Last year, Ravens TE Ed Dickson was sometimes flexed into the slot or occasionally split out wide, but he more often was a traditional in-line tight end with his hand on the ground. Dennis Pitta, who is lost for 2013 with a hip injury, was more of a receiving tight end and spent a lot of time lined up like a receiver. With Pitta gone, Dickson has been taking on that role.
Visanthe Shiancoe, meanwhile, appears to have stepped into the role that was intended for Dickson, though Shiancoe has also lined up away from the offensive line in spread formations at times.
Dickson took a back seat to Pitta in 2012, but back in 2011, he was the top target TE for the Ravens, catching 54 passes for 528 yards and five TDs. We would expect that to be his floor now that the Pitta is out of the picture. He wasn't terribly efficient in his targets, but he has some speed (4.59 40-yard dash) and can stretch the seam. He's in a contract year, so he'll be motivated, and should have plenty of opportunity in the Ravens' offense with Pitta gone for the season and Anquan Boldin playing on the West Coast.
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