Ravens head coach Brian Billick expressed optimism Wednesday on the eve of training camp.
The team reports this evening, before beginning in earnest Friday with practice sessions at McDaniel College in Westminster.
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Billick and his team start camp trying to erase memories of last year?s 6-10 season that was marred by sloppy play, injuries and chemistry issues. Over the last couple of months, Ravens players have said they are approaching the season with a clean slate, ready to reassert the team?s place among the NFL?s elite.
The team recently re-signed safety Ed Reed, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and has signed all but one of the 2006 draft picks.
“Everybody feels very good at this point. Everybody has Super Bowl aspirations. Everybody feels very good where they are right now,” Billick said. “We?re starting training camp, things can change quickly, in as solid position as I can remember. Not withstanding (first-round pick Haloti) Ngata, who I?m optimistic we?ll get done prior to us getting to camp, we will have no contract issues looming, no one holding out from camp. It?s my understanding today that we are healthy and everybody will be ready to go come Friday morning.”
The coach, entering his eighth season, said the team should be able to build continuity and chemistry with the whole team in camp. He said he, like many coaches, is concerned with potential injuries.
“It?s a constant state of readiness. How we do react to whatever difficulty presents itself,” Billick said.
The team will practice Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at McDaniel.
Billick said the team?s division, the AFC North, could be the best in the NFL, with 2005 winner Cincinnati and Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, each returning key players.
The biggest land mine, Billick said, will be “surviving the season, both from a wins-loss standpoint and from an injury standpoint. The fact that we are going to play each other twice. The fact that this division is playing a very good AFC West, a very good NFC South with some very dynamic teams. It?s going to be a challenge for all of us.”
Key training camp dates
» 7/27 Players Report
» 7/28 Practices Begin
» 8/5 Scrimmage vs. Redskins
» 8/11 Ravens vs. NY Giants
» 8/17 Ravens vs. Eagles
» 8/19 Camp Breaks
» 8/29 Roster Cut Down to 65
» 9/2 Roster Cut Down to 53
» Camp is at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md.
» Contact info: 410-261-RAVE
