2012 Two-a-Days: Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 NFL season I am going to be giving a look to two teams a day. I will give you their impact players on offense and defense, a breakout, and the biggest question as they open training camp.

Offense
QB - Joe Flacco
RB - Ray Rice
RB - Bernard Pierce (rookie)
WR - Anquan Boldin
WR - Torrey Smith

Defense
DE - Haloti Ngata
NT - Terrence Cody
ILB - Ray Lewis
OLB - Courtney Upshaw (rookie)
S - Ed Reed

Ray Lewis LB

Breakout: Courtney Upshaw - Sometimes it feels like just breathing the same air as Ray Lewis enhances your ball skills. The Ravens are going to keep Ray at inside linebacker until he needs a cane to walk because of the confidence he exudes and how it seems to rub off on the players around him. Alabama rookie Upshaw could be the biggest beneficiary of lining up next to the Hall-of-Famer.

Training Camp Question: While Ray Lewis is the face of the franchise, it is Terrell Suggs that is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.Suggs' 14 sacks and 7 forced fumbles will be missed after he tore his Achilles tendon in the off-season. At camp coaches are looking at Upshaw and Paul Kruger to pick up the slack and keep the modern day Purple People Eaters among the top defensive units in the National Football League.

Last year's record: 12-4

Projected finish: 9-7 (Second in the AFC North)

Offense
QB - Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB - Fred Jackson
RB - C.J. Spiller
WR - Steve Johnson
TE - Scott Chandler

Defense
DE - Mario Williams (acquired in free agency)
DT - Marcell Dareus
CB - Stephon Gilmore (rookie)
S - George Wilson
S - Jairus Byrd

CJ Spiller RB

Breakout: C.J. Spiller - While Fred Jackson was nursing an injury last season he may have been Wally Pipped. Jackson will be given the first chance at the bulk of carries becuase of how good he was before going down, but Spiller was no slouch when he got his shot. Spiller is 25 and the future and Jackson is 31 and bound to give way to the former 9th overall pick. I say Spiller is a sleeper for 1200 yards and 8-to-10 touchdowns.

Training Camp Question: The Bills are going to be contenders this season if their defense comes together as planned. D-Coordinator Dave Wannstedt will have no excuse if he cannot get Super Mario and Marcell Dareus to disrupt the AFC. The Bills are looking at former first overall and second overall draftees in the three-point stance aside one another. The defense has to win games while the offense and Ryan Fitzpatrick avoid the costly turnovers that made their 3-0 last year start forgotten.

Last year's record: 6-10

Projected finish: 8-8 (Third in the AFC East)


**Check back tomorrow for the Panthers and Bears**