If anyone on the Baltimore Ravens roster poised for a “breakout” year, think of no one else other than defensive end Arthur Jones.

Jones, the Ravens’ fifth-round pick of Syracuse in 2010, has spent much of the last two years playing understudy to the likes of Haloti Ngata and Cory Redding.

And with Redding following ex-defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to Indianapolis, a position on the Ravens starting defensive line appears Jones’ for the taking.

Jones joined Glenn Clark on “The Reality Check” to talk about his expanded role and extra responsibilities this season in an all-important third year for the lineman.

“I have a different mindset,” Jones said. “The last few years have definitely been a learning process.”

Jones has lined up at both inside at tackle and outside at end for defensive coordinators Greg Mattison and Chuck Pagano the past several years, and he again figures to continue to hold that “tweener” role for this year’s play-caller, Dean Pees.

Essentially, Jones says he’s compiled and learned a lot of information over his first two NFL seasons to give Pees as many options as possible on where to fit him on his defense.

“It’s really helped me figure out this defense with the different coordinators that we had and kind of find my niche on the team,” Jones said.

Jones started to show up on the radar last season-in which he appeared in 14 games for the Ravens, and started one.

He registered 20 tackles and toward the end of the season began to see more playing time and slowly became a threat in some games despite not having the stats to back it up.

Just ask Colt McCoy, who sprained his ankle last December thanks to a hit from the 6’3, 313 pounder.

That experience has definitely boosted his morale and enthusiasm going into the start of this week’s training camp at Owings Mills.

“You know I’ve just got to keep on improving my skills,” Jones said. “I feel more explosive, I feel more alive, it’s hard to explain.”

But, Jones is also going to have show some mental toughness. Despite his playing time from last year and growth, he will be in a camp-battle with second-year guy Pernell McPhee, who most likely will take the field on third-down with the job of simply chasing down the quarterback and earning accolades by piling up sacks.

McPhee-a fellow fifth-round pick-grabbed six of them in his rookie season.

Jones said that even if he doesn’t get those opportunities, he still guaranteed that you’ll hear his name called a lot more this season.

“A the end of the day it really doesn’t matter, me and him both are going to get a lot of playing time and you’re going to hear both our names on the announcement a lot with tackles, sacks, tackles for loss.”

Having been in this league for two years to wait his turn, Jones said he fully understands that you’re never not fighting for a spot, and the battle is only going to make this defense better by bringing the best out of he and McPhee.

“I know it’s going to be a great competition competing for a starting job,” Jones said. “Me and [McPhee] and our whole defense…we’ve just been working hard and grinding and it’s been nothing but positives this off-season.”

And he said he’s learned from three of the best in the business in All-Pros Ngata, Terrell Suggs, and his mentor from last season in Redding-whose position he will be stepping into mostly on first and second downs.

Or whenever or how much he is needed in any capacity or role.

“Backing up Haloti Ngata isn’t a bad thing for two years. Having a leader like that and a guy who’s a huge mentor- him and Cory Redding-to show me how to play this defense…you know I’ve been a student and these guys have been the masters.”

Jones laughed saying he couldn’t be in a better spot to learn from the Defensive Player of the Year.

Literally.

They moved my locker in the locker room next to Terrell Suggs so hopefully some of that good luck rubs off on me and a couple sacks fall in my lap,” Jones replied.

WNST thanks Arthur Jones for joining WNST and will be watching him ever so closely in training camp! WNST-We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports!

I’ve already gotten about a hundred messages via email/Facebook/Twitter/text/Pony Express that said something along the lines of “well Glenn, you got what you wanted.”

To at least an extent, the people sending those messages have been right. After pounding on the desk of the studio at 1550 Hart Rd. in Towson for months (if not years), the Baltimore Ravens acquired a size receiver in the NFL Draft.

In the 6th round of the Draft, the Ravens selected Tommy Streeter, a 6’5″ wide receiver from the University of Miami. Combined with impressive speed (Streeter posted an impressive 4.40 forty time at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis), Streeter seemingly adds a more unique dynamic to Cam Cameron’s offense in 2012. Streeter’s size presents an immediate matchup problem in the red zone (and specifically in the end zone) that the team simply didn’t have in their receiving corps in 2011.

Well…mostly anyway.

You see, the Ravens actually DID briefly have a receiver like that in 2011. If you’ll remember, the Ravens acquired former Buffalo Bills WR James Hardy late in the 2010 season in hopes he could make the team out of Training Camp. Nagging injury issues and a lockout later, Hardy couldn’t crack the 53 and the lack of a size receiver played a role in the Ravens finishing 18th in the NFL in red zone offense.

