courtney upshaw

Ravens running back Ray Rice has made major progress since the end of a season where he struggled with hip and quadriceps injuries and played at the heaviest weight of his career.

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston answers Ravens questions from readers.

The conditioning test that retired middle linebacker Rolando McClain was unable to complete during an unsuccessful workout for team officials Tuesday at the Ravens' training complex consists of six timed interval runs.

Despite re-signing left tackle Eugene Monroe, tight end Dennis Pitta and wide receiver Jacoby Jones, adding veteran playmaker Steve Smith and hiring a new coordinator, the Ravens still have work left to do this offseason to improve an offense that plummeted to 29th in total yards and 25th in scoring in 2013.

The Ravens met with linebackers Adrian Hubbard and Lamin Barrow at the NFL scouting combine.

With the Ravens sending another large delegation of executives, coaches and scouts to Mobile, Ala., to attend a week of practice beginning Monday, their concentration on the Senior Bowl isn't an aberration.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh talks about the team's rookies getting better in 2014.

One of the many things that the guys over at Pro Football Focus do is grade every player that plays a snap in the NFL. So since the Ravens' season is over, let's go back and see which players received positive marks from PFF and which ones were in the red.

In this week's season-ending edition of Blogger on Blogger, I reached out to Baltimore Sports and Life blogger Daniel Bryden, who does a great job breaking down the Ravens, to wrap up the 2013 season.

Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson looks at the film from the Ravens' season-ending loss to the Bengals.

Each week, Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer questions from readers about the Ravens.

Finally, in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens were able to use tight end Dennis Pitta as they originally envisioned before training camp kicked off.

As the Ravens held practice on their indoor field today to begin preparations for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, three starters weren't present during the portion open to reporters. That includes defensive lineman Arthur Jones. He suffered a concussion Sunday during a 41-7 loss to the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium.

Something unusual happened Sunday involving Ravens kicker Justin Tucker.

Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy wasn't fined for his low hit on Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco where he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Monday night, according to a league spokesman. Levy wasn't penalized on the play. The Ravens spoke to the league office about the hit earlier this week, sending in the play for review for potential discipline.

Fullback Vonta Leach was an afterthought during Monday night's 18-16 win over the Detroit Lions, Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta played fewer snaps and more observations after looking at the official snap counts.

Ravens outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw was fined $15,750 for roughing the passer, according to a league spokesman. Upshaw hit Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel in the third quarter of the Ravens' 29-26 loss at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Ravens remain hopeful that Elvis Dumervil will return from an ankle injury in time to face the Detroit Lions on Monday night, but he remained sidelined from practice.

The Ravens' defense is bracing for an encounter with versatile Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush, blocking out plenty of time to prepare for his all-purpose capabilities. Although Bush aggravated his calf injury Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, he told Detroit reporters Wednesday that he intends to play Monday night against the Ravens.

he Ravens attempted 50 passes despite a heavy snowfall, acknowledging that the passing game is their primary strength.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is still struggling to maintain some consistency but he's clearly been at his best in the fourth quarter.

Dennis Pitta made his season debut in Sunday's 29-26 win over the Minnesota Vikings and the Ravens tight end played 36 of the team's 85 offensive snaps and had six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Marlon Brown, an undrafted free agent, secured the football, then dragged his feet inbounds at the back of the end zone. After a brief review, officials confirmed it was a touchdown.

A look at some other items national media outlets have written this week regarding the Ravens' victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and their upcoming game against the Minnesota Vikings.

"When you talk about it, it lifts a burden off your chest," Ravens defensive end DeAngelo Tyson says of growing up without his biological parents in his life.

Upshaw wasn't fined for his hit on Quigley or his crushing block on Jets outside linebacker Troy Davis that didn't draw a penalty and ended Davis' season with a chest contusion, according to a league spokesman.

Josh Bynes got the majority of snaps at weak-side linebacker Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite the fact that Jameel McClain started.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco did not sound like a man who had just led his team to its biggest victory of the season.

Instead of trying conventional methods against a stout Jets defense led by Muhammad Wilkerson, the Ravens got creative.

While praising Upshaw's blocking on the punt return team, including a devastating block that injured Jets linebacker Troy Davis and didn't trigger a penalty, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he isn't so sure the hit on the punter deserved a penalty

A week after Ray Rice rushed for a season-high 131 yards in an overtime loss to the Chicago Bears, the star running back found himself in a timeshare with backup running back Bernard Pierce in Sunday's 19-3 win over the New York Jets.

No matter where New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith tried to throw the football Sunday, he was rarely able to elude Ravens cornerback Corey Graham.

It's hard to be too critical of any NFL telecast that delivers the kind of images CBS did Sunday following Jacoby Jones¿ touchdown catch that put the Ravens up 19-3 over the Jets.

The Ravens were without the services of Haloti Ngata during Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears. With Ngata sidelined, Terrence Cody got his first start of the 2013 season at nose tackle, played a season-high 35 defensive snaps and made one tackle.

The long stride, sudden cuts and all-purpose capabilities of Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte haven't escaped the Ravens' attention.

Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell has embraced a pass-centric approach, transitioning firmly to spread looks as the base offense.

Baltimore Ravens fullback Vonta Leach played a season-low two offensive snaps, inside linebacker Jameel McClain took on a larger role and more playing time observations from Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Although Dumervil definitely didn't come cheaply, signing a five-year, $26 million contract in March, an argument can be made that he's proven to be a wise investment.Especially compared to an alternative the Ravens avoided.

Looking at which Baltimore Ravens got a lot of playing time and which Ravens rode the pine in the first seven games of the 2013 season. Only five players, including middle linebacker Daryl Smith, have played every snap.

Ravens outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw was in a hurry to catch a plane when coach John Harbaugh dismissed the team for the bye.

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson will look back at the Ravens' previous game.

After being sidelined for more than 10 months with a spinal cord injury, Ravens weak-side linebacker Jameel McClain returned to the field Sunday. And he didn't just play. McClain started and played a major role in the 19-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.