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It wasn't Ravens coach John Harbaugh's preference to have starting cornerback Lardarius Webb returning punts entering this offseason. His mindset probably didn't change after Webb agreed to a five-year, $50 million extension with a $10 million signing bonus and a $5 million option bonus.

Having Webb field punts was a risk before. Now, it has become a pricey proposition. The Ravens will try hard to find a replacement for Webb on returns, and it probably will come in the draft.

"You can’t sit there and play scared, so I don’t have a problem with [Webb returning],” Harbaugh said Wednesday, a day before Webb's deal. “But I would rather have a backup doing it? Yes. If there is another option that is a better player or takes your starting corner and takes him off the punt return, that’s even better."

Webb ranked 16th in the NFL in punt returns (10-yard average), returning one for a touchdown. The other two punt returners listed on last year's Ravens depth chart -- Chris Carr (Vikings) and Tom Zbikowski (Colts) -- signed elsewhere in free agency.

Baltimore brought in Ted Ginn Jr. for a free-agent visit but he re-signed with the 49ers. The Ravens were also linked to Eddie Royal before he joined the San Diego Chargers.

“We tried to do something with a free agent or two, and it didn’t work out, but that’s OK,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll move on to the next opportunity.”

That "next opportunity" means the draft. One returner to keep an eye on is Fresno State's Devon Wylie. Other top returners coming out of college are: Florida International's T.Y. Hilton, Alabama's Marquis Maze and Stanford's Chris Owusu.

When we last checked in on the Minnesota Vikings' defensive backfield, they had signed free agent cornerback Zack Bowman to a one-year contract and were continuing to fulfill the mantra of new general manager Rick Spielman: "Value" players from free agency and blue-chippers from the draft.

That's the way to view their latest move, a one-year deal with free agent Chris Carr that the Jason La Canfora of the NFL's web site first reported Wednesday. Carr was a full-time starter for the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 but appeared in only nine games, and 17.5 percent of the Ravens' defensive snaps, in 2011 because of a hamstring injury. He'll turn 29 later this month and will join a crowded if underwhelming group of contenders for the Vikings' 2012 cornerback rotation.

Carr and Bowman will compete for time with holdovers Antoine Winfield, Chris Cook and Asher Allen. If you were hoping for a more significant addition, then I would suggest looking toward the draft. That's where Spielman has said his best players will come from, and it's fair to hold him to that assertion.

Denver is visiting with Houston tight end Joel Dreessen. He is a Colorado native. Denver is also talking to tight end Jacob Tamme, who played with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting Dreessen said he will choose between the Texans and Broncos by Friday morning. It will be interesting to see if Denver would want Dreessen and Tamme. The Broncos also have second-year players Julius Thomas (who they are high on) and Virgil Green, who faces a four-game NFL suspension for using a banned substance.

Meanwhile, cornerback William Gay visited the Broncos on Wednesday. The Broncos are bringing in Tracy Porter on Thursday. I think one of the two have a good chance to be signed.

In other AFC West news:

Because of the money Oakland paid Khalif Barnes, there is good reason to think he will start in 2012 ahead of second-year player Joe Barksdale.

Oakland fans must check out this video about Sebastian Janikowski.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Drew Stanton had a chance to be Kansas City’s backup before signing with the Jets. The Chiefs have since signed former Denver backup Brady Quinn.

NFL Network reports the Chiefs are visiting with cornerback Chris Carr. He would fill a depth role.

Free agent officially kicks off at 4 p.m. Tuesday, so let's take a look at the three biggest needs for the Bengals:

1. Guard: The Bengals need to significantly upgrade both guard positions if they want to improve their running game. Both starters from last season -- Nate Livings and Bobbie Williams -- are free agents, along with backup Mike McGlynn. The best route for the Bengals to take is to find one starter in free agency and another in the draft. The Ravens' Ben Grubbs would be a great fit, but he will be expensive (but not as pricey as the Saints' Carl Nicks). A cheaper alternative (but a much more short-term option) is Steve Hutchinson, who was released by the Vikings on Saturday. The second-tier guards like the Panthers' Geoff Schwartz, the Titans' Jake Scott and the Texans' Mike Brisiel all have major question marks.

