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When training camp broke a year ago, the Ravens barely knew their head coach, much less their starting quarterback.
Now, after three weeks of scorching heat and hard-hitting practices, the team ends training camp today with a firm grasp of its identity and goal.
"We got our eye on something, and everybody sees that," linebacker Ray Lewis said. "When one guy wants to take a day off from practice, there's 10 to 15 guys picking him up and saying you can't. The vibe is different this year because everybody has this taste in their mouth."
Still, the Ravens know they have three weeks until the Sept. 13 season opener to improve and answer some lingering questions.
Runners-up to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC, the Ravens carried their momentum to McDaniel College this past month. Lewis, who has been with the Ravens since their inaugural season in 1996, said this was one of the best training camps in team history.
While other teams already have lost starters for the entire season, the Ravens actually added one since arriving in Westminster. Derrick Mason came back from retirement on the third day of camp, boosting a suspect group of wide receivers.
The team's vaunted defense showed no signs of regressing under new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. The Ravens shut out the Washington Redskins in their preseason opener, which ended with Lewis handing the game ball to Mattison.
This is a different atmosphere from last year at this time, when John Harbaugh was still an unproven head coach and Joe Flacco was the third-string quarterback.
The Ravens hoped they would be "a really good team" last year. Now, as Harbaugh said during the final days of camp, they know they are.
"We don't look at it like we're good enough here, not good enough there, we need help here, we don't need help there," Harbaugh said. "We just want to make everything better. If we're the best Ravens we can be, we'll be plenty good enough."
The Ravens haven't raised only their play in camp. The volume has been ratcheted up a notch.
No longer is the Ravens' offense a verbal punching bag for a defense that prides itself on swagger.
"It's amazing the trash that Joe [Flacco] talks to Ed [Reed] and me now," Lewis said. "From a defensive standpoint, that's what we're talking about. We want them to come back at us."
The Ravens wrapped up camp on a lighter note, when comedian Mark Curry performed a 55-minute set on the second-to-last night. The star of the TV sitcom "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" had almost everyone in tears after he poked fun at the likes of Lewis and Ozzie Newsome.
The next day, as the players suited up for their final practice of camp, they went past a sign at the team hotel that read: "Play Like A Raven. Finish Strong."
"I feel like we had a great camp," tight end Todd Heap said. "We're right where we need to be. As a team, we can get better. But I think our makeup and where we're headed is right on par for what we want to do this year."
It would be hard to name another season in which the Ravens were this loaded at every defensive position. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that there will be 26 scouts from other teams at Monday's preseason game. They will probably be keeping an eye on the players that don't make the Ravens' final cutdown.
•The running backs present a dangerous tandem. If Ray Rice is the most improved offensive player in camp, Willis McGahee is not far behind. In his second season, Rice is running hard and with confidence. He is primed for a breakthrough season. After a disappointing effort last year, McGahee came to camp in great shape, an indication that he arrived with more determination. A motivated McGahee is a dangerous one.
•Ed Reed is ahead of last year's curve. The Pro Bowl safety was a question mark throughout camp last year when he didn't play a snap until the regular season. But this year, he delivered a hit in the first practice of camp, a sign that he is not worrying about the nerve impingement in his neck, and played two series in the preseason opener.
The Ravens have urged him to wear a red, noncontact jersey as a precaution. But Reed, who said the neck is still sore, prefers to wear the white one so Flacco can't spot him and throw in the other direction. Reed wants to win in practices as much as games.
•Top rookies will make an immediate impact. First-round pick Michael Oher should clear paths in the running game as the starting right tackle. He just has to learn how to open gashes on defenders, not himself. Second-round pick Paul Kruger has shown a high motor in filling in for Terrell Suggs and should make an impact as a pass rusher. Rex Ryan might not like him wearing No. 99, but Kruger should uphold the hardworking reputation of Michael McCrary quite well.
•The team is in solid hands at returner. Fielding punts and kickoffs has been a risky proposition for the Ravens, whether it has been Lamont Brightful, B.J. Sams or Yamon Figurs. That streak should end with Chris Carr. The free-agent addition bobbled one kick in the preseason game, but he has been nearly flawless in practice. Once he catches it, Carr has a quick burst upfield. Another returner to watch is Lardarius Webb, the team's third-round pick. A team official said he was the best returner in college last season and could develop into a star in the NFL.
•What are the Ravens doing at wide receiver? This remains the biggest concern of camp. Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams, two of the top three receivers, can't stay healthy. Kelley Washington still seems more suited for special teams, and Justin Harper appears to drop as many passes as he catches. The Ravens probably will add a receiver cut by another team in September (perhaps the New York Giants' David Tyree).
•Should anyone be concerned with Suggs' injury? The Pro Bowl linebacker said he would miss only a couple of days with a heel injury. He then missed the last 20 days of camp. Suggs described it as an Achilles strain, which has to be handled delicately. Missing games has never been a concern with Suggs, who has played in every game during his six-year career. But his longer-than-expected absence has raised some eyebrows.
