3 key Ravens position battles to watch

The Ravens training camp battles don't appear too serious. Finding a replacement for Terrell Suggs (Achilles) will be important, but Baltimore returns enough depth that it doesn't have many glaring weaknesses. That said, here are three battles to take a look at when camp opens this week.

By Jason Butt

Jul 23, 2012 at 1:10 pm ET • 1 min read

1. Defensive end -- It’s never easy replacing a seasoned veteran like Cory Redding, who left Baltimore for Indianapolis this offseason. Redding totaled 43 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2011, which proved to be his best season since playing with Detroit in 2006 (48 tackles, eight sacks). Competing for the open spot are Arthur Jones and Pernell McPhee. Jones has the size and strength to combat offensive linemen on running downs. However, the speed and quickness of McPhee, a 2011 fifth round draft pick out of Mississippi State, is tantalizing. Seeing most of his time on third down a season ago, McPhee tallied an impressive six sacks, the second most on the squad.

2. Cornerback -- In rags to riches fashion, cornerback Cary Williams has gone from barely being noticed out of Washburn University four years ago to starting in the NFL. However, NFL jobs can come and go, and second-year cornerback Jimmy Smith figures to push Williams for his starting job during this preseason. Williams had a career-high 78 tackles in 2011 and has the size (6-1, 190 pounds) to jam receivers in press coverage. Though Williams didn’t record an interception in 2011, he did break up 18 passes. Conversely, Smith went through some growing pains during his rookie season but came on strong towards the end. Smith’s play of the season was an acrobatic interception against New England in the AFC Championship. Baltimore drafted him in the first round in 2011 based on his potential at becoming an NFL starter, something Smith will look to accomplish this season.

3. Left guard -- When left guard Ben Grubbs left Baltimore for New Orleans, coach John Harbaugh declared lineman Jah Reid the offseason starter. Then the organization drafted guard/tackle Kelechi Osemele in the second round and signed former Bengals guard Bobbie Williams. Reid and Osemele sustained minor injuries during offseason workouts, which gave Williams the majority of the reps at left guard during mandatory minicamp. Whoever wins the starting job will have big shoes to fill in replacing Grubbs, who made his first Pro Bowl appearance following his 2011 season.