2. Wide receiver: Cincinnati found its big-play receiver in the draft last season, taking A.J. Green with the fourth overall pick. Now, the Bengals need to add a consistent No. 2 wide receiver, and they will look to free agency for that complimentary target to Green. Last season, Andy Dalton couldn't depend on Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell, who ran bad routes and dropped too many passes. Simpson and Caldwell are free agents and aren't high on the team's priority list. The Colts' Reggie Wayne would be the best choice because of his consistency and experience, but he is looking to go to an established championship contender. The Saints' Robert Meachem might be the top option with his speed and red-zone prowess. If the Bengals want a veteran possession-type receiver, they could try to lure the Patriots' Deion Branch to Cincinnati.

3. Cornerback: The Bengals will likely draft a cornerback in the early rounds as the eventual replacement to Nate Clements, but they need to address their depth at this position in free agency. Leon Hall is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, and it's uncertain whether he will be ready when the regular season begins. As far as their own free-agent cornerbacks, the Bengals are not expected to re-sign Adam Jones, and have to make a decision on whether to bring back Kelly Jennings. A veteran backup like the Ravens' Chris Carr might interest the Bengals.

There were two roster moves made in the division, and neither come as a surprise. The Steelers released defensive end Aaron Smith (according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter), and the Ravens cut cornerback Chris Carr (according to the NFL Network).

Both were based as much on performance as salary-cap ramifications. Smith, who is scheduled to make $2.1 million this year, has seen four of his past five seasons cut short by injury. Carr, whose 2012 salary was $3 million, was injured soon after signing four-year, $14 million deal (included $3.8 million signing bonus) this summer and never regained his starting spot.

What's next for the Steelers and Ravens?

The next to go in Pittsburgh is likely inside linebacker James Farrior, one of the top leaders on the Steelers defense. His agent indicated that the "percentages" aren't with the Steelers keeping Farrior. "He wanted to retire a PS [Pittsburgh Steeler] but he is healthy and ready [and] wants to play," agent Ralph Cindrich posted on Twitter. Farrior, 37, is scheduled to make $2.8 million in 2012, the final year of his deal.

The next to go in Baltimore is expected to be cornerback Domonique Foxworth, who has only played two games the past two seasons. The knee injury that put him on injured reserve the past two years could force him to retire at the age of 28. Foxworth declined to talk about the knee last month. Asked if it could stop him from ever playing again, he said, "That's a tough question." Foxworth, who is scheduled to make $5.6 million in 2012, could seek an injury settlement.

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

BALTIMORE -- The scariest part about the Baltimore Ravens' defense is that it doesn't fear anything.

The Ravens aren't afraid of blitzing on every play. They're not afraid of sending a safety or a nickel back after the quarterback. They're not afraid of leaving a cornerback one-on-one with a receiver.

After a couple of years of playing it safe, the Baltimore defense showed a national television audience and its former boss that the Ravens haven't just dusted off their old, aggressive game plan. They've expanded it.

Three defensive touchdowns in the Ravens' 34-17 victory over the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium came as the result of relentless pressure. Past Ravens defenses prided themselves on leading the NFL in fewest yards given up or setting the record for fewest points allowed.

This Ravens defense wants turnovers, and they want to turn them into touchdowns. Baltimore's defense outscored the Jets' offense 21-3. Actually, Baltimore's defense outscored its own offense.

So, how great can this Ravens defense become?

"We can be special," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "It all depends on where we go from here."

Defenses in Baltimore are defined by championships, which means there is a ways to go before you can rank this group. All you can say is that Baltimore is on the right path.

The Ravens are relentless and it started with the defense's first snap. Baltimore safety Ed Reed came unblocked and stripped Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez from the blind side, which led to Jameel McClain's 6-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata crashed into Sanchez's back, forcing the ball loose and leading to a 26-yard fumble return by Jarret Johnson. In the third quarter, Suggs' pressure caused Sanchez to hurry a throw to the outside, where cornerback Lardarius Webb jumped in front of Santonio Holmes and ran back the interception 73 yards for a touchdown.