•Will the tight ends be a part of the passing game this year? There was supposed to be an emphasis on throwing over the middle, which would make the tight ends more involved in the offense. In the preseason opener, only three of the 28 completions went to tight ends, none of which went to Heap. The two-time Pro Bowl tight end has stayed healthy this camp, participating in nearly every practice. He also has stayed after practice to get extra work with Flacco. Now, the Ravens have to find a way for that hard work to surface in games.
•Has the final linebacker opening been filled? Tavares Gooden is the favorite to win this job, but he hasn't locked it up. Jameel McClain is making enough plays to stay in the picture. But it's tough for anyone to match Gooden's speed and confidence. The problem with Gooden is he throws his body around, which has led to injuries in the past. If he wins the spot, Gooden has to prove he is durable enough to keep it.
Saturday - Third preseason game, at Carolina
Sept. 1 - Roster cut to 75
Sept. 3 - Preseason finale, at Atlanta
Sept. 5 - Roster cut to 53
Sept. 13 - Season opener, against Kansas City at M&T Bank Stadium
On the bubble: None
Long shot: Lemon, Willy
On the bubble: Cook, Lawrence, Parmele, Peerman
Long shot: None
On the bubble: Harper, Figurs, Wheelwright, Foster
Long shot: Riley, Ealy, Godfrey
On the bubble: Drew, Jones
Long shot: Smolko
On the bubble: Hale, Reitz
Long shot: Felix, Stallings, Rodgers, Mattison
On the bubble: Talavou
Long shot: Abdallah, W. Johnson
On the bubble: Barnes, Phillips, Ellerbe, Burgess, VanDeSteeg
Long shot: Fein
On the bubble: Martin, Oglesby, Gerard
Long shot: None
On the bubble: Hauschka, Gano
Long shot: None
Now, after three weeks of scorching heat and hard-hitting practices, the team ends training camp today with a firm grasp of its identity and goal.
"We got our eye on something, and everybody sees that," linebacker Ray Lewis said. "When one guy wants to take a day off from practice, there's 10 to 15 guys picking him up and saying you can't. The vibe is different this year because everybody has this taste in their mouth."
Still, the Ravens know they have three weeks until the Sept. 13 season opener to improve and answer some lingering questions.
Runners-up to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC, the Ravens carried their momentum to McDaniel College this past month. Lewis, who has been with the Ravens since their inaugural season in 1996, said this was one of the best training camps in team history.
While other teams already have lost starters for the entire season, the Ravens actually added one since arriving in Westminster. Derrick Mason came back from retirement on the third day of camp, boosting a suspect group of wide receivers.
The team's vaunted defense showed no signs of regressing under new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. The Ravens shut out the Washington Redskins in their preseason opener, which ended with Lewis handing the game ball to Mattison.
This is a different atmosphere from last year at this time, when John Harbaugh was still an unproven head coach and Joe Flacco was the third-string quarterback.
The Ravens hoped they would be "a really good team" last year. Now, as Harbaugh said during the final days of camp, they know they are.
"We don't look at it like we're good enough here, not good enough there, we need help here, we don't need help there," Harbaugh said. "We just want to make everything better. If we're the best Ravens we can be, we'll be plenty good enough."
The Ravens haven't raised only their play in camp. The volume has been ratcheted up a notch.
No longer is the Ravens' offense a verbal punching bag for a defense that prides itself on swagger.
"It's amazing the trash that Joe [Flacco] talks to Ed [Reed] and me now," Lewis said. "From a defensive standpoint, that's what we're talking about. We want them to come back at us."
The Ravens wrapped up camp on a lighter note, when comedian Mark Curry performed a 55-minute set on the second-to-last night. The star of the TV sitcom "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" had almost everyone in tears after he poked fun at the likes of Lewis and Ozzie Newsome.
The next day, as the players suited up for their final practice of camp, they went past a sign at the team hotel that read: "Play Like A Raven. Finish Strong."
"I feel like we had a great camp," tight end Todd Heap said. "We're right where we need to be. As a team, we can get better. But I think our makeup and where we're headed is right on par for what we want to do this year."
Five things we know
•The defense is deep. There are six defensive tackles who have starter potential. There are five linebackers on the bubble for the Ravens who might have already made the roster for other teams. And Evan Oglesby, the nickel back in the AFC championship game, will have a tough time getting onto the 53-man roster.It would be hard to name another season in which the Ravens were this loaded at every defensive position. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that there will be 26 scouts from other teams at Monday's preseason game. They will probably be keeping an eye on the players that don't make the Ravens' final cutdown.
•The running backs present a dangerous tandem. If Ray Rice is the most improved offensive player in camp, Willis McGahee is not far behind. In his second season, Rice is running hard and with confidence. He is primed for a breakthrough season. After a disappointing effort last year, McGahee came to camp in great shape, an indication that he arrived with more determination. A motivated McGahee is a dangerous one.
•Ed Reed is ahead of last year's curve. The Pro Bowl safety was a question mark throughout camp last year when he didn't play a snap until the regular season. But this year, he delivered a hit in the first practice of camp, a sign that he is not worrying about the nerve impingement in his neck, and played two series in the preseason opener.
