is out could be a natural transition for the Ravens’ second-round pick.

Left Guard: This battle will likely come down to three of the Ravens’ youngest lineman: second-year lineman Jah Reid and rookies Kelechi Osemele and Gino Gradkowski.

Reid came into the NFL as a right tackle, but has made the position switch this offseason and was the favorite to win the job before Baltimore drafted Osemele and Gradkowski.

Osemele played  left tackle in college, but is comfortable moving over to guard. He performed well at rookie minicamp last week, as he was one of the biggest players out on the field. Gradkowski played center and guard at college, but he doesn’t have the size of Reid or Osemele, which could make it tough for him to beat them out for the spot.

Wide Receiver: The first two receiver spots appear firmly in the grasp of Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, but after that there are five players vying for the third and fourth receiver jobs.

Free-agent acquisition Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams, David Reed and rookie Tommy Streeter are all competing for time. Jones is the likely favorite for the No. 3 job, but a strong camp from the other candidates could make this one of the most tightly contested positions battles of the offseason.

Cornerback: This is one of the deepest positions for the Ravens, as former first-round pick Jimmy Smith and last year’s starter Cary Williams will compete for the No. 2 spot next to Lardarius Webb.

Williams played well last year season in his first season as a starter, but Smith showed glimpses of his potential in the chances that he got after an early-season injury.

Regardless of who wins the job, all three players will get plenty of time on the field, as the Ravens often use three corners to offset pass-heavy formations that more teams are using.

Running Back: Ray Rice has the starting running back position locked up, but behind him is a different story. After Ricky Williams suddenly retired this offseason, the No. 2 running back spot will be a battle between second-year backs Anthony Allen and Damien Berry and rookie Bernard Pierce.

All three backs bring different running styles to the mix, as Allen is a power runner, Berry is more a speed back and Pierce has a slashing style. None of the three appears to have a leg up in the race right now.

After all, they were the only two running backs on the Ravens’ roster after Ricky Williams’ surprise retirement.

Then, with the 84^th pick in the third round of the NFL Draft, the Ravens selected running back Bernard Pierce out of Temple. There’s now another prominent figure in the mix.

“It’s competition,” Allen said on Wednesday. “You’ve got to take the best available guys at the right point. I understand he was the best available guy at the time. He was very productive in college and now he’s coming in and adding to the mix.”

“It’s nothing,” Berry added. “We embrace competition. Competition brings the best out of all of us. It’s just time to work.”

Allen, a seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech last year, and Berry, an undrafted free agent out of Miami, have been closely working with each other for the past year.

They often hang out with each other in the locker room, spend time studying the playbook at Allen’s place, and have accompanied each other throughout the team’s voluntary strength and conditioning program this spring.

Allen has only spent a day with Pierce so far, but he will welcome him into their study group.

At the same time, Allen is looking to showcase his growth. Last year, he was learning an entirely new offensive system, much different from the option offense he ran at Georgia Tech. That, as well as Williams’ presence, meant Allen suited up for just five games and had three carries for eight yards in late-game duty.

But now that he’s more comfortable with the scheme, Allen says he can just go out and play as opposed to thinking on the field.

“Coach [Wilbert Montgomery] was telling me the other day, ‘Man, you’re 10 times better than you were when you first got here,’” Allen said.

Berry is bringing a different physical presence to the field this year. He reported to the Ravens at 207 pounds last year, and is up to 223 pounds now after adding muscle.

“I’m still fast and everything. I’m just adding weight to protect myself,” Berry said.

Berry was on the field with Pierce last weekend as the two, and rookie free agents Brandon Pendergrass and Bobby Rainey, shared the touches at camp. He said Pierce is a “great guy who plays with speed and has great hands.”

Going forward, the competition behind Rice could be one of the more interesting battles in camps.

“This is a job interview,” Allen said. “We’re all trying to show our resume and fill it out for them on tape and let them make a decision.”

A scenario that hasn’t been brought up around Baltimore is the possibility of running back Anthony Allen not only being Ray Rice’s backup, but the featured back for some period of time.

That could happen during mini camps, training camp or (less likely) the season, if Rice opted to hold out in protest of his franchise tag.

It’s something Head Coach John Harbaugh has thought about.

“Anthony Allen goes from third and mostly injured reserve because you had two veteran guys, to potentially No. 1 if something happens,” Harbaugh said Tuesday morning at the owners meetings.

“We think a lot of him, we think a lot of Damien Berry. We think they’re going to have very good seasons. But we’ve got to look at some insurance too. We’ve got to have more than two running backs on our roster, so we’ll add some guys.”

The Ravens could opt to sign a free-agent running back – although they have little room under the salary cap – or draft more talent.