"It reminded me of the 2000 and 2006 defenses," said Jets coach Rex Ryan, who was on the Ravens' staff for both of those defenses. "They were coming after us."

This defense, though, accomplished something the the defenses in 2000 (which set the NFL record for fewest points) and 2006 (which is the only Ravens defense that finished No. 1 in a season) never did -- score three touchdowns in one game.

It didn't matter that the special teams allowed a 107-yard kickoff return or quarterback Joe Flacco had an interception returned for a score. What made the Baltimore defense's effort amazing was how it carried the team.

In 2000, the Ravens' defense remained strong through a five-game touchdown drought. On Sunday night, the defense didn't bend despite a 35 1/2-minute drought for Flacco, who didn't complete a pass in the second or third quarters.

With the Ravens holding a 28-17 lead in the third quarter, Flacco fumbled to give the ball to the Jets at the Baltimore 27-yard line. On the next play, Webb once again showed there was no panic on defense when he delivered his interception return for a touchdown.

"Any defense that can create turnovers and score touchdowns is pretty much unstoppable," Ngata said.

This is a drastically different look from last season, when the Ravens had a more conservative approach under defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. They didn't give up many points (third-fewest in the NFL). But they didn't put much pressure on the quarterback (the 27 sacks were a franchise low).

When Mattison left to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan, Baltimore promoted secondary coach Chuck Pagano, who said the Ravens would "wreak havoc" in his first news conference.

He has lived up to those words, especially against the Jets. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Ravens blitzed at least one defensive back on 13 of Sanchez's 38 dropbacks. Only twice this season had a quarterback taken more snaps against blitzing defensive backs (Jay Cutler and Sam Bradford, both in Week 2).

Those blitzes resulted in nearly as many turnovers (two) as completions (three).

"He's not afraid of anything," linebacker Ray Lewis said of Pagano.

The real fear must be for quarterbacks when they watch the Ravens' defense get announced before the game. You get the sense that's what pitchers must have felt when they went against the Yankees' Murderers' Row in 1927. Out of the Ravens' tunnel comes Ngata. Then Suggs. Then Reed. And of course, Lewis.

What must quarterbacks think when they watch film of the Ravens hammering Sanchez, Ben Roethlisberger and Bradford?

"Get the ball out quick or you’re going to get hit," Suggs said with a laugh.

But quarterbacks aren't getting the ball out quickly enough. Last week in St. Louis, Baltimore recorded 11 quarterback hits. On Sunday night, there were 10 quarterback hits which were delivered by seven players.

The performance was more special because it was against Ryan, the Ravens' defensive coordinator from 2005 to 2008.

"He created us," Johnson said, "now he had to deal with us."

Baltimore's defense could become stronger after this week's bye with the return of two injured cornerbacks, rookie first-round pick Jimmy Smith and veteran Chris Carr.

"I do sense something special with this defense and with this team," Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said. "I think there’s a spirit in this team that’s hard to describe and I wish I could put it into words for you. I saw it the first day the guys came back. We’ll see where it takes us."

Note: Harbaugh handed out game balls to Pagano; O.J. Brigance, the team's director of of player development who celebrated his birthday last week while still battling ALS; and Pat Modell, the wife of former majority owner Art Modell. Pat Modell is seriously ill.

Veteran cornerback Chris Carr is inactive with a hamstring injury, making the Baltimore Ravens extremely depleted at cornerback against the New York Jets Sunday night.

Baltimore will start Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams at cornerback, but the Ravens don't have anyone proven after that. The Ravens' nickel back will either be rookie fifth-round pick Chykie Brown or recent practice squad player Danny Gorrer.

The Ravens are ranked No. 17 in pass defense.

A look at Friday's injury report and what it means:


BENGALS

Out: LB Dontay Moch (foot)

Doubtful: G Otis Hudson (knee)

Probable: DE Jonathan Fanene (knee), DE Robert Geathers (shoulder), S Jeromy Miles (groin), DT Pat Sims (elbow), S Gibril Wilson (knee)

Impact: Of all the issues going on with the Bengals, injuries aren't among them, especially with the return of Geathers. Cincinnati will have running back Cedric Benson in the lineup because there's been no ruling on his three-game suspension. Receiver Jerome Simpson returns to the starting lineup after a drug bust at his house last week. ... The Bills will be without cornerbacks Terrence McGee and Aaron Williams, which further depletes a thin secondary.

