McNairAs the Baltimore Ravens training camp ends at McDaniel College in Westminister, Maryland, the Ravens coaching staff is preparing to select the final 53 man roster due on September 1 along with an 8 man practice squad on September 2.  Coach Brian Billick has characterized this training camp as the best one that he has been associated with in his nine years as head coach of the Ravens with no major injuries to front-line players.  In all likelihood, 46 of the 53 man team has already been predetermined barring injury of this veteran-ladened group plus some very talented rookies.

General Manager Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta, the Ravens Director of College Scouting,  have done a spectacular job of drafting college players that fit the mold of Ravens-type players, particularly the past two drafts in 2006 and 2007.  The 2006 rookie crop included immediate starters in defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, safety Dawan Landry and punter Sam Koch, along with center Chris Chester, wide receiver Demetrius Williams and tight end Quinn Sypniewski. 

The 2007 crop showcased draft choices starting with linebackers Antwan Barnes and Prescott Burgess, guard Ben Grubbs, guard/tackle Marshall Yanda, wide receiver as well as special teams gunner Yamon Figurs and fullback Le’Ron McClain.  In addition, the Ravens selected 2007 supplemental draft pick tackle Jared Gaither forfeiting a 2008 5th round draft choice.  Grubbs, Gaither, McClain, Barnes and Burgess should make an immediate impact with the potential to be future starters.

With still 10 days prior to the cutdown date and based on the current players on the roster, here is my prediction on the final 53 Ravens squad to start the 2007 season:

QB:     McNair, Boller (2)

RB:     McGahee, Anderson, Musa Smith, P.J.Daniels (4)

FB:      Green, McClain (2)

WR:    Mason, Clayton, Williams, Moore (4)

TE:      Heap, Wilcox, Sypniewski (3)

OL:     Ogden, Brown, Flynn, Chester, Terry, Grubbs, Gaither, Vincent, Yanda (9)

DL:     Pryce, Gregg, Ngata, Bannan, Edwards (5)

LB:      Suggs, Lewis, Scott, Johnson, Stills, Barnes, Burgess, Jones (8)

CB:     McAlister, Rolle, Ivy, Prude, Pittman, Oglesby, Martin (7)

FS/SS: Reed, Landry, Sapp (3)

ST:      Stover, Koch, Katula, Sams, Figurs (6)

PS:      Olsen, Troy Smith, Pruitt, Darling, Freeman, Swancut, Haley, Winborne (8)

Also, linebackers Dan Cody and Mike Smith will probably remain on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list when the regular season begins which means they cannot join the roster until after six weeks of the regular season has elapsed.