Early Predictions for Baltimore Ravens' 2015 Training Camp Battles

The start of training camp is just two months away now. 

That's when the pads are back on and full-contact practices return. Until then, teams are conducting organized team activities to keep players fresh while getting rookies acclimated to the NFL. 

The Baltimore Ravens have several roster battles ensuing that won't be decided until camp opens. More than likely, these battles won't be won until preseason games are played, as well. 

Here's a look at three position battles that will help shape the Ravens' 2015 season.

Starting Tight End

When training camp opens, tight end will likely be the biggest question mark.

Baltimore traded up in the second round of this year's draft to select Minnesota's Maxx Williams. Most regarded him as the No. 1 TE prospect this year.

In 2014, Williams caught 36 passes for 569 yards and eight touchdowns. He's now the prohibitive favorite to open the year as Baltimore's starting TE, but he still has to win the job in training camp.

As good as Williams could be, Dennis Pitta may still have enough left in the tank to play at a high level and win this job. The problem is Pitta suffered a season-ending hip injury last year that now has his career in jeopardy. 

Chronic hip issues resulting from it may lead to Pitta retiring this year, per BaltimoreRavens.com. If that's the case, Williams will have an easy path to the starting TE job.

If Pitta does play, it will be a much tougher battle to win this job. Even if Pitta plays this year and Williams beats him for the starting job, having a quality veteran to learn from will aid Williams' development.

As for the other challengers, Baltimore drafted Nick Boyle out of Delaware in the fifth round to compete with Crockett Gillmore and Phillip Supernaw.

Gillmore didn't do much as a rookie out of Colorado State last year. He did, however, catch a touchdown in Baltimore's playoff win at Pittsburgh. 

Supernaw was more of an emergency TE, and Boyle isn't expected to contribute much as a rookie while he fights for a roster spot. 

Prediction: Maxx Williams wins the starting job and keeps it throughout his rookie season.

Starting Strong Safety

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

The Ravens secondary will look mostly the same in 2015, but that doesn't mean there won't be competition for a starting spot. 

At strong safety, there's a bit of uncertainty as the result of Darian Stewart leaving this offseason to sign with the Denver Broncos in free agency.

That's why Will Hill is being moved to that position after starting at free safety last year. Contrary to FS, SS requires more physicality and willingness to make a lot of tackles.

Hill is looking forward to doing that more at SS this year.

"I just get to hit people," Hill said, via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. "That's what I like to do. I don't care. I just want to play football."

The man who will challenge Hill for the starting SS spot will be third-year man Matt Elam. Drafted in the first round out of Florida in 2013, Elam has yet to find a consistent role in Baltimore's defense. 

He's moved around from FS to SS and even slot cornerback at times. He's expected to stick to SS in 2015, where he'll push Hill for the starting job.

Prediction: Will Hill is not only the better SS of these two but is also arguably the best defensive back on the roster. He wins this job with relative ease.

No. 2 Running Back

In today's NFL, having a good backup running back is critical to maintaining a consistent ground game.

For the Ravens, they have a clear-cut starter in Justin Forsett. He rushed for 1,266 yards (fifth-most in the NFL) and eight scores in 2014. 

He later re-signed with the Ravens after briefly being a free agent this offseason. While he'll be the No. 1 back, having a quality backup will be key for the Ravens this year and in the future. 

Forsett turns 30 in October, and that tends to be a scary number for NFL backs. ESPN did a study in 2014 that showed how RB performance can plummet after the age of 30.

Their study showed NFL backs at age 30 rush for an average of less than 629 yards in a season. If Forsett comes close to that level of drop-off in 2015, Baltimore must have another back ready to step up and ensure the ground game doesn't suffer.

That's why the backup job is so important at this position. Fighting for this spot will be second-year players Lorenzo Taliaferro and Fitzgerald Toussaint along with fourth-round pick Javorius "Buck" Allen. 

The former two rarely touched the ball in 2014, and Taliaferro ended the year on IR with a foot injury. That led to Toussaint being promoted from the practice squad to be the third-string back behind Forsett and Bernard Pierce.

Unfortunately, Pierce was waived this offseason after being arrested for a DUI. That's why Baltimore went out and got Allen out of USC in the draft.

He's a very talented prospect who could not only win the backup job but also push Forsett for some of his snaps. The 6'0", 221-pound Allen rushed for 1,489 yards and 11 scores. He also caught 41 passes for 458 yards and one score, which shows how versatile of an offensive weapon he can be.

Prediction: Buck Allen wins this job and backs up Forsett this year. With Forsett also up the in age, I anticipate he'll miss a game or two due to injury at some point. 

That leads to Allen getting a start or two on his way to having a productive rookie season.