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          Ravens mailbag: Any pass-rushers still available to provide depth?

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterMay 31, 2015, 10:00 AM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          It's time to click open our weekend Baltimore Ravens mailbag ...

          @jamisonhensley: There are some notable names still out on free-agent market, but they are older than 32 and all past their prime. There's a reason why Dwight Freeney, John Abraham and Osi Umenyiora are still available. This isn't to say they couldn't help as situational pass-rushers, and the Ravens might have interest in one of them down the road. Right now, the Ravens want to see what their young pass-rushers can do. Team officials invested a fourth-round pick in Za'Darius Smith, have talked about increased snaps on third downs for Courtney Upshaw and have talked up little-known Steven Means. The Ravens likely would have interest in one of those veteran pass-rushers if there's an injury to Terrell Suggs or Elvis Dumervil or if there is a concern late in training camp that they don't have a third pass rusher to fill the void left by Pernell McPhee. Freeney, who was drafted one year before Suggs, showed he still had something left last season with the Chargers. He finished with 53 combined pressures on 372 snaps.

          @jamisonhensley: This is an early projection, considering there are 105 days left before the season opener. The starting wide receivers will be Steve Smith and Breshad Perriman, and I would be surprised if it wasn't, barring injury. The tight end situation is more complicated. The Ravens could go with more of a two-tight-end look with Maxx Williams and Crockett Gillmore. If they go with one tight end, Williams is the better pass-catcher and Gillmore is the more reliable blocker. The other factor is whether Dennis Pitta is going to play this season. If I'm making an educated guess right now, the starting tight end will be Gillmore early in the season because he's more experienced. Williams should still end up with the most catches for Ravens tight ends this season.

          @jamisonhensley: This is a big year for Arthur Brown because I don't know how much longer the Ravens can wait for him to turn the corner. If he makes an impact, it's going to be on special teams unless there is an injury. I thought Brown showed promise as a rookie when he played in passing situations and he put pressure on the quarterback. But the Ravens' inside linebackers, C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith, are every-down players and it's hard to justify taking either one off the field. I was surprised that Brown didn't practice well enough to get on special teams. He certainly has speed. But he watched Albert McClellan and undrafted rookie Zachary Orr get all the snaps. Brown was only active for four of 16 regular-season games before going on injured reserve in the playoffs. The Ravens have watched other draft picks emerge in their third and fourth seasons, like Jimmy Smith and Paul Kruger. They're hoping Brown turns into one of those success stories.

          @jamisonhensley: In watching one two-hour practice this year, it looks like the Ravens are using the same run scheme under Marc Trestman that they did last year with Gary Kubiak. There could be some subtle changes, but the linemen are using the same inside and outside zone techniques. The Ravens, who ranked No. 8 in running the ball last season, have to take the philosophy of not messing with success, especially with all five starting offensive linemen returning.