The Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl champions, but after a busy offseason that saw a number of veteran players move on or get released, the team is ready to try and retool again and running back Ray Rice is expecting to be a big part of that on offense.
According to SI.com, Rice is ready to open up his role in the offense more and after the trade of wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers, he may get more looks in the passing game from franchise quarterback Joe Flacco. Rice has always been able to get himself into space and out of the backfield to catch passes, but the team may be even more reliant on that aspect of his game as they shift their focus on offense,
Boldin was one of the most productive receivers for the Ravens last season, making 65 catches during the year while also doing it in the playoffs with 22 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns. The Ravens surprised everyone when they traded the 32-year-old receiver to the 49ers, but the team is ready for Torrey Smith to step up and they also feel that Dennis Pitta can help make up for that production at tight end as well.
The Ravens had a tight financial situation after dealing with Flacco's contract and Boldin was one of the casualties of that, but the Ravens also have Jacoby Jones to step into a more prominent role as well. Boldin's production can be made up for in a number of ways and Rice will definitely help in that regard. The team likes to use three receiver sets, but without Boldin, they may try to split Rice out wide more, as well as Pitta, who has a good relationship with Flacco and is also pretty athletic for a tight end.
Rice has done a good job over the years in pass blocking, but now he may get the chance to get into space more and make up for Boldin's work. According to SI.com, Boldin made 87 catches during the full season and over half of them came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, meaning that Pitta and Rice can be used to keep that production steady and they can use different sets to get them into the open field close to the line of scrimmage. Flacco likes the short range passes and the offense will likely continue to employ that this season.
"Now that guys know that I'm a threat out of the backfield, I got to use my hands a little more," Rice told The Baltimore Sun over the weekend. "I get pushed a lot coming out of the backfield, and that's a sign of respect, but if I can get my hands and get out on pass routes [I'll] continue to get open for Joe Flacco."