The Ravens have urged him to wear a red, noncontact jersey as a precaution. But Reed, who said the neck is still sore, prefers to wear the white one so Flacco can't spot him and throw in the other direction. Reed wants to win in practices as much as games.
•Top rookies will make an immediate impact. First-round pick Michael Oher should clear paths in the running game as the starting right tackle. He just has to learn how to open gashes on defenders, not himself. Second-round pick Paul Kruger has shown a high motor in filling in for Terrell Suggs and should make an impact as a pass rusher. Rex Ryan might not like him wearing No. 99, but Kruger should uphold the hardworking reputation of Michael McCrary quite well.
•The team is in solid hands at returner. Fielding punts and kickoffs has been a risky proposition for the Ravens, whether it has been Lamont Brightful, B.J. Sams or Yamon Figurs. That streak should end with Chris Carr. The free-agent addition bobbled one kick in the preseason game, but he has been nearly flawless in practice. Once he catches it, Carr has a quick burst upfield. Another returner to watch is Lardarius Webb, the team's third-round pick. A team official said he was the best returner in college last season and could develop into a star in the NFL.
Five things we don't know
•Who will be the season-opening kicker? The coaching staff insists the battle between Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano is too close to call. If the regular season started today, Hauschka would probably get the nod. But opinions could change during the next three preseason games. If neither impresses, it's still possible the Ravens could re-sign Matt Stover or a veteran cut by another team.•What are the Ravens doing at wide receiver? This remains the biggest concern of camp. Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams, two of the top three receivers, can't stay healthy. Kelley Washington still seems more suited for special teams, and Justin Harper appears to drop as many passes as he catches. The Ravens probably will add a receiver cut by another team in September (perhaps the New York Giants' David Tyree).
•Should anyone be concerned with Suggs' injury? The Pro Bowl linebacker said he would miss only a couple of days with a heel injury. He then missed the last 20 days of camp. Suggs described it as an Achilles strain, which has to be handled delicately. Missing games has never been a concern with Suggs, who has played in every game during his six-year career. But his longer-than-expected absence has raised some eyebrows.
•Will the tight ends be a part of the passing game this year? There was supposed to be an emphasis on throwing over the middle, which would make the tight ends more involved in the offense. In the preseason opener, only three of the 28 completions went to tight ends, none of which went to Heap. The two-time Pro Bowl tight end has stayed healthy this camp, participating in nearly every practice. He also has stayed after practice to get extra work with Flacco. Now, the Ravens have to find a way for that hard work to surface in games.
•Has the final linebacker opening been filled? Tavares Gooden is the favorite to win this job, but he hasn't locked it up. Jameel McClain is making enough plays to stay in the picture. But it's tough for anyone to match Gooden's speed and confidence. The problem with Gooden is he throws his body around, which has led to injuries in the past. If he wins the spot, Gooden has to prove he is durable enough to keep it.
Dates to remember
Monday - Second preseason game, vs. N.Y. JetsSaturday - Third preseason game, at Carolina
Sept. 1 - Roster cut to 75
Sept. 3 - Preseason finale, at Atlanta
Sept. 5 - Roster cut to 53
Sept. 13 - Season opener, against Kansas City at M&T Bank Stadium
Roster breakdown
A look at how The Baltimore Sun's Jamison Hensley projects the Ravens' 53-man roster as training camp ends:QUARTERBACK
In: Flacco, T. Smith, BeckOn the bubble: None
Long shot: Lemon, Willy
RUNNING BACK
In: Rice, McGahee, L. McClainOn the bubble: Cook, Lawrence, Parmele, Peerman
Long shot: None
WIDE RECEIVER
In: Mason, Clayton, Williams, K. WashingtonOn the bubble: Harper, Figurs, Wheelwright, Foster
Long shot: Riley, Ealy, Godfrey
TIGHT END
In: Heap, L.J. SmithOn the bubble: Drew, Jones
Long shot: Smolko
OFFENSIVE LINE
In: Gaither, Grubbs, Birk, Yanda, Oher, Chester, CousinsOn the bubble: Hale, Reitz
Long shot: Felix, Stallings, Rodgers, Mattison
DEFENSIVE LINE
In: Pryce, Ngata, Gregg, Bannan, Edwards, McKinneyOn the bubble: Talavou
Long shot: Abdallah, W. Johnson
LINEBACKER
In: Lewis, Gooden, Suggs, J. Johnson, Kruger, Ayanbadejo, J. McClainOn the bubble: Barnes, Phillips, Ellerbe, Burgess, VanDeSteeg
Long shot: Fein
SECONDARY
In: Foxworth, F. Washington, Reed, Landry, Walker, Carr, Webb, Zbikowski, NakamuraOn the bubble: Martin, Oglesby, Gerard
Long shot: None
SPECIAL TEAMS
In: Koch, KatulaOn the bubble: Hauschka, Gano
Long shot: None
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