The Ravens entered training camp with not that many position battles among the starters.
The only one is at right cornerback, where Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams are fighting for a starting job. But whoever loses that spot still figures to play a lot as teams incorporate more no-huddle passing looks into their game plans.
During the remainder of the preseason, RapidReports will analyze who's positioning themselves for a spot on the 53-man roster and who still has some work to do.
Analysis: Coach John Harbaugh's stated that Baltimore likes the idea of using Taylor more within the offense this year. Taylor's athletic and could be a wildcat quarterback this year. Plus, his arm strength and accuracy have improved. By keeping Painter, Baltimore would feel more comfortable about using Taylor more.
RB -- In: (4) Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Bobby Rainey, Vonta Leach. Out: Anthony Allen, Damien Berry.
Analysis: Rainey's included for now because he's outperformed Allen and Berry in practice and in last Thursday's preseason game against Atlanta. There's still a lot of time for Allen and Berry to make a run. There's also a chance Baltimore seeks a veteran free agent if it feels none of the young running backs are ready to become Rice's primary backup. If that's the case, Rainey and Berry could wind up on the scout team and Allen could be looking for another team.
WR -- In: (6) Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss, Deonte Thompson. Out: Tommy Streeter, Dorian Graham, Patrick Williams, Logan Payne, Devin Goda. (Possible IR situation: David Reed).
Analysis: Baltimore kept six receivers in 2011 and figures to do so again. With David Reed's ACL injury keeping him off the field, he could begin the year on the PUP list or go on injured reserve. That would leave the final spot between Thompson and Streeter, two different types of receivers. Streeter's a project, a 6-5, 220-pound body with blazing, straight-ahead speed. Thompson's more versatile, but had some issues dropping the ball in college. Thompson's outperformed him early but Baltimore doesn't like to cut its draft picks.
TE: -- In: (3) Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta, Billy Bajema. Out: Davon Drew, Bruce Figgins, Matt Balasavage.
Analysis: Dickson and Pitta aren't going anywhere and are on pace to begin the regular season despite their shoulder and hand injuries, respectively. The final tight end spot could go to a blocking tight end. Bajema's an eight-year veteran known for his blocking ability, which would make sense for Baltimore to keep him. The Ravens used that same logic with Kris Wilson a year ago.
OL -- In: (9) Michael Oher, Marshal Yanda, Matt Birk, Bobbie Williams, Bryant McKinnie, Kelechi Osemele, Jah Reid, Gino Gradkowski, Ramon Harewood. Out: Tony Wragge, Justin Boren, Antoine McClain, Cecil Newton, Cord Howard, Jack Cornell, Addison Lawrence.
Analysis: Eight players are practically locks along the line. The ninth and final spot could come down to one of four players -- Harewood, Wragge, Boren or Cornell. Harewood, a sixth round draft pick in 2010, has been banged up but appears the healthiest he's been since coming to Baltimore. He would also give the Ravens another body at tackle, with Osemele and Reid being swing guys.
DL -- In: (7) Terrence Cody, Pernell McPhee, Haloti Ngata, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Arthur Jones, DeAngelo Tyson, Bryan Hall. Out: Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, Terrence Moore. (Possible IR situation: Ryan McBean).
Analysis: With McBean suffering a fractured dislocation to his ankle, his season is in jeopardy. This opens up a spot, possibly for Hall, Kitchen, Jean-Baptiste or Moore. Hall appears to have the inside track, having been on the practice squad a year ago. Hall's fast for a defensive lineman and possesses a high motor on the field.
LB -- In (8) Ray Lewis, Paul Kruger, Courtney Upshaw, Jameel McClain, Albert McClellan, Sergio Kindle, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Dannell Ellerbe. Out: Chavis Williams, Nigel Carr, Ricky Brown, Stevie Baggs, Josh Bynes, Darryl Blackstock. (PUP situation: Terrell Suggs).
Analysis: Suggs will likely begin the season on the PUP list, which creates another roster spot until he's reinstated to the 53-man roster. For now, Ellerbe remains in but needs to prove he belongs through the remainder of the preseason. He's one of the most athletic linebackers on the team and can cover the pass well. But he could be pushed by Carr and Brown in the coming weeks. Williams could be a victim of Baltimore's desire to keep three quarterbacks, and someone deep on the depth chart at another position would have to be released to make room.
DB -- In (10) Ed Reed, Bernard Pollard, Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, Cary Williams, Corey Graham, Christian Thompson, Sean Considine, Asa Jackson, Danny Gorrer. Out: Emanuel Cook, Chykie Brown, Jordan Mabin, Chyl Quarles, Omar Brown.
Analysis: At safety, Baltimore has a decision to make with Cook, someone who has solid special teams ability. Do the Ravens keep five safeties or stick with four? At cornerback, the decision could come down to the final spot, which would could be between Gorrer and Brown. Gorrer displayed good cover ability last year and Brown doesn't appear ready for the next step yet.
Special teams -- In: (3) Billy Cundiff, Sam Koch, Morgan Cox. Out: Justin Tucker, Patrick Scales.
Analysis: Cundiff gets the edge for now since there's no indication what Harbaugh and his staff will do at kicker. But it should be noted that Tucker has out-kicked Cundiff in practice. There's still a lot of time before a final decision will be made but this battle could go down to the wire.
Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLBAL and @JasonButtCBS.
