After 35 years in the NFL, there are few questions about football that stymie Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda, but he was puzzled when asked to name a team that made the playoffs with an entirely new backfield.

"Uh, uh, I don't know of any," Marchibroda said.

Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh, an 11-year veteran, was equally stumped.

"Hmmm, quarterbacks often come into a situation where everyone is new, but not like this one," Harbaugh said. "That's a good question."

It has become the biggest question heading into the 1998 season, as the Ravens embark on a new era at their $223 million stadium at Camden Yards, where they'll play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener Sunday.

If the preseason is any indication, the Ravens have solved their most important problem. Yes, they can put enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks to cover up a suspect secondary. But they haven't come up with the other part of the chemistry equation for teams that routinely get into the playoffs.

Where is the consistent running game?

And

Is veteran Errict Rhett the answer at running back, or will second-year player Jay Graham be the man? Can fullback Roosevelt Potts' knee hold up for the entire season? How long will it take for the running backs to adjust to the offensive line?

There have been flashes of brilliance. The Ravens rushed for 197 yards in their 19-14 preseason-opening win against the Chicago Bears, then overpowered the New York Jets for 170 in exhibition No. 2, a 33-0 laugher.

But since then, the running game has gone south. True, the Ravens played their final two preseason games within a five-day span, but 143 of the team's combined 228 rushing yards came from Rhett and the second offense.

Graham? He finished the preseason with 68 yards rushing on 36 attempts and will start the season as Rhett's backup.

Marchibroda hasn't been overly concerned. He has one of the largest offensive lines in the league, led by tackles Jonathan Ogden (6 feet 8, 318 pounds) and Orlando Brown (6-7, 350).

"We'll run the football. I think we'll be all right," Marchibroda said. "I think the offensive line, more than anyone else, needs a week of preparation."

Potts said: "A lot of people don't understand that you can have the greatest running backs in the league, the biggest and most physical offensive line, but that doesn't guarantee success. We're not there yet. You've got to know what to do out there.

"Against the Eagles [a 23-6 preseason victory Aug. 24], we had one guy taking a play off here, another guy taking a play off there. We had some guys going in the wrong direction. We have to play smarter and we will."

Changes no gamble

Potts was in a similar situation with the Indianapolis Colts in 1994, his second full year as a starter. That season, Harbaugh replaced Jeff George as the starting quarterback and Marshall Faulk became the running back for Anthony Johnson. The Colts finished 8-8 under Marchibroda after a 1-3 start.

Ravens quarterbacks coach Don Strock said the Miami Dolphins underwent numerous changes in skill positions in 1983, when the club drafted quarterback Dan Marino and started him with first-year receiver Mark Duper. Wide receiver Mark Clayton was also a rookie in 1983, when the Dolphins went 12-4.

The Ravens say they have an advantage over other teams that have made such drastic changes.

"We don't think this is a gamble. With the exception of Errict coming from Tampa Bay, we have past experiences with the other players," Strock said. "Jay may have limited experience, but he played, even started, for us last year. Rosy's only problem is that he basically hasn't played in two years. He has a few glitches to overcome, but basically he knows the system.

"Ted coached Jim in Indianapolis, so they have a relationship. These guys are young veterans, not rookies. The only person going through a real learning process where everything is entirely new is Errict."

Rhett's problem learning the offense may have been the only thing that delayed his overtaking Graham as the starter, because Rhett certainly was more impressive in the preseason.

Graham has more acceleration, speed and the ability to break off a big run, but Rhett makes better and quicker decisions and runs a lot harder. There are times, though, when Rhett aligns himself wrong and has to get last-second hand adjustments from Potts or reserve fullback Kenyon Cotton.

According to most of the offensive players, the Ravens' system isn't hard to learn, but it has more numbers involved in the terminology than other team's systems. Harbaugh said Marchibroda has given him ample time to digest the offense.

