Devard Darling knows this might be his best shot to make a real impression with the Ravens? coaching staff. The third-year receiver has shown potential ? but has been short on delivery ? during his brief tenure with the team.
Daily speculation is that Darling is battling for the fourth wide receiver spot in training camp, with training camp standout Demetrius Williams, a rookie, having a slight edge for the third spot, behind Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton. Darling and Williams appeared to be trying to top each other with spectacular catches Tuesday.
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“No, buddy,” Darling said, when asked if he?s looking for the fourth spot. “I?m going for that third receiver spot.”
Darling was brimming with confidence following Tuesday?s practice at McDaniel College in Westminster.
“I expect to come out there and be a productive receiver in this league, whether it be first, second, third or whatever,” said Darling, who looks more consistent than ever before.
Perhaps no position has been more impacted by injuries in the first two weeks of training camp than the receiving corps. Clarence Moore has been on the physically unable to perform list the entire camp while he recovers from a sports hernia.
Clayton, the second-year veteran with big expectations, has been bothered by a nagging hamstring injury for most of camp. Williams briefly battled a hamstring problem, as well.
“Depth?s kind of a concern,” head coach Brian Billick said. “Demetrius looks like he?s coming on [and] obviously Devard Darling, but the depth is a concern. But [it?s] an opportunity for some of those young guys to step into.”
There has been speculation that the Ravens might get involved in talks for disgruntled veterans Ashley Lelie (Broncos) and Jerry Porter (Raiders). Billick did not rule out bringing in a veteran.
“Sure, there?s always that possibility ? yeah,” he said.
As the roster stands now, though, Billick said he believes Mason and Clayton are his best one-two combination during his eight-year tenure as head coach, and hopes Darling can finally turn the corner. Last season, Darling played in 10 games but had no catches.
“[Darling] is a tremendous athlete ? that goes without saying,” Billick said. “His background ? he?s got a lot of ground to cover up, to catch up. But it looks like he?s getting there.”
Training camp invitee Romby Bryant has made the occasional nice catch. After getting waived by the Cardinals and Falcons in the last two years, he?s also hoping to latch on to perhaps the fifth spot should Moore?s injuries linger.
“I think we are coming along good,” Bryant said. “The young guys are stepping it up. I think we are doing well as a group. You saw it today. Demetrius made a couple of plays, Devard made a couple of plays, and Mark and Derrick do their usual thing.”
Bryant,being no stranger to being cut, said he is trying to make the most of the opportunity.
“There is a lot of pressure, but I try not to think about it,” he said. “You can?t control the coaches.”
? Kyle Siskey contributed to this story