So Streeter solves all of those problems, right? Right?

As I was also quick to point out, simply being tall wasn’t the only desirable attribute in a new Ravens receiver. Clarence Moore was tall. Randy Hymes was tall. Even Marc Lester was tall. The Ravens not only needed a tall receiver, they needed a receiver who could catch the ball and become a consistent threat in a National Football League offense.

While I liked the team’s decision to draft Streeter, I will admit that I don’t believe the Ravens (and 31 other teams) passed on him for five and a half rounds because they were TOO worried about how good he was. There have been questions about Streeter’s hands, as well as his overall ability to develop into a consistent standout receiver. Those questions may or may not be fair, as the former Hurricanes star could show 31 teams they made a mistake in the coming seasons or they could show one particular team they made the wrong decision to take him even as late as the sixth round.

I guess that’s basically the entire point of this week’s column. After the NFL Draft, analysts attempt to identify “winners” and “losers” from three days of selecting players. Some of these players will go on to outstanding pro careers, others will leave little in the way of a legacy at the NFL level and others still will never play in even a single NFL game.

So do I think the Ravens did a nice job in the NFL Draft? Yeah…I guess. I guess the Baltimore Ravens did a nice job in the NFL Draft.

Honorable Mention: Boxing-Jermain Taylor vs. Caleb Truax (Friday 11pm from Biloxi, MS live on Showtime), Abner Mares vs. Eric Morel (Saturday 9pm from El Paso, TX live on Showtime); Tennis: ATP Tour Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (Tuesday-Friday 4:30am Saturday 7am Sunday 7:30am from Monaco live on Tennis Channel/ESPN3.com); Soccer: MLS-Montreal Impact @ DC United (Wednesday 7:30pm from RFK Stadium live on Comcast SportsNet PLUS), New York Red Bulls @ DC United (Sunday 6pm from RFK Stadium live on ESPN2); Women’s College Lacrosse: ACC Tournament-Maryland vs. Virginia Tech (Friday 2pm from Durham, NC live on ESPN3.com), ACC Championship (Monday 7pm from Durham, NC live on ESPNU)

10. Augustana (Wednesday 7pm Rams Head Live), Portugal. The Man (Thursday 7pm Rams Head Live); Charm City Devils (Saturday 6:30pm Recher Theatre); Colin Hay (Thursday 7:30pm Baltimore Soundstage); The Bacon Brothers (Thursday & Friday 6:30pm & 9pm Rams Head on Stage), WAR (Sunday 5pm & 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Fountains of Wayne/James Iha (Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club), NEEDTOBREATHE (Saturday 8pm Sunday 7pm 9:30 Club); Glen Campbell (Tuesday & Wednesday 7:30pm Birchmere), Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (Monday 7:30pm Birchmere); Bad Brains (Friday 8pm Howard Theater); Daryl Hall/Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (Friday 8pm Warner Theatre); Bowling For Soup (Saturday 8pm Stevenson University); Johns Hopkins Spring Fair feat. Passion Pit (Friday-Sunday, Passion Pit show Friday 7pm JHU Rec Center); UMBC Quadmania feat. Gym Class Heroes (Friday-Sunday, Gym Class Heroes show Saturday 7pm RAC Arena); Neon Trees “Picture Show” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

You know I’ll be at Recher Saturday night supporting the very awesome John Allan and CCD. My only issue with “Man of Constant Sorrow” is that I can’t fathom a human being leaving Kentucky…

I don’t particularly know anything about NEEDTOBREATHE but I DO know I dig this tune…

If Daryl Hall had Fitz & The Tantrums as his touring house band, I’d go to every show…

I probably shouldn’t admit how much I dig Neon Trees…

9. Ron White (Thursday 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Eddie Griffin (Friday & Saturday Magooby’s Joke House); Norm MacDonald (Friday & Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Wendy Liebman (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol available on DVD/Blu-Ray (Tuesday); Tax Day (Tuesday)

I think I’m gonna go see Norm MacDonald. Because Norm MacDonald is funny. See below.

Also, it’s Tax Day Tuesday. I don’t think I’m getting any money back (do you have to make money for that?), but if I did I know exactly how I’d spend it…

There isn’t anything…in the world…I want more than a LoveSac.

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With former starting defensive end Cory Redding leaving via free agency and the Ravens with limited salary cap room this offseason, third-year defensive lineman Arthur Jones could see the opportunity staring him squarely in the face.

