The calendar may still read 'August', but reality is beginning to set in around the NFL. For many players on the Baltimore Ravens' roster and even more prospects across the league, their final preseason game will be the last time they suit up in an NFL uniform. For many, the final week of the preseason represents their last opportunity to prove they belong on a 53-man roster. The same is true in Baltimore, where several position battles remain unsettled, and competition continues throughout the depth chart.
Following Monday's practice, Ravens head coach Jesse Minter addressed reporters and was asked whether players can sense that opportunities are running out as roster decisions draw near. His answer revealed a straightforward message that has
become a recurring theme throughout Baltimore's training camp.
"I told the guys their job, their opportunity is just to make it as hard as possible [and] put their best stuff out there. Taking the opportunity and running with it, making it really challenging for us to dwindle it down to 53 and then another so many guys on the practice squad."
For Minter, the focus isn't on the pressure of roster cuts or the anxiety that naturally accompanies this time of year. Instead, he wants players concentrating on what they can control. He's right. One of the more notable parts of Minter's response was his acknowledgment that the competition extends well beyond the back end of the roster. While fans often focus on the final few roster spots, Minter indicated that battles are still taking place throughout the lineup. Starters must also look over their shoulder. Part of his final thought stands out.
"To me, there is competition all across the roster, some of it may be for spot 50 and some of it is still for starting positions."
That reality has been evident throughout camp. The center competition has taken on added significance following Danny Pinter's injury. Young defensive linemen continue battling for roles in one of the deepest position groups on the team. Several players in the secondary and special teams units are also trying to carve out roster spots.
According to Minter, the best way to handle that uncertainty is not by worrying about numbers or projections. Instead, it is by continuing to stack productive practices and strong preseason performances until the coaching staff has no choice but to take notice. As cutdown day approaches, every player on the roster is searching for a way to separate himself. Minter's message suggests the formula is simpler than many might think. Don't worry about where you stand. Don't worry about who you're competing against. Make the decision as difficult as possible for the coaches making it. For players fighting to extend their NFL careers, there may be no better advice than that.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jesse Minter challenges Ravens players to make roster cuts difficult
