This was yet another rather quiet week for the Baltimore Ravens … maybe cal..."/> This was yet another rather quiet week for the Baltimore Ravens … maybe cal..."/>

Baltimore Ravens – Offseason Week in Review – Edition 13

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Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

This was yet another rather quiet week for the Baltimore Ravens … maybe call it what some colleges do before exam seasons – having a break in regular activity called “reading days” … a sort of committed prep time. We’re getting closer to the draft which is going to be extremely interesting this year, and surely the Ravens management is making a list and checking it twice (or more).

Lots and Lots of Draft Speculations

If you are a dedicated football fan, all of the mock drafts may interest you, no matter how far in advance they are conducted. But some of the earlier ones really are an exercise in futility. And for the Ravens, the sands have really shifted.

It was assumed early on that, with the disastrous season turned in by the offensive line, a tackle was the most likely first-round choice. And that could still happen. Others called for it to be a wide receiver, especially in that a number of good ones are in this draft. But with the signing of Steve Smith, that looks a bit less likely. The tight end position has been resourced with the double moves of retaining Dennis Pitta and adding Owen Daniels.

So it may be that the top pick will shift to defense, once again replicating the historic direction and proclivities of the Ravens. The greatest need is at safety, and if Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is available at spot 17, he will likely be playing for the purple and black last year.

In any event, it will end up being the best and highest-ranked athlete on the Ravens’ radar at that time. More is written about this every year, and the interest in the draft will be higher than ever as well. So much is at stake for all teams.

Preseason Schedule Announced

Getting some firm dates (though two are yet to be determined exactly) for any kind of football schedule is a step toward making the length of time to the 2014 season seem at least a little bit less. And the schedule the Ravens have received is indeed a bit different than previous years.

Here is a listing of the games…

Game 1: 8/7/14 – San Francisco 49ers at M&T Bank Stadium

Game 2: 8/??/14 – Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium (Cowboys Stadium)

Game 3: 8/??/14 – Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium

Game 4: 8/28/14 – New Orleans Saints at Mercedes Benz Superdome

With the 49ers coming to town, the preseason can kick off with a meeting of the Harbaugh boys, along with being a first return of Anquin Boldin. And with the Saints, the Ravens will be playing a regular-season opponent, which is an odd occurrence.

But overall, given the opponents and locations, it really is an interesting set of four games.

Ed Dickson Signs with the Panthers

This past Thursday, the former Ravens tight end and 2010 draftee Ed Dickson signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. He had only what could be considered one really good year with the Ravens: 2011. With Pitta’s stock rising and his own dropping value (along with passes he did not pull in), the writing was on the wall for Dickson to look for a new start elsewhere. Here are his stats with the Ravens …

Year

Age

G

GS

Rec

Yds

Y/R

TD

Lng

R/G

Y/G

2010

23

15

3

11

152

13.8

1

58

0.7

10.1

2011

24

16

16

54

528

9.8

5

25

3.4

33.0

2012

25

13

11

21

225

10.7

0

40

1.6

17.3

2013

26

16

14

25

273

10.9

1

43

1.6

17.1

Career

60

44

111

1178

10.6

7

58

1.9

19.6

Bounce-back Team of 2014

Here is an interesting article quoting a number of sources that predict the Ravens to be a prime bounce-back team in 2014 after missing the playoffs this most recent season. The primary reasons stated are the offense of Gary Kubiak and the new targets obtained for Joe Flacco.