Focus Jamal Lewis on football Ravens officials appear confident that the All-Pro running back can block out the uncertainty stemming from his federal drug conspiracy case.
One reason is Lewis ran for 2,066 yards last season (second-most in NFL history) despite knowing he could be charged at any time. But thereM-Fs really no telling how Lewis M-y who carries a quiet, reserved demeanor in the locker roomM-y will react to the stress of a pending trial, which could take place during the season.
Lewis recently said he had taken out his anger from the situation during daily workouts, driving him to report in better shape than any previous offseason minicamp. The Ravens canM-Ft afford any drop-off in LewisM-F mental toughness because he accounted for 46 percent of the teamM-Fs total offense (2,271 of 4,929 yards).
Find out where Peter Boulware stands
The best pass rusher in franchise history is the teamM-Fs biggest injury concern. After undergoing knee surgery in January, Boulware will concentrate on rehabbing off to the side during camp and not play a down in the preseason.
The best-case scenario: Boulware improves quick enough to be a pass rush specialist for the early part of the regular season and gradually becomes an every-down, outside linebacker by November. The worstcase: Boulware takes a step backward in his workouts and must stay on the physically-unable-to-perform list into the season, which means he must miss at least the first six games.
The knee injury is a tough one for Boulware because he is a speed rusher and relies heavily on his legs to generate a burst. Besides Boulware, backup quarterback Anthony Wright (shoulder) and tight end Trent Smith (leg) also will be limited in camp.
Improve Kyle BollerM-Fs awareness
The major question mark on the team is at the gameM-Fs most important position. In his second season as the starting quarterback, Boller has to gain a better understanding of orchestrating a conservative, runfirst offensive philosophy.
For the Ravens to take that next step in the playoffs, he has to cut down on mistakes (nine interceptions and nine fumbles in nine starts) as well as increase his efficiency. He ranked second-to-last in quarterback rating (62.4) and completion percentage (51.8) among NFL starters last season.
Turn Terrell Suggs into a starting outside linebacker
The 10th overall pick of the 2003 draft, Suggs was named the NFLM-Fs Defensive Rookie of the Year despite falling short of expectations.
He showed flashes of brilliance by recording a team-best 12 sacks last season but failed to develop into an every-down linebacker. A defensive end at Arizona State, Suggs struggled dropping back in pass protection and reacting to the run.
A big reason for his troubled transition was his conditioning. This offseason, he reported in better shape M-y 10 pounds lighter M-y and has moved more fluidly at linebacker. Still, being the only new starter on the leagueM-Fs third-ranked defense, the pressure is on Suggs to hold his own.
Settle who is starting at right guard
The only battle for a starting job is on the offensive line, where Bennie Anderson will be pushed by Casey Rabach. Other than pursuing the same spot, they couldnM-Ft be more different blockers.
Anderson, whose weight ballooned this offseason, has more bulk and power and has proven to be a better fit for an offensive system that doesnM-Ft pull or trap much. Rabach, a third-round pick in 2001 who has been a backup for a majority of his career, is more athletic and can get past the line of scrimmage to the linebackers more quickly.
The Ravens also will take a look at Rabach at center, which is probably his natural position. But starting Rabach there means Mike Flynn, the teamM-Fs starting center for the past three seasons, would move to right guard.
Limit the distraction of Chris McAlister skipping camp
Holdouts in coach Brian BillickM-Fs tenure M-y from Tony Siragusa and Travis Taylor in 2000 to Kyle Boller and Terrell Suggs last season M-y have never harmed the team once the regular season began. The Ravens can only hope that trend continues this year with their Pro Bowl cornerback.
McAlister is not expected to report on time to protest being named the teamM-Fs franchise player for the second straight season. A prolonged absence can only hurt a defense primed to be one of the elite groups in the NFL.
Figure out who is going to be the return specialist
It seems like there is no middle ground with Lamont Brightful, whose sloppiness in fielding punts has overshadowed several dazzling returns.
In the most crowded competition of camp, he will try to beat out Derek Abney, a seventh-round pick who holds five NCAA Division I records for kick returns; Kareem Kelly, a former practice squad player; and undrafted rookies B.J. Sams and Lance Frazier.
The sleeper of camp may be Sams, a converted running back out of McNeese State who has distinguished himself by his sure-handedness in fielding punts.
Inject Kevin Johnson and Devard Darling into the passing game
These newcomers may not boost the Ravens into the top half of the NFL in passing, but they may round out the best receiving corps in BillickM-Fs six years here. Besides bringing consistency (he averaged 66 catches over his five-year career) and a great set of hands, Johnson provides a brashness that the offense has lacked since Shannon Sharpe. Johnson, who lacks outstanding speed, could develop into a go-to receiver on third downs. Darling could find his niche as a deep threat. The third-round pick was impressive in noncontact minicamps but needs to show those same physical tools once the hits start coming.
Prepare Musa Smith to be a starter if called upon
Considering Jamal LewisM-F current legal situation and injury history, the Ravens have to make sure that Smith can go from little-used backup to featured back in a snap.
