Elvis Dumervil has been the newest addition to the Ravens defense, but he is taking valuable playing time away from impressive rookie sensation, Courtney Upshaw. Upshaw had 60 tackles in 2012, but apparently it wasn't enough to ensure a starting spot on the defense. Then again, when you have Dumervil, you have to start the talented outside linebacker.
Lardarius Webb is certainly a guy who is facing a make-or-break season in 2013. He is backed up by Jimmy Smith on the depth chart right now at cornerback, but the five-year vet could easily lose that No. 1 spot with sub-par performance. Smith has the skills to start and we will see if he can do so at some point this season if Webb falters.
Terrell Suggs is one of the toughest linebackers in the NFL, but that toughness couldn't keep him from getting hurt last season. He missed eight games a year ago and accumulated just 22 total tackles. He's also usually a sack-machine, too, with four of his 11 seasons resulting in 10+ sacks. However, if he shows that he can't perform with the same amount of energy after returning from his injury, he could be on the way out.
Terrence Cody is supposed to be the guy to take over Haloti Ngata's nose tackle spot once the big man is gone, but the way Cody has performed the past three seasons has been average at best. He is a solid guy that can plug holes up the middle, but he has yet to penetrate and record a single sack in his three-year career. He will need to fix that if he wants to remain a Raven.
Torrey Smith has the ability to be one of the NFL's scariest deep-threats if he performs the way he is capable of. With the newly-appointed status of No. 1 receiver, however, only time will tell how the young guy can handle the pressure. I'm not saying the 2013 season could decide his fate with the Ravens, but it could decide if they go after a new No. 1 receiver in 2014.
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