"It's just different," said Potts, who has spent extra time with Rhett, teaching him the offense. "Eighty-four here could mean five different plays. Errict isn't that bad at learning the plays. He is not as bad as some people make it seem. Hey, it's been an adjustment for me, too. What you have to remember is that Rhett is a football player. I mean, a real football player. Errict has to be patient. His time will come. He'll adapt to the offense soon enough."

Rhett, Potts one of a kind

Rhett and Potts. Potts and Rhett. The two have become inseparable. Along with Harbaugh and cornerback Rod Woodson, they were signed in the off-season because of their tough-guy mentalities.

Rhett said he and Potts are survivors, not just in football, but also in life. Potts rarely played the past two years -- sitting out the 1996 season because he violated the league's substance and alcohol abuse policy and then appearing briefly for Indianapolis and Miami last season.

Rhett barely played the past two years because of a contract holdout that resulted in his benching at Tampa Bay in favor of Warrick Dunn.

There is constant trash talk from Rhett, who may be the hardest practice player on the team. Harbaugh said Potts used to be the same way in Indianapolis, though Potts is much more subdued and wiser now. He still, though, likes occasionally to engage in one-upmanship.

One player recently told a story of how Rhett said he was so poor that he had to eat sugar sandwiches -- and that he borrowed the bread.

Then it's Potts' turn.

"Man, I had it so bad that the only meal I ate was if I caught fish that day. With my bare hands," he said. "True story."

"Roosevelt Potts has been like a brother to me," Rhett said. "When I had a difficult time picking up the plays, Roosevelt taught me. He communicates well on the field. We've both been through a lot together and we're both still playing. He's got a big heart like mine, and I can't say that about a lot of people."

Harbaugh likes the cockiness of Rhett and Potts. It gives the Ravens a nice mix in the backfield. Graham is a prankster who does impersonations of coaches and players.

Harbaugh is humble, has virtually no star presence and has just as strong a work ethic as Rhett. And there isn't a practice that passes in which he doesn't sit and chat with Rhett or Potts.

"I don't want to be a team psychologist, but we've got a great bunch of guys back there," Harbaugh said. "Jay is a real outgoing guy, likable, easy to talk to. Rosy and Errict are players' players. Tough. Their attitudes are infectious. I love a little conversation out there on the field.

"Sometimes, guys are afraid to talk, put themselves out there on a limb. Errict talks, but he backs it up. Rosy just kinds of stares at you real hard now."

Potts rushed only 13 times for 31 yards in the preseason, his play limited because of an injured knee that has bothered him in recent years. But Potts has been devastating as a blocker and he might be the key to the two-back formation.

"You haven't seen the best of Roosevelt Potts," Strock said. "I guess you can say he is at about 80 to 85 percent. But now that we're out of two-a-days and he is using his legs less because we're practicing once a day, he is getting stronger."

Potts said: "I'm still frustrated because I haven't played with the offensive linemen as much as I would have liked. But the knee is getting stronger. You will see the difference."

Putting it all together

There aren't many questions about Harbaugh. He has fit in well and runs the offense efficiently. Backup quarterback Eric Zeier has a stronger arm, but Harbaugh has more poise. He rarely hesitates when making a decision, vital in the NFL, where a second can be costly.

The Ravens still need to prove that they can throw downfield more often, but Harbaugh has gained his teammates' confidence.

"He does a great job with the offense and is real patient. That spills over to everybody else," Graham said.

Now, it's just a matter of putting it all together.

"Basically, this is the first time we've had all our backs in training camp to work with us," Ogden said. "They still have to get used to us. Before with Bam [Morris], he was here and then he wasn't. Now we have some consistency.

"In the preseason, we only ran half our offense, so we'll find out what happens when the season starts. In this league, you have to run the football. Even Brett Favre hands off to Dorsey Levens once in a while."

One person who can't wait is Rhett.

"I got a dream line, big and powerful," Rhett said. "I got a knock-'em-down fullback for the first time ever. I got competition in Jay, and that makes both of us better. I love the work.

"Who cares what history says about new backfields? I don't dwell on tomorrow. I don't dwell on the past. All I care about is the present and results. Let's play."

BTC Pub Date: 9/04/98