It's just minicamp, but here's watch to watch for from Ravens

Questions abound as team meets final time before summer break

It's minicamp folks, not Armageddon.

Because the NFL has become so 24/7, minicamps are given the same hype as training camp, which means teams are expected to re-invent themselves in that short, three-day window.

If you subscribe to that theory, and there are many in town who do, I suggest taking a couple of deep breaths, count to 10 and repeat this three times: "It's only minicamp, it's only minicamp, it's only minicamp. ..."

No team can solve all of its problems in a minicamp, which begins today for the Ravens. These practices should give the Ravens some additional insight, and maybe push them in one direction or the other, but they won't find out if outside linebackers Paul Kruger and rookie Courtney Upshaw are adequate replacements for Jarret Johnson and Terrell Suggs.

That time will come once training camp and the regular season starts. But on Tuesday, with the increased intensity and faster pace, we can at least start focusing in on story lines heading into training camp that begins next month.

Some to keep an eye on:

•Besides Upshaw and Kruger, the other additional outside linebacker to watch is Sergio Kindle, the third-year player out of Texas. Before he gets better on Sunday afternoons, he has to improve practice habits. If he doesn't have a good training camp, he'll likely get cut.

•Training camp is about a month away, but it will be interesting to see if offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and defensive tackle Terrence Cody have kept their weight down. McKinnie and rookie guard Kelechi Osemele struggled with conditioning during OTAs even though McKinnie appeared smaller than a year ago.

•Osemele was expected to challenge second-year player Jah Reid for the starting left guard position, but the recent addition of veteran Bobbie Williams makes Williams the favorite. Osemele needs more experience and Reid might be too stiff. Williams was a good pickup by the Ravens and the addition of a veteran was expected.

•The Ravens are looking for a No. 3 receiver. Can one of the younger ones like LaQuan Williams David Reed or Tandon Doss emerge, or does that role go to sixth-year player and recently acquired Jacoby Jones?

•Torrey Smith's improvement from a year ago is clearly noticeable. The second-year receiver's route running is better and he is getting his hips down and accelerating going in and out of breaks. But how much have his hands, along with those of tight end Ed Dickson, improved as far as holding onto passes?

•I still think the Ravens might have to add a veteran backup running back, but now is the time for Bernard Pierce, Damien Berry or Anthony Allen to begin establishing themselves as the No. 2 to Ray Rice.

•Nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu could be a nice pickup for the Ravens, but you wonder if there is anything left in the tank after 10 years in the league. Because of the physical nature of the position, nose guards aren't known for their longevity.

•Unlike last season when he was both quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron is just calling the plays again. So far in OTAs, it's good seeing him spending time orchestrating and not just working with the quarterbacks. Also, it will be interesting to see if QB coach Jim Caldwell can get Joe Flacco to take his game to a higher level.

•Defensive end Pernell McPhee had a strong rookie season in 2011 with 23 tackles including six sacks, but we want to see if a good off-season in the weight room has turned him into an every down player.

•Inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is about to enter his fourth season. He has quietly performed well during OTAs, so maybe this is the year he finally lives up to his potential.

•The Ravens have a new defensive coordinator in Dean Pees. It will be interesting to see what new wrinkles he brings and how he puts his personal stamp on the defense. The key for former defensive coordinators in Baltimore is that they adapt to the system, and not force the players to adapt to a new system and coordinator.

•Billy Cundiff says he has forgotten and moved on from the 32-yard field goal attempt he missed in the closing seconds of the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots. We'll soon begin to find out.

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