BROWNS

Questionable: CB Sheldon Brown (groin), LB Titus Brown (ankle), WR Josh Cribbs (groin), DB Eric Hagg (knee), WR Mohamed Massaquoi (ankle), OT Tony Pashos (ankle), OT Joe Thomas (knee)

Probable: RB Peyton Hillis (illness), LB Chris Gocong (groin), WR Carlton Mitchell (finger)

Impact: The Browns will receive a boost with Pashos starting at right tackle for the first time this season. Pashos is expected to play barring a setback, coach Pat Shurmur said. Cribbs has improved since last week and should go back to handling returns. Of all the questionable players, only Hagg and Titus Brown aren't projected to play.

RAVENS

Out: WR Lee Evans (ankle), S Haruki Nakamura (knee), WR David Reed (shoulder), CB Jimmy Smith (ankle)

Doubtful: LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh)

Questionable: CB Chris Carr (hamstring), G Ben Grubbs (toe)

Probable: C Matt Birk (knee), DE Cory Redding (toe)

Impact: There is increasing concern at cornerback especially if Carr can't play. He didn't practice Friday, which might indicate a setback. Other than starters Cary Williams and Lardarius Webb, the only other cornerbacks on the roster are rookie fifth-round pick Chykie Brown and recent practice squad player Danny Gorrer. With Evans out, rookie second-round pick Torrey Smith will make his second straight start. He will likely be covered by Jets conerback Antonio Cromartie, who is probable. Grubbs didn't practice Friday after being limited Thursday, which likely means Andre Gurode will start again at left guard. ... Jets center Nick Mangold is questionable.

STEELERS

Out: RG Doug Legursky (shoulder), LT Jonathan Scott (ankle), DE Brett Keisel (knee)

Questionable: LB Chris Carter (hamstring)

Probable: WR Arnaz Battle (knee), DT Steve McLendon (illness), WR Mike Wallace (ribs)

Impact: With two starting offensive linemen out, Ramon Foster will start at right guard and Trai Essex will step in at left tackle. Foster has potential and there might not be much of a drop-off from Legursky. Essex can't do much worse than Scott, who has struggled all season. It'll be interesting to see how this patched-up line holds up against a Texans pass rush that is led by Mario Williams. Ziggy Hood will start his second straight game in place of Keisel. ... Texans receiver Andre Johnson (knee and toe) is probable after being limited in practice the past two days. Running back Arian Foster (probable, hamstring) is expected to have a full workload after missing the last game, coach Gary Kubiak said. Struggling cornerback Kareem Jackson is questionable.

New AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley did not have enough on his plate Thursday, his first day with ESPN.com. So I maneuvered to steal some of his time to talk about two key matchups in games pitting our teams against his on Sunday. It produced this post.

Call it rookie hazing.

PK: For starters, I’m curious about the Browns' plan to slow down Robert Mathis, I know they’ve got some issues at right tackle.

JH: They haven’t even settled on one guy, they’re going to go with a rotation with Artis Hicks and Oniel Cousins. For the chemistry and to get into a rhythm with the offensive line, that’s just not an ideal situation. So I think the best way for them to negate Mathis is through strategy. Colt McCoy is going to take a lot of three-step drops, get rid of the ball very quickly. Because if he holds the ball like he did last week against Cincinnati, he’s going to get hit.

They feel very confident in Joe Thomas on the left side with Dwight Freeney, but the big question is how they stop Mathis. I think they just can’t let Mathis get a shot on McCoy, I think they have to be smart. Because right now that’s the biggest matchup problem they have.

PK: And if the Browns can get ahead, like Houston did last weekend, the biggest way to make both those defensive ends non-factors is to run the ball. So I’m sure Cleveland is hoping for a big day from Peyton Hillis.

