Renewed Ravens feel optimistic
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – A year ago, the Baltimore Ravens entered training camp with plenty of questions and only a half-dozen victories to build upon.
Coming off a 6-10 season, the Ravens wondered how quickly their new quarterback, Steve McNair, could adjust to operating coach Brian Billick’s complex offense. They had no idea who to start at free safety, and star middle linebacker Ray Lewis was returning from a serious hamstring injury. The Ravens also worried about relying heavily on rookies at several key positions, including punter, defensive tackle, wide receiver and tight end.
“We had five or six critical concerns,” Billick recalled.
Everything ultimately fell into place, and Baltimore went 13-3 in the regular season before losing to Indianapolis in the playoffs.
Despite that deflating defeat – or maybe because of it – when the Ravens gather Monday morning for the first practice of training camp, they will carry an attitude befitting a team coming off the best record in franchise history.
“The expectations that our fans have for us, the expectations the players have for themselves, is clearly different. You think of yourself in a different way,” Billick said. “Last year at this time, we had a lot of confidence in our ability, a lot of confidence in what we were able to do. But we had a lot to prove.
“A year removed, we’re still as confident. We still have a lot to prove. But we feel like, with what we were able to return from that 13-3 team, that optimism is warranted.”
During the off-season the Ravens lost linebacker Adalius Thomas, running back Jamal Lewis, offensive tackle Tony Pashos, fullback Ovie Mughelli and guard Edwin Mulitalo. But the defense has 10 of 11 starters back and all four of its top reserves. The offense features a refined McNair, running back Willie McGahee and an offensive line that Billick contends “has a lot more depth and a lot more talent than probably at any time since I’ve been here.”
In the days leading up to the season opener at Cincinnati on Sept. 10, the Ravens will seek to line up the depth chart and determine how much they can expect from a rookie class headed by guard Ben Grubbs. But it’s not like last July, when Billick wondered if rookie punter Sam Koch could cope with the pressure of kicking in the NFL, or if No. 1 draft pick Haloti Ngata could contribute on the defensive line, or if fifth-rounder Quinn Sypniewski would be an ample backup to tight end Todd Heap.
There was also the significant question of whether Ray Lewis could return to form. Lewis played in only six games in 2005, but last year he led the team in tackles and earned an eighth invitation to the Pro Bowl. Now, he said he’s feeling better than ever after a revamped off-season regimen that included plenty of cardiovascular exercise and much-needed rest.
“There’s always concerns, but right now going into camp, I don’t know that there’s that one singular issue that we don’t feel good about across the board,” Billick said.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, and we’re counting on our players to be even better than they were last year. But there’s a world of difference sitting here right now from a year ago.”
General manager Ozzie Newsome said, “I feel the same way. The taste in our mouths after the loss to Indianapolis (provided) the impetus for this season.”
Newsome worked hard this spring to make sure the Ravens wouldn’t suffer from the loss of Thomas and Jamal Lewis. He re-signed Jarret Johnson to replace Thomas and worked a trade to get McGahee, who is much more versatile than the lumbering Lewis.