John Harbaugh tapped his feet, as he was antsy to begin his first training camp as head coach in the National Football League. But when he steps on to the field at McDaniel College in Westminster this morning, he?ll view it in the same manner as the previous 24 he?s worked as an assistant coach.
His players, however, will experience a different type of training camp. The easy, summer days under former coach Brian Billick are over, as Harbaugh will usher in a camp that is expected to be much more physically demanding.
“I feel the same way as I felt as an assistant coach for the last 10 years in the league,” said Harbaugh, who served as the Philadelphia Eagles special teams coordinator and secondary coach before coming to Baltimore. “You can?t wait to go to work.”
And he has a lot of work to do. First, Harbaugh must find a starting quarterback ? one who will lead a woeful offense that averaged about 17 points and 300 yards per game.
Beginning at 8:45 this morning, Kyle Boller, Troy Smith and Joe Flacco ? the Ravens? first-round draft pick ? will begin their battle to lead the team against Cincinnati at M&T Bank Stadium on Sept. 7.
“It speaks to Joe that he wants to be there and be there from day one,” said Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens general manager. “He?s seen what holdouts have done to quarterbacks before and how it set them back. He?s said from day one he?s ready to start.”
Flacco signed a five-year, $30 million deal on Monday, ensuring the 18th overall pick won?t miss a snap of training camp. He?ll compete against Boller, who has the most experience but has yet to play like a first-round draft pick, and Troy Smith, a former Heisman Trophy winner who overachieved during his rookie year, highlighted by leading the Ravens to a win over Pittsburgh to close the season.
“This was a foregone conclusion for me since I got drafted in April,” said Flacco, who starred at the University of Delaware. “Everybody is congratulating me, but I don?t see it as that big a deal. I knew I was going to be there the first day of camp. I knew I was going to sign a contract and I?m just excited to be here and get out on the practice field and get going.”
As for Harbaugh, he plans on pushing the players hard, but he won?t wear them out before the season begins. The team has scheduled 43 practices over the next 26 days, as well as preseason games against New England, Minnesota, St. Louis and Atlanta.
“Training camp is tough, training camp is hard. We?re going to run an intelligent camp,” Harbaugh said. “Guys are going to work hard, their legs are going to get weary and that?s how you get good. The goal is not to be a fresh football team coming out of training camp because that is impossible. The goal is to be a strong team coming out of training camp.”
JOIN THE TRAINING CAMP
Here is the Ravens practice schedule for the next week. Morning practices usually about two hours, with afternoons lasting about 90 minutes. Please check www.baltimoreravens.com, as times are subject to change. Wednesday: 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday: Team administrative day (closed to public)
- Friday: 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
- Monday: 8:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. (special teams)
Directions: From I-695, take Exit 19 onto I-795 North. Follow signs to Westminster via Route 140 West to Route 31. At blinking light, turn left onto Route 31. At first traffic light, turn left onto Main Street. Proceed up hill, and the entrance to the Ravens? visitor parking is on the left.
Parking: Visitors are encouraged to park at McDaniel College?s Bair Stadium, which is adjacent to Main Street.
Autograph seekers alert: The Ravens make most of their players accessible for autographs after each practice, with fans asked to lineup next to the fences and ropes surrounding the field. Kids 14 years and younger can get prime spots behind the end zone closest to the field house. Players are more likely to sign autographs for kids who are polite and bring a pen.
Preseason schedule
- Aug. 7: at New England, 7:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: WBAL-TV, MASN, 1090AM
- Aug. 16: vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: WMAR-TV, MASN, 1090AM
- Aug. 23: at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
TV/Radio: WMAR-TV, MASN, 1090AM
- Aug. 28: vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: WBAL-TV, MASN, 1090AM