How about with the Ravens, I know they’ve got some questions on the secondary and their defense is keyed around their front. Kenny Britt has shown himself to be, perhaps, the Titans’ most dangerous guy. If he gets loose in that secondary and they can protect Matt Hasselbeck, what happens back there?

JH: That’s going to be a big question. The Ravens thought they had a deep secondary coming into the season. Then they lost first-round pick Jimmy Smith to a high ankle sprain, he’s going to be gone for a month. Then you have Chris Carr who hasn’t practiced this week because he aggravated a hamstring injury.

So you have Cary Williams, a former Titan, starting for the Ravens, and Lardarius Webb, who was very inconsistent last year but who’s coming off a good, strong game. I think they’re going to have to do this by committee because Kenny Britt is a talented receiver. I think they’re going to have to use a lot of Ed Reed shading his way.

I don’t think they can honestly go into this game thinking they can put one guy on him and really take Kenny Britt out of this game. Whatever side Kenny Britt goes to, I think that’s where Ed Reed follows.

PK: Britt and Hasselbeck still have some timing issues. That can be just the sort of thing Ed Reed finds an opportunity to pounce on.

Three things to watch for in Baltimore's preseason game against visiting Washington on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Joe Flacco's efficiency: Flacco has been decent this preseason. But he's yet to have that dominating performance we've seen from other top quarterbacks. Flacco has missed some throws he usually makes. Some of the blame certainly goes to the offensive line. The pass protection has been inconsistent, which is why the team signed former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie this week. Still, the Ravens would like to see Flacco put together a great half or three quarters of football in Thursday's dress rehearsal game.

Secondary position battles: The Ravens are a veteran team without many position battles. But there are some spots still to be determined in the secondary. The biggest is the strong safety position. Bernard Pollard and Tom Zbikowski are having a healthy competition that could go down to the wire. Haruki Nakamura is also in the mix. Young corner Cary Williams had a great training camp and has the edge at cornerback. But experienced veterans such as Chris Carr, Domonique Foxworth and Lardarius Webb are battling for playing time. So Williams can't rest easy.

Development of receiver Lee Evans: Baltimore's newest acquisition at receiver had a successful debut last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Evans, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, tied for the team lead with three receptions for 68 yards. Evans brings much-needed deep speed to Baltimore's offense. He is quickly developing a rapport with Flacco, who will need Evans this season.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- How close are the Baltimore Ravens?

Consider this: For three consecutive years, they were eliminated in the postseason by the eventual AFC champions.

That is why the Ravens' mindset is all about getting over the hump in 2011. Since 2008, Baltimore has fallen a step or two short of making a Super Bowl run. A pair of playoff losses to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and one to the Indianapolis Colts have overshadowed an otherwise stellar three-year period.

This season, the Ravens have another good team with high expectations. Baltimore should be in the playoff mix again, barring significant injuries. But it probably will come down to whether the Ravens can beat other title contenders -- like Pittsburgh -- in big games.

"The Steelers are one of the best teams in the league, and we're right there behind them," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said this week in a conference call with season-ticket holders. "Our goal is to get there. We understand that. It's a high bar having them in our division like the Orioles have had the Yankees and the Red Sox in their division for 30 years. We'd rather have it no other way. It's just the way it is."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Will Joe Flacco take the next step? If this week was any indication, Flacco is easily the most discussed athlete in Baltimore this summer. Nearly every time I turned on the radio, Flacco was being anaylzed or compared with other quarterbacks.

The "Bash Flacco" bandwagon started in the offseason, when Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley and former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones criticized Flacco. It hasn't stopped since.

Flacco has responded by showing a newfound edge. The fourth-year quarterback has also become a more vocal leader.

Although his stats have steadily improved, Flacco's postseason performances have not. That's where he needs to take the next step. Flacco is 4-3 in the playoffs, but played well in only one of those games -- a wild-card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last January.

2. What to do on the offensive line? There are no easy answers for Baltimore's offensive line. The tackle spots are the biggest problems.

Oniel Cousins has not proved to be the answer at right tackle. Now, the Ravens are experimenting with rookie third-round draft pick Jah Reid to see if he's ready. Reid is expected to get his first NFL start Friday night against the Chiefs.