A reporter asked about former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, who was released by the Giants after winning the Super Bowl.

“He’s on the list,” Harbaugh said with a grin. “Brandon Jacobs is definitely on the list.”

The Ravens have a list of every free-agent running back, so saying Jacobs is on it reveals little. The big bruiser (6-foot-4, 264 pounds) ran 152 times for 571 yards and seven touchdowns last year.

There’s always the possibility that Ricky Williams, who surprisingly retired in early February, could return. Williams himself didn’t rule that out at the time.

Harbaugh said he has not spoken with Williams since a couple days after he made the decision, then joked about his whereabouts.

“Where is he? Is he in the United States?” Harbaugh joked before looking into a video camera. “Ricky, where are you? We’re looking for you Ricky Williams.”

The head coach did acknowledge that Rice could hold out. He expects Rice to handle it with maturity.

“I don’t know what their strategy will be, if they feel like they even need a strategy,” Harbaugh said of Rice and his agent, Todd France. “That kind of goes back to the agent more than the player.

“But Ray Rice is a man. He loves football. He wants to be in there with his teammates. I’m hoping he’ll be there from Day One. I would expect him to be there from Day One. But if he’s not, I’m not going to hold it against him as a coach. We just need the best Ray Rice that’s possible for the first game.”

Allen flipped on the TV and texted Williams for confirmation, asking him to “still be here for me.” Williams confirmed that his playing days were over, but said he’d still be around if Allen ever needed advice. 

The news was bittersweet for Allen, who looked up to Williams, but also knew that Williams’ departure meant he would have an opportunity to step into the No. 2 running back role.

“He was a great mentor, but of course I’m looking forward to the opportunity that I have now and I’m hoping to make the most of it,” Allen said.

Allen is entering his second season in the NFL and the Ravens are looking for him to take a big step forward. Rather than going after a veteran running back in free agency to replace Williams, the Ravens are hoping Allen can fill the role. 

“We like Anthony Allen,” General Manager Ozzie Newsome said last week at the combine. “We’re going to give him every opportunity to be that guy.”

Allen is coming off a rookie campaign that he described as a “reality check.” The seventh-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech was active for just five games, playing special teams and getting three carries during a blowout win over St. Louis in Week 3.

He then went down with a hamstring injury in Week 6 and wasn’t active again for the rest of the season. By the time he was healthy enough to play, the Ravens were gearing up for a playoff run and weren’t going to activate a rookie that had hardly seen the field.

“That just made me hungry,” Allen said. “I’ve never had to sit out before.”

His opportunities were limited during the rookie season, but Allen still showed the coaches enough for them to believe he’s capable of complementing Ray Rice.

“I’m just thankful that the coaches are showing that they trust me and that they want to see me go out there and make some plays,” Allen said. “I just want to go out there and ball. I’m ready to go out there and make some plays and have some fun.”        

Newsome compared giving Allen the opportunity to play with how the Ravens turned to second-year tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta last season to replace veteran Todd Heap. Dickson and Pitta performed well enough in practice during their rookie seasons that the Ravens believed they could part ways with Heap, and Newsome sees a similar pattern with Allen.

“It’s almost like having those two young tight ends last year and having a feeling that those guys could play for us,” Newsome said.

Outside of practice, the only place Allen really had a chance to show his potential was in the preseason, where he averaged 6.8 yards per carry and scored one touchdown.

Allen played well in the limited action, especially considering that he was essentially playing a new position. In college, Allen played wingback and fullback in Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense, and moving into a true running back role was something he hadn’t done for a few years.

“When I was at Georgia Tech I was three yards behind the quarterback with my hand in the ground and I couldn’t really make the reads and I was just running straight power,” Allen said. “Then when I got up into the second level, then I could make some reads and try to make some people miss.”

NFL running backs line up about 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage and Allen says the change has opened things up for him.

“That is just making everything slow down for me because everything is not happening as quick as it used to,” Allen said. “Now I get to actually show what I can do.”

Along with Allen, the Ravens also have second-year running back Damien Berry, who spent last year on the practice squad and will compete with Allen for the No. 2 slot. If neither works out, then Newsome said the Ravens plan to pick up a veteran sometime in August. 

Allen has no intentions of letting that happen.

Coming out of college, Allen has heard all of the concerns people have about him making it in the NFL because of the position he played and the offense his school ran.

That criticism, he says, is motivation that he’s carrying into this season.

“I’ve got a chip on my shoulder,” Allen said. “I got drafted in the seventh round. I went to Georgia Tech. I played in a triple option. I can’t do this, I can’t do that. I still got to prove people wrong.”

