In talking to NFL folks, you'll often hear them break down the NFL year into two stages: the game season, and the non-game season.
What you won't hear them refer to very often is the "offseason" because most people associated with the NFL will tell you one doesn't exist. When the season is over, there is the Senior Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine and free agency. When the early waves of free agency die down, there is the long lead-in to the draft. And when the draft is over, it's time for the rookie minicamp, the offseason workout program, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp.
If there is one relatively quiet time built into the league year, it's now. The various minicamps are over and training camps don't open for another month. Many coaches and executives take their vacations, and players do the same while also getting ready for training camp.
"We're going to be going into a phase now [for] about four weeks, where individually, guys have to prepare themselves," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said last week. "They're going to have to get themselves ready physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually – all of those ways for what's ahead of them."
The Ravens' players will report to training camp by July 27 with the first full-squad practice of training camp taking place a day later.
Until then, here are five things that the organization and players should focus on.
1. Decide where roster upgrades are necessary
With the release of left tackle Eugene Monroe, the Ravens have about $13 million of salary cap space. They'll need some of that during the season to maintain an evolving roster and have funds available for inevitable injury replacements. Whatever space they don't use can carry over to next year, so team decision makers won't feel any pressure to spend.
However, general manager Ozzie Newsome traditionally makes a roster addition or two ahead of training camp.
Where are the Ravens most vulnerable, and is there anything still left on the free-agent market who would represent an upgrade?
The Ravens already have an excess of running backs, tight ends, outside linebackers, defensive linemen and safeties. They are fine at quarterback, and the only reason they might consider adding a wide receiver – the return of Anquan Boldin would be a nice story, wouldn't it? – is if there are concerns about the readiness of Steve Smith Sr. (Achilles) and Breshad Perriman (knee).
The offseason additions of Jerraud Powers and rookie Tavon Young, coupled with Jimmy Smith (foot) and Will Davis (knee) being ready for training camp, would seemingly give them enough depth at cornerback. A veteran offensive tackle would be a decent addition because the top backups for starters Ronnie Stanley and Rick Wagner are rookie Alex Lewis, James Hurst and De'Ondre Wesley. Former New York Giant Will Beatty and former Miami Dolphins first-overall pick Jake Long are available, but they've both struggled to stay healthy.
If there is a big question mark on the current roster, it's at inside linebacker. With Zachary Orr, Arthur Brown, rookie Kamalei Correa and Albert McClellan, the Ravens have options for that role alongside C.J. Mosley. But is an upgrade available? That isn't clear, and it's tough to get too excited about veterans like David Hawthorne, A.J. Hawk, DeMeco Ryans and Donald Butler.
2. Rest, rehab and return healthy
It's hard to remember a time when the Ravens entered training camp with so many injuries to key players. At last week's mandatory minicamp, at least 10 players were missing from every practice, and just about all of them were dealing with injuries.
The team's starting quarterback (Joe Flacco), top receiver (Smith Sr.), top pass rushers (Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil), top cornerback (Jimmy Smith) and third-round pick (defensive end Bronson Kaufusi) all were unable to participate in the various minicamps. Other players dealing with injuries include wide receivers Perriman and Michael Campanaro.
Flacco, Jimmy Smith, Kaufusi and Campanaro are all expected to be ready for the start of training camp. The Ravens' hope is Dumervil and Perriman won't miss too much of camp with their respective injuries. The statuses of Smith Sr. and Suggs are a bit more uncertain.
This is a key time for all the rehabbing Ravens to make strides.
3. Devise a plan for handling Flacco, returning vets
Knowing Harbaugh, who is a meticulous planner, this process has already started. But given the number of Ravens coming off injuries and the need for the team to get off to a fast start, the importance of these decisions cannot be understated.
Harbaugh will walk the fine line between getting his veterans coming off injuries enough work so they're ready for the Sept. 11 season opener against the Buffalo Bills and not taking any chances of them returning to the field too early or being at risk to re-injury.
Harbaugh has already said Smith Sr., Suggs and Dumervil will play little, if any, in the preseason. He'll have to decide how many daily repetitions Flacco takes in his return from left knee surgery. The Ravens need him on the field and gaining familiarity with new targets such as Mike Wallace and Benjamin Watson, but they're going to have to be careful to make sure Flacco doesn't put too much on his surgically-repaired left knee too soon or take too many hits in the preseason.
4. Find a compromise with kicker Justin Tucker
Tucker, the Ravens' prolific young kicker, has said and done all the right things since getting franchise tagged. He's maintained his interest in signing a long-term contract extension with the Ravens and he didn't use the tag as a reason to sit out any minicamp practices.
The Ravens have until July 15 to sign Tucker to a long-term contract extension, or he'll play the upcoming season under the $4.5 million tag. Tucker said this month there haven't been any significant contract talks recently, but deadlines spur action. Expect the Ravens to put their best foot forward during the first or second week of July.
Tucker has converted 87.8 percent of his field-goal attempts and all 139 of his extra-point tries, and is a touchback machine. He certainly has a case for being the league's highest-paid kicker. Currently, the Dallas Cowboys' Dan Bailey ($22.5 million), the New England Patriots' Stephen Gostowski ($17.2 million and the Green Bay Packers' Mason Crosby ($16.1 million) are the highest paid kickers in terms of total contract value.
While they're at it, the Ravens should also explore a long-term deal with nose tackle Brandon Williams, who is eligible for free agency after the season. However, given what top interior defensive linemen are getting on the open market these days, it will be a tough sell for Williams.
Stay out of trouble
This is the time of the year NFL coaches and executives worry about. Many players go home for four or five weeks, and with no practice or meetings to attend the following day, and plenty of time at their disposal, they often blow off steam with friends before the long grind of the season begins. That can lead to trouble.
Ravens players have certainly been warned, and the team's recent history of immediately releasing several players following their arrest should be deterrent enough. But every year around this time, you hear of NFL players finding trouble.
The Ravens will need their players to make smart choices over the next month.
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