Former first-round pick Michael Oher was a stellar right tackle as a rookie. But the Ravens moved Oher to left tackle out of necessity in 2010, with mixed results. Baltimore hopes Oher improves in 2011.

Starting guard Marshal Yanda has been dealing with back spasms but could return as early as next week. He's a candidate for right tackle if things don't go well for Reid. Veteran center Matt Birk is out following knee surgery but is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against Pittsburgh.

Baltimore’s offensive line is a hodgepodge group. But the Ravens’ goal is to have clarity by their regular-season opener on Sept. 11.

"We're going to try to work out the best five in some combination," Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said this week. "It may not be ideal, but it's probably our best alternative."

3. Is the defense improved? Baltimore’s defense was ranked No. 10 in the NFL last season. A top-10 ranking is nothing to sneeze at. But the bar for the Ravens' defense is higher.

A leaky secondary and a struggling pass rush were Baltimore's two issues in 2010. Both hurt the Ravens' ability to close out games in the fourth quarter.

Baltimore invested a first-round pick in former Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. He's big, fast and physical. The Ravens haven't had a corner with all of those attributes since former Pro Bowler Chris McAlister.

Also keep an eye on Cary Williams, another big corner who had a good training camp. Williams began working with the first team this week.

"When they prance out there, it's very comforting," Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said of Smith and Williams. "You've got two 6-1, 6-2 guys out there with long arms and guys that can run. It makes it really difficult. When you play tight coverage, it forces the quarterback to put it in tight windows and makes it really hard for the receivers to get off the line."

Pass rush is the biggest lingering issue. The Ravens recorded just 27 sacks in 16 games last season. They didn't add any significant help getting to the quarterback in the draft or free agency.

Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs (11 sacks in 2010) will do his part. The situation gets murky after that.

Second-year linebacker Sergio Kindle may be an option. He was Baltimore’s top draft pick in 2010 but suffered a fractured skull and missed his entire rookie season.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Rookie receiver Tandon Doss consistently made plays in practice this week. By all accounts, he did the same throughout camp.

Doss has really good hands. He made both tough and routine catches over defenders. Speed was an issue, according to college scouting reports. But Doss was quicker and a little faster than I expected.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

The Ravens had high hopes for Cousins. Baltimore anticipated that the fourth-year lineman could solidify the right tackle spot this season. But after a full training camp and one preseason game, Cousins failed to step up to the task.

Cousins allowed two sacks in Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. The coaching staff moved Cousins to right guard this week and hopes he can provide depth there.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Keep an eye on the developing chemistry between Flacco and new receiver Lee Evans. Baltimore recently acquired Evans in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. The timing was off in their first full week together. Flacco is still getting used to Evans’ speed and missed him on several throws in practice. Evans told the AFC North blog this week that he’s confident they will get on the same page. Evans makes his Ravens debut Friday night against Kansas City.
• My early impression on Reid is that he looks the part at right tackle, but he's still very raw. At times, Reid still seemed like his head was spinning in practice, working with the starters. Strength and size are Reid's biggest assets. But he still needs to play faster and improve his footwork. You also have to consider that Reid didn't get any offseason work or minicamps because of the NFL lockout. Now the Ravens are hoping the third-round pick can earn a job with the starters two weeks into the preseason.
• Cameron says new Ravens fullback Vonta Leach reminds him a lot of former fullback Lorenzo Neal. We agree with the comparison. Leach is well-built and very physical. He will provide a good thump at the line of scrimmage that the Ravens were lacking last season. Leach, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, will also help with pass protection.
• I’ve been impressed with rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He consistently made plays in practice this week and showed promise in Baltimore’s first preseason game. The Ravens are high on the sixth-round pick. Taylor will make the team. But is Baltimore comfortable enough to go into the season with a rookie as the No. 2 quarterback?
• Another player to look out for is Bernard Pollard. He is a big safety who is very physical. Pollard fits well with Baltimore’s defense. Free safety Ed Reed covers a lot of ground in the secondary. That allows Pollard to fly around and hit people, which is what he does best.
• The Ravens should be improved in press coverage this year. Smith and Williams are similar in size and showed good jams at the line of scrimmage this week. Previously, Baltimore gave up a lot of size to receivers. But that won’t be the case when Smith and Williams are on the field.
• Baltimore is suddenly very deep at corner. In addition to Smith and Williams, the Ravens have Lardarius Webb, Chris Carr and Domonique Foxworth, who is coming off ACL surgery. The latter three all have starting NFL experience but could begin the year as backups.

