No more Ricky, what's next for the Ravens?

The Ravens kept three running backs on their 53 man roster throughout the 2011 season, those being Ray Rice, Ricky Williams and Anthony Allen. With Williams announcing his plans to retire earlier today an emerging question is who the Ravens primary back-up to Ray Rice will be going into training camp.

The first option that the Ravens have is to use what they currently have. Outside of the starter Rice, the other running backs the Ravens currently have under contract are Anthony Allen and Damien Berry. Berry was an undrafted free agent out of Miami who was on the practice squad for the entire 2011 season and Allen, a seventh round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, was only active for the first five games of the season and had only three carries for eight yards. I doubt that the Ravens will be content going into the 2012 season with three carries from a running back who was primarily a triple option back in college as their primary back-up.

For some reason, I don't think Damien Berry has a future with the Ravens
Photo: Baltimore Sun

The first place that the Ravens could look is in free agency. They could go a similar route to what they did last offseason in signing an established veteran. A few names in the free agent pool that popped out to me were Chester Taylor, Michael Bush, Tashard Choice, LenDale White, Ryan Grant, Ladainian Tomlinson and Le’Ron McClain. Of these I have a few favorites. Ryan Grant is a back who had a few successful years in Green Bay before a season ending injury in 2010 lost him his starting job. Although he has a Super Bowl ring from the 2010 season with the Packers, he was on the IR for the entire season and may be hungry to win one himself. His numbers last year are similar to what Williams put up with the Ravens, so he may be ready to come in and fill the same role for the Ravens.

Other names that pop out include Le’Ron McClain and Chester Taylor, both former Ravens. McClain would be strictly a back-up running back due to last season’s addition of Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach. Taylor, had 13 carries for the Arizona Cardinals, so he may be a little past his prime and is probably not a viable option.

LaDainian Tomlinson has been in the backfield with the Jets the last two seasons. He moved to the Jets with the primary goal of winning a Super Bowl that has evaded him on his otherwise Hall of Fame career. Michael Bush is a younger option and has been replaced by Darren McFadden in Oakland. However with McFadden returning from injury the Raiders may want to keep Bush as a safety option. (More after the jump)

If the Ravens choose not to go this route I believe that they will at least draft a running back in the middle to late rounds to come in and compete with Allen/Berry for the back-up job. A total of 30 running backs have been invited to the NFL combine. Going through and profiling all of them is a waste of time so I will highlight a few running backs who jump out at me and may be drafted in the area of the draft that the Ravens are willing to spend a pick on another RB.  

LaMichael James is a running back out of Oregon who according to CBSsports.com is a third round value. I could see him dropping in the draft because of off the field issues. He was arrested during his time at Oregon and as a result was suspended for the opening game of the 2010 season. Based on his numbers and potential he is a very talented option however he may be available later in the draft because of the before mentioned issues, as well as his small stature. He could be looked at similar to what Ray Rice was seen as four years ago coming out of Rutgers: a small running back who can be productive in the right system, but has injury concerns due to his size.

Run, LaMichael, Run? Could the Ravens add James in the draft?
Photo: Sports Illustrated

Vick Ballard is a senior running back from Mississippi State. He is projected to go in the 4-5 rounds. Mississippi State isn’t a power in the SEC which is why his 6.2 ypc last year is impressive as defenses game planned especially for him.

Chris Polk is coming off a First Team All-Pac-12 season for the Washington Huskies.  He has racked up over 4,000 yards in his career at Washington and averaged 5.1 ypc the past season. While he is projected to go in the second round and could be someone to keep an eye on if he drops in the draft.

Isaiah Pead is projected to go in rounds four-five in the upcoming draft. The running back from Cincinnati averaged over 6 yards a carry in his career with the Bobcats. His carries have gone up throughout his career peaking with 237 the past year. He is seen as a third down running back who has the hands to catch balls out of the backfield as well as being an effective pass blocker.

Finally, Bernard Pierce a junior running back from Temple. The reason I am including him on this list is because he is the one running back not named Davin Meggett that I have seen play who is in this draft. Pierce went off against the Terps this year running for 149 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is seen to go around the same time as Pead and may be another late round option that the Ravens take a look at to come in an compete against Allen and Berry.

Ultimately Ray Rice is the Ravens running back of the future. They will not let him go in free agency this summer and will either sign him to a long term deal or use the franchise tag on him. However, they do need to bring in either an experienced back to back him up similar to Ricky Williams this year, or draft a running back to compete and push Allen in camp this summer. Who knows what the Ravens will end up doing, I personally was hoping for Williams to return next season as he was a reliable back up. Maybe he will change his mind as we all know that no one exactly knows what Ricky is thinking or will do next. If he does retire he had a great career it’s a shame he couldn’t have gone out on a higher note. (Can’t be a Ricky post without at least one weed joke, right?)

-VEB