Adam Terry has no intention of dwelling on the past.
The Ravens offensive tackle was impressive in starting last year's final two regular-season games, as the offensive line did not surrender a sack of Steve McNair.
Though some Ravens fans may remember the 6-foot-8, 330-pound Terry's manhandling of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter in a 31-7 victory on Christmas Eve that eliminated the defending Super Bowl champions from playoff contention, Terry said he has given little thought to last season's performances.
"If you accentuate all of the positives all of the time, you're not really working on getting better. That's my opinion," said Terry, who started those two games at left tackle for the injured Jonathan Ogden. "I've moved on. I'm working out and running and trying to get better for this next year."
The importance of Terry's development has increased since right tackle Tony Pashos left the Ravens last month.
An unrestricted free agent, Pashos, who had started all 16 games and the playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts last season, was signed to a five-year, $24 million contract by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Pashos' departure means Terry, the 64th overall selection and sixth offensive tackle taken in the 2005 draft, is the leading candidate to start opposite 10-time Pro Bowl selection Ogden when the regular season opens on Sept. 10.
Terry would be the starting left tackle if Ogden decides to retire and not return for his 12th season. Ogden has said he will make his decision before the draft.
Yet Terry, 24, isn't about to become complacent about his status on the team's depth chart.
"There's still the NFL draft [on April 28-29], and there's still a lot of things that can happen before that day," he said. "Right now, I'm concerned about getting stronger, being in shape and knowing what to do all the time. I think if I take care of my own business, I'll put myself in a good situation."
Terry has wisely been learning from Ogden, considered the game's premier left tackle of his era. Transitioning to the right side, however, will be a challenge for Terry, who will work on honing his footwork and becoming comfortable with a new perspective on offense.
"It's like writing with your left hand and then writing with your right," he said, adding that he has never played right tackle in high school, college or pros . "But in our world, you have to do both. ... If you ease up in this profession, you're out of a job pretty quick. That's how I look at it."
Offensive line coach Chris Foerster pointed out that Terry has earned some practice time at right tackle, as the team once thought he would challenge Pashos for the position before last season.
But Foerster said Terry's experience on the left side will be beneficial.
"He knows the feeling of being out on an island on the left side," Foerster said. "That, on the right side, doesn't occur as much, but I think he'll bring that strength to that side. He's used to being a little more exposed. Whereas most right tackles have a tight end present to keep the [pass rusher] in front of him, he's probably going to be a little bit more comfortable with guys way out on the edge, and that should be a help to him."
Terry's determination to establish himself as the starting right tackle was evident to George DeLeone, his former position coach at Syracuse.
"He feels strongly that the organization drafted him for a reason, and he doesn't want to let them down," said DeLeone, who is the offensive coordinator at Temple.
Terry said he is not worried about the Ravens' possibly using either the 29th or the 61st overall picks in this month's draft on an offensive lineman. Instead, his focus is on cementing his status on the team's depth chart.
"My role last year was to back people up," he said. "This year, hopefully, it changes."
edward.lee@baltsun.com
Note -- Baltimore's Marching Ravens have been selected to play in the 81st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. The Ravens' band was one of 10 selected out of hundreds of applicants nationwide.