The Ravenstrimmed their roster from 90 to 75 this week, and although the decision to cutkicker Billy Cundiff certainly caused some pain at the Under Armour PerformanceCenter, the easy part of cut-down week is now over. Most of the other14 moves made so far were fairly predictable,and some of them, such as putting Terrell Suggs on thePhysically-Unable-To-Perform list, were foregone conclusions.Now the realteeth-gnashing begins. By Friday night, the Ravens must further trim the rosterdown to the final total of 53. (Although the 53 are never really final; aplayer waived by one team this week could end up with the Ravens, thus forcingout one of the 53 initially kept.) This means 22more players must be shown the door by Friday night. And while there areseveral locks to make the team, there are many players sitting squarely on thebubble right now, hoping one final strong practice week, and one final strongpreseason game at St. Louis Thursday night, puts them on the right side of the53.With that inmind, here's a bubble watch, first looking at the offense. By our count, the offense takes 24 spots, leaving 29 spots for defense and specialists:QUARTERBACK(total on final roster: 2):Locks (2): JoeFlacco, Tyrod TaylorOn the bubble: CurtisPainterAnalysis: TheRavens have suggested Taylor will get some action this year in various ways, ala the Wildcat, so the might want to keep Painter around in the event Taylor(or Flacco) is injured. The bet here is Painter will go. Keeping Painter wouldmean the Ravens keep one fewer defensive back, or perhaps one fewer specialteams linebacker. The needs are greater elsewhere.RUNNING BACK (4):Locks (3): VontaLeach, Bernard Pierce, Ray RiceOn the bubble:Anthony Allen, Damien Berry, Bobby RaineyPierce got a latestart but seems to have solidified his status as the No. 2 back behind Rice.All indications are undrafted rookie Bobby Rainey will win the No. 3 back job.He has proven the ability to run, catch and return. Allen's stock has fallen,and though he has made contributions on special teams, he had no carries in thegame against Jacksonville. If the Ravens keep four running backs, he won't beone of them.OFFENSIVE LINE(9):Locks (8): MattBirk, Gino Gradkowski, Bryant McKinnie, Michael Oher, Kelechi Osemele, JahReid, Bobby Williams, Marshal Yanda On the bubble:GC Justin Boren, T Ramon Harewood, GTony WraggeThe line has beenunsettled all camp, but if all the veterans are healthy for Week 1, they willstart and rookies Osemele and Gradkowski will be well-practiced reserves. Reidhas been slowed by injury all camp, but his roster spot appears secure assuminghis calf injury isn't more complicated. It's likely there is one roster spotavailable for Boren, Harewood or Wragge. Do the Ravens feel a more pressing need atguard or at tackle? That could decide it.TIGHT END (3):Locks (2): EdDickson, Dennis Pitta
On the bubble:Billy BajemaWith both Dicksonand Pitta banged up all training camp, and not likely to return until Week 1,Bajema makes the team. He can serve as the No. 3 tight end, and the seven-yearveteran has the experience to step in if either Dickson or Pitta aggravatestheir injury. WIDE RECEIVER(6):Locks (3): AnquanBoldin, Jacoby Jones, Torrey SmithOn thebubble: Tandon Doss, Logan Paine, TommyStreeter, Deonte Thompson, LaQuan Williams.You can justabout slide Doss and Williams into the 'lock' category. If the Ravens keep sixreceivers, that leaves one spot for Paine, Streeter or Thompson. I'll takeThompson based on his blinding speed and big-play capability in the returngame, which he's showed this preseason. Streeter, the sixth-round draft pick,could easily land on the practice squad to develop for a year.