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Ozzie Newsome Names Roster Depth as Baltimore Ravens’ Biggest Need

By Brett Foote

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Feb 22, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome speaks at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

If you ask pretty much anybody what the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest roster need is, you will get a little variance in opinion.  Most will argue cornerback, wide receiver, or tight end.  Others may even say offensive line is a need, or outside linebacker.  But if you ask the mastermind and architect of the Ravens’ roster, general manager Ozzie Newsome, you won’t hear any of that.

No, Ozzie just wants roster depth, and that is what he has identified as the Ravens’ biggest need.  While Newsome typically reveals the positions he feels represent the team’s biggest priorities annually at the Ravens’ season review press conference, that was not the case this time around.   Last year Newsome pointed to the interior offensive line and wide receiver, and he followed up by plugging those holes during the offseason.

This year, things are different.

"“Let’s build the best 53-man squad and the 10-man practice squad that we can,” Newsome said. “What positions we will be looking at, I can’t honestly say because we want to build that really, really strong 53-man squad.”"

It’s hard to blame the guy for thinking about depth when the Ravens’ placed an amazing (ridiculous?) 19 players on injured reserve last season.  Cornerback, for one, was a rotating medical ward of players both skilled and practice squad worthy.  Late season injuries to offensive linemen Eugene Monroe and Kelechi Osemele exposed the need for more quality depth up front as well.

So even though Ozzie won’t specifically name the positions he’s going after, we can make the assumption that those two will be among his priorities.  The shape of free agency will obviously change how the team goes forward as well.  Whether or not the Ravens can retain players like Torrey Smith and Justin Forsett will largely affect the degree of urgency the team has in regards to upgrading at running back and wide receiver.

Next: What is the Ravens' Plan B at Wide Receiver?

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