The Jaguars needed at least three new starters on defense.

They’ve already added that many. Tania Ganguli reports they are finalizing a deal for former Baltimore safety Dawan Landry, adding him to a free-agent class that already included linebackers Paul Posluszny and Clint Session.

Landry tied for fifth on Scouts Inc.’s list of the top available safeties, just ahead of Melvin Bullitt who is re-signing with the Colts. Here is their scouting report:

“The 2010 season was Dawan Landry's most productive since entering the league 2006. Landry has good size, strength and athleticism for the safety position. He is a quick reactor to fill the alley in run support as well as leveraging receivers in both man and zone coverages. He closes well and shows good range in pursuit. He uses his hands well to shed blockers to stay active to the pile. Landry is a solid wrap tackler who is reliable in the open field. He anticipates well to jump patterns when reading route progressions. Landry is a good player who has developed into one of the best overall defenders on the Ravens' roster.”

How much he benefited from being on one of the top defenses in the league remains for us to figure out. He won't have Ed Reed beside him.

If the Jaguars start a secondary of Rashean Mathis and Derek Cox at corner and Landry and Courtney Greene at safety, they could be OK if the front with the revamped linebackers and a healthy Aaron Kampman can pressure quarterbacks.

I’d still like to see an upgrade over Greene. But Gene Smith indicated at the combine that the team would add one safety in the draft and one in free agency, and the team selected Wyoming’s Chris Prosinski in the fourth round.

Ganguli also reports it looks like the Jaguars won’t reach a deal with Chris Carr. The Baltimore corner is looking for a starting job, but the Jaguars covet him as a nickel.

The available free agent cornerbacks for the Detroit Lions to choose from is dwindling. The latest name off the board is Johnathan Joseph, whose monster agreement with the Houston Texans reportedly includes $23.5 million guaranteed.

Earlier this week we posted Scouts Inc.'s top-10 free agent cornerbacks, including those who are restricted free agents. That list is down to seven, and there is no indication the Lions are in on negotiations for Nnamdi Asomugha. I've published the amended list below.

Let's not consider these names the Lions' only possibilities. General manager Martin Mayhew is well known for his trading prowess, and it's also possible that 2010 starter Chris Houston will return. But if you were hoping they would splurge on one of the top two or three cornerbacks available, then you're probably going to be disappointed.

1. Nnamdi Asomugha
2. Brent Grimes (RFA)
3. Antonio Cromartie
4. Brandon Carr (RFA)
5. Chris Carr
6. Richard Marshall
7. Carlos Rogers

Via Twitter, @gregfairbanks expressed a common refrain during from the fan base of any team that didn't make a Day 1 splash in free agency: "Awfully quiet on the lions front -- any news brewing??"

I haven't abandoned my expectation that the Detroit Lions will add at least one free-agent cornerback in the coming days. We should point out that one candidate is already off the market; the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to terms with incumbent Ike Taylor late Tuesday night. Other than an expectation that the Lions won't "go big," there is no clear indication what direction they're headed in here.

So until we get a better feel for their approach, I'll leave you with the top 10 remaining cornerbacks on the free-agent market, as ranked by Scouts Inc. (You need an Insider subscription to see the entire list.)

Note that Chris Houston, the Lions' ostensible No. 1 cornerback last season, isn't in this ranking. And remember that restricted free agents require draft-pick compensation if the current team chooses not to match an offer sheet extended by the new team:

1. Nnamdi Asomugha
2. Johnathan Joseph
3. Brent Grimes (RFA)
4. Antonio Cromartie
5. Josh Wilson
6. Brandon Carr (RFA)
7. Chris Carr
8. Richard Marshall
9. Drayton Florence
10. Carlos Rogers