West aiming to stay on top

With Dixon suspended, running back has chance to seize starting role

Because he is a good teammate and a humble worker, Terrance West would never dare consider saying it publicly, but the fact remains: This offseason very much broke his way.

In January, the Ravens hired former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who as a senior offensive assistant has vowed to bring a more balanced approach to the unit, meaning more carries for running backs like West. In early March, Kenneth Dixon was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s policy on performanceenhancing drugs.

In late March, Ravens coach John Harbaugh called West “the No. 1 guy on the depth chart.”

And in late April, the Ravens didn’t draft a running back. Their only offseason addition to a ground game that finished 28th in the NFL last season was Danny Woodhead, more of a third-down weapon than an every-down presence.

Entering the final year of his contract, West finds himself in the early stages of a position competition that in some ways mirrors last offseason’s. Only now, he’s the one who will have to prove he’s indispensable.

It was the Baltimore native’s emergence last year that partly convinced the Ravens to cut ties with veteran Justin Forsett after three games and turn to a younger group of backs. Now it will be West’s continued progress under favor- Second-year corner suffers knee injury in practice