Unlike the departures of starters Ben Grubbs and Jarret Johnson, who have left question marks at their respective spots, the Ravens feel confident in the combination of Jones and second-year pass rusher Pernell McPhee to replace Redding’s production at the defensive end position. Both will need to contribute more in 2012, but Jones is looking to seize the job after limited opportunities in his first two seasons.

Active in just two games in his rookie year, Jones played in 14 games last season and made his first NFL start filling in for an injured Redding in the Ravens’ Week 16 win over Cleveland. The former first-team all-Big East selection is ready to see the fruits of the work he’s put in over the last two years with defensive line coach Clarence Brooks.

“I know it’s not going to be easy getting the job and what not,” Jones said in an interview with AM 1570 WNST last week. “Pernell McPhee is a great player — don’t take anything away from him. He’s a hard worker, but I’m going to do everything to tell the coaches that I’m ready. I’m the next man up.”

Selected in the fifth round in consecutive years, Jones and McPhee bring different skill sets to the field. The 25-year-old Jones has a 30-pound weight advantage and is stronger in stopping the run, whereas McPhee has stronger hands and is better in pressuring the quarterback as he demonstrated by collecting six sacks in his rookie season.

If looking strictly at the Ravens’ 3-4 base system, Jones would be the more conventional choice to start, but the Baltimore defense is known for using multiple looks, which will lead to opportunities for both players. Jones will likely see more reps on first and second down, with McPhee spelling him on third down and obvious passing situations.

“They are both looking forward to competing for that spot,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They have flexibility, too. Art can go inside, and Pernell can go outside.”

Jones admits he still has plenty of work to do this offseason, wanting to improve his technique and recognition in playing the zone. The former Syracuse product believes the benefit of a full offseason program in Owings Mills will allow him to take the next step in becoming a starter.

While the Ravens are confident in replacing Redding’s modest production on the field (7 1/2 sacks in two seasons), the veteran leadership he provided was a major asset to the younger defensive linemen on the team. Much like former nose tackle Kelly Gregg was instrumental in Jones’ development at defensive tackle during his rookie season, the young defensive end credits Redding in teaching him what it means to be a professional.

“He was more than just a football player on a team,” Jones said of his former teammate. “He was kind of like my mentor, like a big brother. I don’t have an older brother; I’m the oldest one in the family. I really consider him an older brother, and he helped me out so much with everything.”

Ironically, Jones could have the opportunity to fulfill the big brother role on this year’s team — literally. Jones’ younger brother Chandler is a rising draft prospect from Syracuse projected to go as early as the end of the first round or early in the second. Two inches taller and nearly 50 pounds lighter, the younger Jones has the pass-rushing ability the Ravens are potentially looking to add coming off the edge.

Jones is used to being a proud big brother, having watched his brother Jon become the UFC light heavyweight champion. He’s now training with Chandler to realize his own NFL dream, and the thought of teaming up again like they did as members of the Orange would be a dream scenario for the brothers.

“It would definitely be really neat for him,” Jones said. “We played together in college, and it was an awesome time. There’s nothing like making tackles, hitting the guy at the same time, smashing the guy with your brother. There’s really no greater feeling.”

Whether his younger brother winds up in Baltimore or not, Jones cannot help but feel good about the offseason and the potential role lying before him as the Ravens begin offseason workouts later this month.

Though he remains an unproven commodity with only 20 career tackles, the 313-pound Jones can’t wait to show what he can do on a consistent basis.

And the Ravens appear confident he can do the job.

“I’m so excited for this opportunity, more motivated than ever,” Jones said. “It’s just a beautiful thing to be in the position that I am right now. I’m just enjoying life and working my butt off.”

Listen to Arthur Jones’ entire conversation with WNST.net’s Glenn Clark right HERE.

With the start of the new league year and free agency less than 24 hours away, you can already hear the cries if you listen carefully.

And you know exactly what I’m talking about if you pay attention to talk radio, internet message boards, and Twitter over the opening days of free agency every year.

When are the Ravens going to do something?

Why does Ozzie insist on sitting on his hands?

They’re definitely taking a step back this season.

Never were those exclamations louder than last season, an unprecedented period of free agency that coincided with the start of training camp after the 134-day lockout. General manager Ozzie Newsome waved goodbye to veterans Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Kelly Gregg, and Willis McGahee in a series of cap-saving cuts, and a number of veterans including Chris Chester, Dawan Landry, and Josh Wilson found richer contracts elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Ravens’ free-agent additions for 2011 were relatively modest over the course of the preseason, adding fullback Vonta Leach, safety Bernard Pollard, left tackle Bryant McKinnie, center Andre Gurode, and running back Ricky Williams in addition to re-signing right guard Marshal Yanda to a long-term contract. The “offseason” timetable was stunted by the lockout, but Newsome operated in the way he typically does — calculated and conservative. In fact, the most dynamic move he made — trading a fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for veteran receiver Lee Evans — turned out to be the biggest failure.

