Baltimore Ravens: A look at the first depth chart
By Joe Schiller
Defense
DT: Brandon Williams, Willie Henry, Chris Wormley
NT: Michael Pierce, Carl Davis, Pat Ricard
DE: Brent Urban, Bronson Kaufusi
Rush: Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith, Tim Williams,
Others: Randy Allen
ILB: C.J. Mosley, Albert McClellan, Brennan Beyer
Others: Lamar Louis
ILB: Kamalei Correa, Patrick Onwuasor, Bam Bradley
Others: Donald Payne
Sam: Matt Judon, Tyus Bowser, Boseko Lokombo,
LCB: Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Boykin
Others: Jaylen Hill, Reggie Porter
SS: Tony Jefferson, Anthony Levine Sr., Otha Foster
FS: Eric Weddle, Lardarius Webb, Chuck Clark
RCB: Jimmy Smith, Sheldon Price, Robertson Daniel
Others: Al-Hajj Shabazz, Maurice Canady*
Thoughts:
The Ravens have a stacked defense on paper.
It will be an interesting battle between Brent Urban and Bronson Kaufusi at defensive end position. Urban has the experience, but Kaufusi is a sleeper that I think can make some noise this season. At 6″7′, he’s a monster.
Za’Darius Smith will be a pass rusher to watch in the preseason. After an impressive rookie season in 2015, he fell off last year. He was even a healthy scratch in some games. Tim Williams has received high praise in training camp and could easily overtake that second spot. On the other side, it doesn’t surprise me to see Judon as the starting Sam linebacker. With more game time this season he should excel and could even lead the team in sacks.
I don’t expect Brandon Carr to be a lock as the starter at left cornerback. Marlon Humphrey could seriously give him a run for his money. Humphrey is a high-motored cornerback who loves to play physical. The deep ball has given him some problems, but there hasn’t been much sign of that in camp. In a physical Dean Pees defense, Humphrey seems to fit right in. Look for him to get plenty of game time during the preseason.