Rookies know what it’s like competing in front of hundreds of scouts trying to prove they belong in the NFL, and last year’s class showed the Ravens front office enough to get their names called in April.

Take a look at how each of the Ravens’ draft picks performed last February, and for reference, here are the top performances in each workout category:

40-Yard Dash: 4.25 seconds
Bench Press: 49 reps of 225 pounds
20-Yard Shuttle: 3.88 seconds
Vertical Jump: 42.5 inches
Broad Jump: 135 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.42 seconds

Note: The combine results are according to Scout Inc./ ESPN.com.

Cornerback Jimmy Smith (27th Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
Bench Press: 24 reps of 225 pounds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.06 seconds
Vertical Jump: 36.0 inches
Broad Jump: 123 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.93 seconds

Wide Receiver Torrey Smith (58th Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 4.41 seconds
Bench Press: 19 reps
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.13 seconds
Vertical Jump: 41 inches
Broad Jump: 126 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.72 seconds

Offensive Tackle Jah Reid (85th Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 5.32 seconds
Bench Press: 28 reps
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.65 seconds
Vertical Jump: 29.5 inches
Broad Jump: 111.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.73 seconds

Wide Receiver Tandon Doss (123rd Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 4.50 seconds
Bench Press: 14 reps
20-Yard Shuttle: Did not participate
Vertical Jump: Did not participate
Broad Jump: Did not participate
3-Cone Drill: Did not participate

Defensive Back Chykie Brown (164th Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 4.49 seconds
Bench Press: Did not participate
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.00 seconds
Vertical Jump: 36.5 inches
Broad Jump: 120 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.50 seconds

Defensive End Pernell McPhee (165th Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 4.91 seconds
Bench Press: 20 reps
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.59 seconds
Vertical Jump: 28.5 inches
Broad Jump: 107 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.13 seconds

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor (180th Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 4.47 seconds
Bench Press: Did not participate
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.09 seconds
Vertical Jump: 37.5 inches
Broad Jump: 126 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.78 seconds

Running Back Anthony Allen (225th Pick)
40-Yard Dash: 4.56 seconds
Bench Press: Did not participate
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.06 seconds
Vertical Jump: 41.5 inches
Broad Jump: 120 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.79 seconds

After the sudden retirement of Ricky Williams last week, the Ravens are examining their options for the No. 2 running back job. The team could look to free agency or the draft, but the search starts with the two players currently on the roster: Anthony Allen and Damien Berry.

Both were rookies last year – Allen a seventh-round pick and Berry an undrafted free agent who spent the season on the practice squad. They both worked as scout team running backs and now they have a chance to step into a critical role.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Running Backs Coach Wilbert Montgomery said. “I think those two kids have a lot of potential and I think they have the chance to be good. We still put it on them to show us what they can do.”

Allen (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) and Berry (5-foot-10, 211 pounds) have different body types and running styles.

“Anthony is a much stronger runner than Damien Berry,” Montgomery said. “Damien is a guy that has some flash; he’s more of a slasher.”

Allen also appears to be further along is his development. He was on the Ravens 53-man roster all of last season, although he was only active for five games.

Allen finished his rookie season with three carries for eight yards, which all came in a Week 3 blowout victory over the Rams. He also saw time on special teams in five games. 

In last year’s preseason, Allen showed glimpses of his potential. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry and scored one touchdown in limited action.

“It will be interesting to see where he is going, how far he has grown,” Montgomery said. “I know he is very intelligent. He understands what’s going on and that’s a credit to him because he’s a smart kid.”

One transition for Allen has been adapting out of the triple-option offense that he played at Georgia Tech. Last season he had to adjust to being more of a traditional running back, as opposed to the wingback position that he played a lot of in college.

He has not had a chance to show those adjustments in game action, but Montgomery is looking forward to seeing how he has progressed.
“Will he have the vision to see the holes?” Montgomery asked. “Will he be patient enough to run in his tracks?”

With Berry, the Ravens are hoping to see improvement out of him in training camp and in the preseason. He suffered an injury during the preseason last year and was cut from the active roster before the start of the season. The Ravens then signed him to the practice squad one day later and he stayed there the rest of the season.

“Damien showed enough that he was worth bringing back,” Montgomery said.  “Damien is not as advanced as Anthony is at this point, but will he be? That’s yet to be seen.”

Whatever player ends up winning the backup job, the Ravens will look to get a key contribution from him. 

Williams was a critical piece in the Ravens’ offense last year and he finished the season with 108 carries for 444 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ravens hope that either Allen or Berry can keep up with that production.

“We’re going to prepare them as starters,” Montgomery said. “Until they prove to us that they can’t do it, we’re going to ride with them.”