The Ravens went 6-10 last season and have missed the playoffs three of the last four years. But those facts mean little to the team?s rabid fans, who believe the Ravens have the talent to make a deep postseason run.
Most of the fans? attention has gone towards the addition of Pro Bowl quarterback Steve McNair, who joined the Ravens following a trade with the Tennessee Titans in June. Among those fans is Rob Flury, a White Marsh resident, who came out to the first day of training camp at McDaniel College with his wife, Stacy, and his children Madison, 3, and Ryan, 5.
“Christmas came for me when my season tickets came in the mail,” said Flury, who has season tickets in section 515 at M&T Bank Stadium. “If McNair stays healthy, we?re going to make the playoffs.”
Baltimore resident Rob Mixter said McNair not only gives the Ravens a top-flight No. 1 quarterback, but also helps solidify the team? s depth at the position with Kyle Boller, the starter the last three season, now the backup.
“As Ray Lewis said, ?McNair?s a warrior,? ” Mixter said. “At the same time, if he gets hurt, we now have a backup who has a lot of experience by playing the last few years.”
Kathy Wesley, of Hampstead, said McNair is just one piece of the puzzle for a successful season. Just as important, she said, is the health of players like Ray Lewis, running back Jamal Lewis and wide receiver Derrick Mason.
“If all those guys stay healthy, this could be our year,” Wesley said.
Another source of optimism among fans comes from owner Steve Bisciotti, who put pressure on head coach Brian Billick to improve the team during a offseason press conference. Many fans applauded the move, feeling that Billick lost control of the team the last two years.
“Bisciotti did just enough,” said Rob Dunlop, 18, of Baltimore. “Brian Billick gave his players too much freedom last year. The coach had lost the locker room.”
Flury, Mixter, Wesley and Dunlop agreed that another reason for their excitement comes from their disappointment over an apparent ninth straight losing season by the Orioles. They all said that despite the Ravens? recent struggles, they have hope they can right the ship ? something they don?t see happening with the Orioles.
“Year after year around this time,” Mixter said, “you want football to get started because the Orioles? season is over by that point.”
