4 Baltimore Ravens Who Could Take a Step Back in 2012

There are a number of reasons a player ends up with a drop-off in his production for one reason or another.

Beyond just a simple slump, other factors, including more playing time for his positional counterparts, changes in coaching staff and philosophy or the loss of a fellow, complementary player to free agency or injury can affect a player's success or failure.

With all these factors in mind, here are four Baltimore Ravens who could take a step back this season, through no fault of their own.

RB Ray Rice

Ravens star running back Ray Rice is in the midst of a contract holdout, refusing to sign the $7.742 million franchise tender the team offered him earlier this year. Rice is reportedly looking for around $10 million per year, and it's clear the Ravens are more than hesitant to pay him what he's asking.

It's not that a holdout, however prolonged, will harm Rice's production this year. He had the most yards from scrimmage of any offense player last season, and if he had his way, he'd likely do the same thing this year.

But the Ravens may have other plans, especially if Rice caves at some point and signs the tender. His carries and passing targets could be cut down, with the team focusing more on their receivers to move the chains rather than Rice. Drafting Bernard Pierce this year also means the Ravens finally have a capable No. 2 back to absorb some of Rice's carries.

It could be one part negotiating tactic, one part offensive strategy that lowers Rice's production this season. Without the monster yardage of 2011, the Ravens will have another reason to not pay him as much, and further, the whole offense needs to be more consistent and more effective, meaning less of a reason to lean on Rice as much.

That doesn't mean Rice's talent level will drop, but because of these factors, his overall yardage could.

WR Anquan Boldin

Last season, Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin was quarterback Joe Flacco's biggest target (105 targets to Ray Rice's 104), though he caught just 57 passes compared to Rice's 76.

Boldin did end the year with the most receiving yards of any Raven, with 887, but this year, Torrey Smith looks poised to overtake him in both targets and yards.

Smith spent most of his rookie season battling a sports hernia which required offseason surgery, but nonetheless, pulled down 50 passes for 841 yards and seven touchdowns.

Fully healthy, he should have even greater success. Add into that the fact that he's now in the midst of his first full offseason program of his career, allowing him to build more of a rapport with Flacco, and he's certainly set up for a 1,000-yard season.

With Smith getting increased targets, fellow second-year player Tandon Doss likely to make a real contribution now that he's also healed from a hernia surgery of his own and LaQuan Williams also looking good at workouts, Boldin won't be relied upon so much. Plus, the Ravens brought on veteran Jacoby Jones, again further cutting into Boldin's targets.

All of this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Ravens need more variety in their passing game, so the ascendancy of any or all of Flacco's non-Boldin targets is a good sign the team will have more success in the air.

RB Ray Lewis

It's not because Ray Lewis is getting older that he could have a down year in 2012—it's because fellow linebacker Terrell Suggs won't be on the field with him for some of, if not the entirety of, the upcoming season while he recovers from a torn Achilles' tendon.

The Ravens have benefited greatly by having two fearsome pass-rushers in their linebacking corps. It's nearly impossible for opposing offensive lines to stop either or both men play after play, which allowed both Lewis and Suggs to have extremely successful 2011 seasons.

Last year, Lewis had 95 total tackles, two sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles. Suggs had 70 tackles, 14 sacks, two interceptions and seven forced fumbles. Attention on Lewis allowed Suggs to break free, and attention paid to Suggs allowed Lewis to make as many tackles as he did.

This year, without Suggs on the field (as well as not having Jarret Johnson around to help with stopping the run), opposing linemen will have an easier time keying in on Lewis and holding him at bay, which should result in a relatively down year for him.

TE Ed Dickson

Ravens tight end Ed Dickson had the fourth-most receiving targets last year with 89, pulling down 54 of them for 528 yards and five scores. But this season, his production may drop off for reasons similar to the ones I explained for receiver Anquan Boldin.

An increase in viable receiving targets for Joe Flacco, combined with what looks to be an improved year for fellow tight end Dennis Pitta (who was hot on Dickson's heels last season, with 56 targets and an impressive 40 receptions, for 405 yards and three scores), could push him somewhat lower on the receiving totem pole.

The Ravens need a more balanced offensive attack, which means a better passing game. Dickson is very much a part of this effort, but with other receivers and Pitta clamoring for Flacco's attention, his numbers could drop some in 2012.

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