With Lewis missing most of the offseason camps, the RavensM-F coaches worked on getting Smith physically and mentally ready to carry the load so they wouldnM-Ft have to drastically shift from their run-oriented attack.
Smith, a third-round pick in 2003, has a power running style in a mold similar to Lewis, but he lacks the same breakaway speed. The lingering concern is SmithM-Fs inexperience. He had more special teams tackles (10) than carries (nine) as a rookie last season.
Dust off Ray Lewis
For possibly the first time in his career, Lewis was a spectator in offseason minicamps. The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year didnM-Ft want to risk aggravating a thumb injury.
But it should only take one hit M-y whoever the unlucky running back is M-y before Lewis gets back into the flow. The bigger question is whether heM-Fll report more bulked up and powerful, or leaner and quicker.
Ravens roster
Coach: Brian Billick
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Yr. College Acquired
2 Anthony Wright QB 6-1 215 28 6 South Carolina FA '02
3 Matt Stover K 5-11 178 36 15 Louisiana Tech PB '91
4 Zach Norton CB 5-11 183 22 R Cincinnati FA '04
5 Josh Harris QB 6-1 238 21 R Bowling Green D6 '04
6 Brian Gaither QB 6-1 221 24 R W. Carolina FA '04
7 Kyle Boller QB 6-3 220 23 2 California D1b '03
9 Wade Richey K 6-3 205 28 7 Louisiana State FA '03
10 Kordell Stewart QB 6-1 218 31 10 Colorado FA '04
11 Devard Darling WR 6-1 215 22 R Washington State D3 '04
12 Derek Abney WR/RS 5-9 180 23 R Kentucky D7a '04
15 Dave Zastudil P 6-3 215 25 3 Ohio University D4a '02
16 Clarence Moore WR 6-6 211 21 R Northern Arizona D6 '04
17 Todd Devoe WR 6-2 198 24 1 C. Missouri St. FA '03
18 Clinton Greathouse P 5-10 221 24 R Texas Tech FA '04
20 Ed Reed S 5-11 200 25 3 Miami D1 '02
21 Chris McAlister CB 6-1 206 27 6 Arizona D1 '99
22 Dale Carter CB 6-1 194 34 12 Tennessee FA '04
24 Sam Massey CB 6-2 205 23 R Morgan State FA '04
26 Corey Fuller CB 5-10 220 33 10 Florida State UFA '03
27 Gerome Sapp S 6-1 216 23 2 Notre Dame D6 '03
28 Gary Baxter CB 6-2 215 25 4 Baylor D2 '01
29 Chester Taylor RB 5-11 213 24 3 Toledo D6c '02
30 Kory Chapman RB 6-1 202 24 R Jacksonville State FA '04
31 Jamal Lewis RB 5-11 245 25 5 Tennessee D1a '00
32 Musa Smith RB 6-0 232 22 2 Georgia D3 '03
33 Harold Morrow FB 5-11 232 31 9 Auburn FA '03
34 Ovie Mughelli FB 6-1 255 24 2 Wake Forest D4b '03
35 Dave Revill S 5-11 203 23 R Utah FA '04
36 B.J. Sams RB 5-10 185 23 R McNeese State FA '04
37 Lance Frazier CB 5-10 183 23 R West Virginia FA '04
38 Raymond Walls CB 5-10 188 25 4 Southern Mississippi FA '03
39 Alan Ricard FB 5-11 237 27 4 Northeast Louisiana FA '00
40 Nick Eller TE 6-3 262 23 R Eastern Illinois FA '04
41 Brett Pierce TE 6-5 250 23 R Stanford FA '04
42 Marcell Allmond CB 6-0 209 23 R USC FA '04
43 Mike Solwold LS 6-6 244 26 4 Wisconsin FA '03
44 Daniel Wilcox TE 6-1 245 27 2 Appalachian State FA '04
45 Lamont Brightful DB/RS 5-10 160 25 3 Eastern Washington D6a '02
47 Will Demps S 6-0 205 24 3 San Diego State FA '02
48 Javin Hunter WR/CB 5-11 190 24 3 Notre Dame D6b '02
49 Chad Williams S 5-9 207 25 3 Southern Mississippi D6d '02
50 John Garrett LB 5-11 243 23 R Baylor FA '04
51 Brandon Barnes LB 6-2 235 23 R Missouri FA '04
52 Ray Lewis LB 6-1 245 29 9 Miami D1b '96
53 T.J. Slaughter LB 6-0 233 27 5 Southern Mississippi FA '03
54 Roderick Green LB 6-2 250 22 R C. Missouri St. D5 '04
55 Terrell Suggs LB 6-3 260 21 2 Arizona State D1a '03
56 Ed Hartwell LB 6-1 250 26 4 Western Illinois D4 '01
57 Bart Scott LB 6-2 235 24 3 Southern Illinois FA '02
58 Peter Boulware LB 6-4 255 29 8 Florida State D1 '97
59 Joe Maese LS 6-0 245 25 4 New Mexico D6 '01
61 Casey Rabach G/C 6-4 301 26 4 Wisconsin D3 '01
62 Mike Flynn C 6-3 305 30 7 Maine FA '97
63 Brandon Rager LB 6-3 250 22 R San Diego State FA '04
64 Edwin Mulitalo G 6-3 345 29 6 Arizona D4b '99
66 Bennie Anderson G 6-5 345 27 4 Tennessee State FA '01
67 Brendan Darby T 6-7 295 23 R San Diego State FA '04
68 Douglas Goodwin DT 6-1 289 22 R Boston College FA '04