The history lesson is worth repeating as the Ravens embark on free agency for the 17th time in franchise history. Projected to have approximately $14.45 million in salary cap space (before tendering restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents), Newsome will devote much of that to retaining as many of his own free agents as he can.

Of Baltimore’s 12 unrestricted free agents, five were starters last season, meaning the Ravens could be looking at more significant roster turnover than you’d like from an AFC North championship team that was one touchdown catch from advancing to the Super Bowl.

Expecting a dramatic splash of throwing money at elite free agents such as wide receiver Vincent Jackson or outside linebacker Mario Williams is only setting yourself up for disappointment. Even in the years in which he’s had the most cap room, Newsome rarely targets the players grabbing the headlines in the opening days of free agency, instead focusing on keeping his own and laying plans for value free agents that fulfill a need without eating up precious cap room.

As was the case last season, the Ravens will look for continued growth from within to aid in their quest for Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. Entering the 2011 season, Terrence Cody, Ed Dickson, and Dennis Pitta were well-known draft picks from the previous season but had yet to emerge as starting-caliber players in the NFL. Even bigger question marks surrounded Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams before they became legitimate starting cornerbacks for one of the league’s top defenses. And fighting serious doubts after a poor preseason, wide receiver Torrey Smith set franchise rookie records for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.

Their contributions were as critical as any free-agent acquisition the Ravens made en route to a 12-4 record and their first division title in five years.

This season, the Ravens will potentially look to younger players such as defensive ends Arthur Jones and Pernell McPhee, offensive lineman Jah Reid, and linebackers Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, and Albert McClellan to help fill potential voids left behind by free agents Cory Redding, Ben Grubbs, Matt Birk, Jarret Johnson, and Jameel McClain. Of course, the Ravens will add new pieces via free agency and next month’s draft to fill some of those needs, but it’s almost a guarantee that they’ll need to lean on some combination of the aforementioned players for expanded roles in 2012.

After tendering their restricted free agents and exclusive rights players, the Ravens will be left with somewhere between $6 million and $7 million to address their own unrestricted free agents and shop the open market. It doesn’t take an economics major to realize that money will only go so far.

But, as he usually does, Newsome will make the most of it.

As the frenzy of free agency begins on Tuesday and the big names start coming off the board — possibly even a few from the Ravens’ own backyard leaving for greener pastures — remember many of the biggest factors determining how the Ravens fare in 2012 already reside in Owings Mills.

It may get ugly, with many of their unrestricted free agents not expected to return, but Newsome and the Ravens never strive to “win” the first week of free agency. They’ll look closely for that under-the-radar talent that nobody is talking about right now. And, as always, the Ravens will plan to shine during April’s draft.

By the time July arrives, they’ll address the offensive line and the linebacker position in some form as well as add a few pieces in other areas to optimize a team that was only a few tenths of a second away from going to the Super Bowl back in January.

Just remember that when you or someone else feels the urge to panic and ask if Newsome is asleep at the wheel over the next week or so.

To borrow an expression from another era and another sport here in Baltimore, it’s “The Raven Way” of doing business.

And if history is any indication, it’s worked pretty well.

With free agency set to begin on March 13 and the draft to follow in late April, the Ravens continue to evaluate their needs in all three phases of the game.

After evaluating the biggest offensive needs on Monday, I offer my thoughts on the defensive side of the football by ranking the biggest positions of need entering the offseason.

1. Outside linebacker

For a team as rich as any at the linebacker position over the last 15 years, it’s unusual to see the Ravens with such glaring needs within the unit. Veteran Jarret Johnson is an unrestricted free agent and will be 31 by the start of the 2012 season, suggesting he would be a necessary casualty when addressing a list of 13 unrestricted free agents.

However, there isn’t a single option on the roster with which the Ravens would feel comfortable as a starting strongside linebacker. Paul Kruger shows ability as a pass rusher but has not shown the necessary ability in pass coverage or run defense to consider him an option as a three-down player at this point.

After appearing in only two games this past season, former second-round pick Sergio Kindle is probably more likely to be cut than to find himself in the starting lineup next season. The former Texas product has struggled to learn the Baltimore defense and still feels effects of a fractured skull suffered just days before what would have been his first training camp in 2010, but the 24-year-old will benefit from a full offseason at the team’s Owings Mills facility. Along the same lines as Kindle, Michael McAdoo — who spent the 2011 season on injured reserve — is an intriguing name to monitor but shouldn’t be in the discussion for a starting position at this point.

