Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton expects this season to be much better than last year. After all, it couldn’t get much worse.

Clayton took a major step back last season, as illness and injuries limited to him 48 catches and 531 yards and no touchdowns. In 2006, the former first-round draft pick made 67 catches for 939 yards and five touchdowns.

The combination of being struck with a high ankle sprain in the preseason, a turf toe in the season opener and the flu and a strained Achilles’ tendon toward the end of the year punctuated a season that began with turmoil off the field.

Clayton’s wife filed for divorce when she was pregnant with his son Ayden, who was born Jan. 22.

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“The way [2007] happened is not the way that I envisioned it, but it’s just about being confident and knowing the Ravens brought me here for a reason,” Clayton said. “I’m here to be great. I’m just waiting on the opportunity, and when the opportunity presents itself, then I have to take advantage.”

The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder is the second option behind Derrick Mason, whose 103 catches were third-most in the NFL last season.

“Knowing that I’m capable, I know how to make plays,” Clayton said. “When the offense is flat, [I must] do something to get everybody up and going, offensively and defensively.”

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said sometimes having a difficult year makes a player stronger.

“Mark’s a strong, young man, and he's competitive and motivated,” he said. “I know he wants to have a great year.”

Clayton is expected to play a vital role in improving a group of receivers who ranked 28th in touchdowns (13) 25th in yards (3,308) and last in yards per catch (9.7) last season. It’s imperative Clayton reverts to his 2006 form since the Ravens’ third-best receiver, Demetrius Williams, is on the physically unable to perform list with an injury to his lower left leg. The rest of the depth  chart is occupied by rookies Marcus Smith and Justin Harper, and return specialist Yamon Figurs, who caught one pass last season.

Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said developing depth at receiver is vital for an offense ranked that  23rd out of 32 teams in passing offense (189.7) last season and will start an unproven quarterback this year.

“As several teams found out last year, you can have depth and it can be gone in a day or in a week,” he said. “You’re always building depth. Is depth a concern at this point in time? We're just trying to get everything we can out of every guy. When the roster comes out, we’ll just take a look to see where we are, but you understand that we have to build as much depth as we can.”

rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com