69 Brian Rimpt G 6-5 319 23 R East Carolina D7b '04
70 Matt Zielinski DT 6-2 302 23 R Duke FA '04
71 Jesse Mitchell DT 6-0 273 23 R Ole Miss FA '04
72 Damion Cook T 6-5 330 25 3 Bethune-Cookman FA '02
73 Eric Dumas T 6-5 316 23 R Maryland FA '04
74 Don Muhlbach LS 6-5 262 23 R Texas A&M; FA '04
75 Jonathan Ogden T 6-9 345 30 9 UCLA D1a '96
76 Lenny Vandermade C 6-2 291 23 R USC FA '04
77 Ethan Brooks T 6-6 330 32 7 Williams College FA '02
78 Orlando Brown T 6-7 360 33 9 South Carolina State FA '03
79 Tony Pashos T 6-6 337 24 2 Illinois D5b '03
80 Randy Hymes WR 6-3 211 25 3 Grambling FA '02
81 Cecil Moore WR 6-1 215 23 1 East Tennessee State FA '04
82 Terry Jones TE 6-3 260 24 3 Alabama D5 '02
83 Ron Johnson WR 6-2 225 24 3 Minnesota D4b '02
85 Kevin Johnson WR 5-11 195 28 6 Syracuse TR '04
86 Todd Heap TE 6-5 252 24 4 Arizona State D1 '01
87 Kareem Kelly WR 6-0 186 23 1 USC FA '03
88 Trent Smith TE 6-5 245 24 2 Oklahoma D7a '03
89 Travis Taylor WR 6-1 210 26 5 Florida D1b '00
90 Cornell Brown LB 6-0 240 29 7 Virginia Tech FA '02
91 Aubrayo Franklin DT 6-1 320 24 2 Tennessee D5a '03
92 Maake Kemoeatu DT 6-5 340 25 3 Utah FA '02
93 Dwan Edwards DT 6-3 315 23 R Oregon State D2 '04
94 Marques Douglas DE 6-2 280 27 5 Howard FA '01
95 Jarret Johnson DE 6-3 285 23 2 Alabama D4a '03
96 Adalius Thomas LB 6-2 270 27 5 Southern Mississippi D6a '00
97 Kelly Gregg DT 6-0 310 27 5 Oklahoma FA '00
98 Tony Weaver DE 6-3 290 24 3 Notre Dame D2 '02
2004 Ravens schedule
Preseason
Date Opponent Time, TV
Aug. 12 Atlanta 8 p.m., ESPN
Aug. 20 at Philadelphia 8 p.m., ch. 13
Aug. 28 Detroit 8 p.m., ch. 45
Sept. 2 at New York 7 p.m., ch. 45
Regular season
Date Opponent Time, TV
Sept. 12 at Cleveland 1 p.m., ch. 13
Sept. 19 Pittsburgh 1 p.m., ch. 13
Sept. 26 at Cincinnati 1 p.m., ch. 13
Oct. 4 Kansas City 9 p.m., ch. 2
Oct. 10 at Washington 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 17 Open Date
Oct. 24 Buffalo 1 p.m., ch. 13
Oct. 31 at Philadelphia 1 p.m., ch. 13
Nov. 7 Cleveland 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 14 at N.Y. Jets 1 p.m., ch. 13
Nov. 21 Dallas 1 p.m., ch. 45
Nov. 28 at New England 1 p.m., ch. 13
Dec. 5 Cincinnati 1 p.m., ch. 13
Dec. 12 New York Giants 1 p.m., ch. 45
Dec. 19 at Indianapolis 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 26 at Pittsburgh 1 p.m., ch. 13
Jan. 2 Miami 1 p.m., ch. 13
Camp schedule
Tomorrow: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m
Saturday: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: no practice
Monday: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:45 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Next Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 6: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; intrasquad scrimmage at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 7: no practice
Sunday, Aug. 8: no practice
Monday, Aug. 9: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 10: 8:45 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 11: 10:15 a.m. to noon at M&T; Bank Stadium
Friday, Aug. 13: no practice
Saturday, Aug. 14: 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 15: no practice
Monday, Aug. 16: 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 17: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 18: 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 19: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 21: no practice
Sunday, Aug. 22: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 23: 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 24: 9:30 a.m.; break camp.
Directions from Baltimore via I-695
Take I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) to Exit 19 onto I-795 (Northwest Expressway), and continue to its termination. Follow signs to Westminster via Route 140 West to Route 31 South; at blinking traffic light, turn left (Route 31); at first traffic light, turn left onto Main Street. Go up the hill; the entrance to the Ravens' visitors' parking is on your left. Follow the drive around Bair Stadium and look for the signs.