Biggest Issues Facing Baltimore Ravens with OTAs Wrapped

NFL teams aren't built in a day, and the Baltimore Ravens are no different. 

Organized team activities play a part in the long process of constructing an NFL team. Most teams have wrapped or are wrapping OTAs up as they get a small summer break before training camp opens.

While a team can only do so much in these practices, it can get a decent idea of some of the strengths and weaknesses of the roster. For Baltimore, some glaring questions have surfaced as the Ravens wrap up their latest round of OTAs. 

Here's a look at the biggest concerns the Ravens still need to deal with as they look toward training camp in mid-July. 

How Will Cornerback Shape Up?

Nick Wass/Associated Press

The secondary was among Baltimore's biggest concerns coming into the offseason.

Though the Ravens addressed it with several additions, questions will surround this unit until it proves it's better than last year's iteration in actual games. 

The real weakness was at cornerback, though the unit will get better just by players getting healthier. Jimmy Smith and Asa Jackson opened 2014 as a quality starting CB tandem. 

However, those two finished on injured reserve after suffering season-ending injuries midway through the year. 

Getting them back will be an upgrade, but that didn't keep the Ravens from adding several corners this offseason. In free agency, they signed Kyle Arrington and Cassius Vaughn for added depth.

Arrington is another ball-hawking corner who led the NFL in interceptions (seven) in 2011. He could push for a starting role after he started 56 games in New England. 

As for Vaughn, he played in 13 games (five starts) for the Detroit Lions in 2014 with 18 tackles, five pass deflections and two interceptions.

In the NFL draft, Baltimore took Texas Southern's Tray Walker in Round 4. He grabbed four interceptions this past season and finished his career with 10 picks.

How this position shapes out remains to be seen. However, those three additions should solidify what was a weakness for Baltimore last year. If Smith and Jackson are healthy and stay that way in 2015, it would only make this position deeper. 

Will Dennis Pitta Play in 2015?

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

With OTAs close to ending, the status of tight end Dennis Pitta is still up in the air. 

He may still have enough left in the tank to play at a high level and be a starter. Unfortunately, injuries have put his career in jeopardy going into the 2015 season. 

Last year, he suffered a season-ending hip injury three games into the season. That came after a hip injury in 2013 cost him 12 games. As a result, Pitta is dealing with chronic hip issues that may lead to his retiring this year, according to BaltimoreRavens.com.

During OTAs, he did get on the field occasionally, and head coach John Harbaugh was optimistic about what he saw. 

"Dennis is out there for about half the practice and he's doing a good job, too," Harbaugh said, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. "So, we're not counting him out at all."

With the uncertainty surrounding Pitta, the Ravens traded up in the second round of this year's draft to take Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams. 

This past year, Williams caught 36 passes for 569 yards and eight touchdowns. He's good enough to win the starting job, but having a veteran in Pitta would, if nothing else, aid the rookie in his development. 

Is Matt Schaub a Capable Backup?

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The Ravens lost longtime backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor this offseason, who had been with the team since 2011. He left to sign with the Buffalo Bills to compete for their starting QB job.

That forced Baltimore to go out and sign the best backup it could get.

Unfortunately, that ended up being Matt Schaub. While he once was a quality starter for the Houston Texans, his career has gone off a cliff as of late. 

In 2013, he started 11 games and threw 14 interceptions versus 10 touchdowns and was benched with five games left. Last year with the Oakland Raiders, he didn't start, as he backed up Derek Carr every game. 

In what limited snaps he did get, it was clear Schaub's play was still declining. He threw two picks in just 10 passing attempts and didn't account for a single touchdown in 11 games. 

Now with Baltimore, it doesn't look like he is any more capable than he was last year. In OTAs, he has continued to turn the ball over, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun notes: 

"

Schaub washed out as a starter because of his tendency to throw interceptions and have them returned for touchdowns. He has remained prone to interceptions in practice, and threw a pair on Monday.

Middle linebacker Zach Orr intercepted an errant pass over the middle and cornerback Quinton Pointer intercepted a pass that glanced off of wide receiver Daniel Brown's hands.

Schaub has his moments, but also has appeared hesitant. With more decisiveness and trust in his initial read, Schaub can improve. It almost seems, at times, like he's haunted by past interceptions and is concerned about making a mistake.

"

That's not what you want to hear with any of your quarterbacks, let alone the guy who will be playing if Joe Flacco goes down. This will be something to watch in training camp and the preseason.

If Schaub continues to be timid and turnover-prone, Baltimore may have to scramble to find a more suitable backup. Even though Flacco has never missed an NFL game, you can't just assume that streak will keep going.

At some point in his career, Flacco is going to miss a game for one reason or another. If it's this year, is Schaub the guy Baltimore wants replacing him?

That's something the Ravens need to figure out before the regular season opens.