With that in mind, the Ravens might be more inclined to re-sign Johnson than many would think. Much like they did with Ray Lewis in the winter of 2009, the Ravens will allow the veteran linebacker to explore his value in the open market and see if they can come to an agreement that makes sense for both sides. Of course, new Indianapolis head coach and former Ravens defense coordinator Chuck Pagano could try to overpay for Johnson to bring a Baltimore flavor to the Colts defense. One factor working against the Ravens is a relatively-thin market for outside linebackers, which would not only drive up the price for Johnson but also mean they’d still have to pay handsomely for a replacement.

The Ravens would love to find a young outside backer who can play the run as effectively as Johnson while showing more ability in pass coverage. They could look to a draft prospect such as North Carolina’s Zach Brown, Oklahoma’s Ronnell Lewis, or Utah State’s Bobby Wagner in the early rounds, but the Ravens have rarely shown enough confidence in rookies to step into a starting job at the linebacker position.

The dream scenario would be to find an outside linebacker with enough pass-rushing ability to alleviate attention from Terrell Suggs on the opposite side, but Kruger did an adequate job in getting after the quarterback in passing situations.

2. Inside linebacker

The talk has only grown louder regarding the need to find the heir apparent to future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, but the Ravens first need to figure out who will be playing next to him in 2012.

Jameel McClain is an unrestricted free agent and while the Ravens have to be pleased with his development after signing him as a rookie free agent in 2008, the 26-year-old will likely command more money than Baltimore is willing to pay to retain his services. This would leave Dannell Ellerbe, Albert McClellan, and Josh Bynes as potential replacements. Ellerbe is an restricted free agent while the latter two are exclusive rights players, meaning all three are very likely to return.

Veteran Brendon Ayanbadejo is also a free agent, meaning the Ravens could be in danger of losing arguably their best linebacker in terms of pass coverage.

Ellerbe has shown impressive potential in limited doses, but his work ethic has come into question on a number of occasions to draw the ire of coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens might be content with plugging Ellerbe into the other inside linebacker spot for now, but he’s far from a safe bet to be an answer beyond the 2012 season.

The Ravens face a difficult proposition in how to handle Lewis, who still plays the run effectively but is a liability in pass coverage. The prudent answer would be to limit the veteran to action on first and second down, but explaining that to one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history is easier said than done. You also need to have a viable replacement before you tell the defensive leader he comes off the field in passing situations.

While there has been plenty of talk over the last year or two to find Lewis’ eventual replacement, this year’s draft appears to be a critical time to find an up-and-coming inside linebacker. The Ravens have been linked to both Dont’a Hightower of Alabama and Vontaze Burfict of Arizona State in various mock drafts. The problem is Hightower may be off the board by the time the 29th pick rolls around and Burfict’s character has come into question with a reputation for delivering cheap shots and reportedly sucker-punching a teammate in practice last August.

3. Safety*

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens continue to be blessed with health in the postseason as the entire 53-man roster was present and working during Wednesday’s practice.

As they continue preparations for the conference championship game against the New England Patriots, the Ravens have no significant injury concerns for Sunday, especially with safety Ed Reed practicing without any apparent incident after turning his left ankle on the final defensive snap of Sunday’s game.

“Everybody’s been working hard the last couple days,” coach John Harbaugh said prior to Wednesday’s workout. “[It] looks like we’re in pretty good shape. There will be one or two guys that will be close, but I feel pretty good about where we’re at with that.”

Right tackle Michael Oher was practicing despite having his knee wrapped following Sunday’s game, and defensive tackle Arthur Jones confirmed in the locker room that he was fine after limping off the field at one point on sunday. Linebackers Jameel McClain (sprained MCL) and Brendon Ayanbadejo (quadriceps) were both practicing after making it through the Houston game without incident.

Players in the locker room were sporting “Ball So Hard” t-shirts, courtesy of linebacker Terrell Suggs. The shirts included the players’ numbers and were in their college colors.

The Ravens announced they’ve signed guard Garrett Chisholm to the practice squad to take Josh Byne’s spot after the rookie linebacker was promoted to the 53-man roster last weekend. Chisholm played his collegiate ball at South Carolina.

Needless to say, the Monday radio interview given by safety Ed Reed that was critical about Joe Flacco and the Baltimore offense was the hop topic of discussion around the facility. I’ll have more on the reaction later at WNST.net, but you can hear from John Harbaugh, Joe Flacco, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ray Rice right here.