Despite the Ravens' 5-9 record, coach Ted Marchibroda said there is nothing he could have done differently for his team in the 1998 season.

The Ravens have the NFL's 23rd-ranked offense, the No. 22 defense and have lost two of their last three games. Marchibroda is 15-30-1 in the three years the team has been in Baltimore and is expected to be fired by owner Art Modell shortly after the season.

Modell said he will not make an official decision until he meets with members of his front office and coaching staff at season's end. If a new coach is named, the announcement will come by late January, the owner said.

Marchibroda was busy viewing game film in his office yesterday, one day after six turnovers cost the Ravens 26 points in a 38-28 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Marchibroda was optimistic as usual.

"Sometimes I think they are, sometimes I don't," said Marchibroda, when asked if he was going to be fired. "But I'm going to keep coaching like I always have. To prepare in this

league, you've got to watch a lot of film and that doesn't give you a lot of time to think about a lot of things.

"There are times I look back and think, 'What could I have done differently?' I don't see anything. I really don't. There is nothing that hits me between the eyes. I wished we'd have been healthier earlier. I wish Wally Williams [center/guard who held out nearly six weeks] had been in camp earlier. But there's nothing I could do about those things."

There were high expectations for this team, especially after the Ravens acquired running back Errict Rhett and quarterback Jim Harbaugh in trades during the off-season, as well as fullback Roosevelt Potts and cornerback Rod Woodson via free agency.

Only Woodson has made a significant impact on the team, while Harbaugh struggled most of the first half of the season with finger and elbow injuries.

Potts has been a disappointment and the Ravens have elected to go with second-year running back Priest Holmes instead of Rhett. But according to Marchibroda, maybe the Ravens have been rebuilding during the last three years instead of making changes at key positions.

"The only thing that has surprised me when I took the job was that I didn't know I would be rebuilding," Marchibroda said. "I probably didn't take the time to investigate, which I should have. If you're rebuilding, then you can't be changing. You can't do both. I think if you ask people what it would take to rebuild a team, they would say four to five years. There are other factors involved, but four to five would be about right.

"I don't look at [Potts] as a disappointment. He's not a big part of the reason we've lost games," Marchibroda said. "Jim's game is 26 passes, 16 completions, one interception and a couple of big plays. That's him. When he has been healthy, he has held his own. Woodson has added to this team significantly, and Errict is a good ballplayer to have on your team."

So, what are the problems? Marchibroda would not go into specifics, but said those issues have to be addressed by ownership at the end of the season. But privately, most of the coaching staff as well as the Ravens' front-office personnel have not been pleased with the performances of Williams and right offensive tackle Orlando Brown. Both will be free agents at the end of the season.

The team has gotten little production out of wide receiver Michael Jackson, who, because of injuries or not being involved in the game plan, has 27 receptions for 369 yards -- and no touchdowns.

Defensively, the Ravens need to find a safety, but also get veteran players to bring leadership to their offensive line and linebacking corps.

Marchibroda defended his coaching staff, which he had to piece together quickly after being named coach, and also the team's not having an offensive coordinator. When asked if Modell makes that a requirement for him to return next season, Marchibroda declined to comment.

"I think our coaching staff has done OK and I'm comfortable with them," Marchibroda said. "There are going to be several decisions that will be organizational decisions during the off-season. I don't want to address them now, so we'll have to wait and see.

"This season has been disappointing, but you have them from time to time. The first time I was here [Baltimore], we won three division titles in a row. The next year Bert Jones gets hurt and we slipped to 5-11.

"I don't think we're going to fall off the table. The guys still want to win, as evident from the pre-game talk Rod Woodson gave before Sunday's game. These guys have practiced well all season long and I believe they will continue that in the two remaining games."

Next for Ravens

Opponent: Chicago Bears

Site: Soldier Field, Chicago

When: Sunday, 1: 01 p.m.

TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WLIF (101.9 FM)

Line: Pick 'em

Pub Date: 12/15/98