The Ravens traded a draft pick to the Tennessee Titans forSteve McNair in the offseason to help improve the team?s passing game. While the Ravens are 4-1, they are looking to improve their standing as the 13th-ranked passing offense in the AFC. The team?s offense is ranked 29th among 32 teams in the NFL.
McNair has connected on 93 of 165 passes for 911 yards and five touchdowns, but has six interceptions.
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“It?s not one individual,” McNair said. “We?ve got to be clicking on all cylinders. If one cylinder is not clicking, it can disrupt the whole offense.”
McNair said his command of the offense will take time.
“Ain?t nobody said it was going to be an easy transition from Tennessee to here, as far as the offense and I was going to come in and everything was going to be smooth sailing,” he said. “But we?re working toward that.”
The Ravens are also ranked 12th in rushing in the NFL.
“We?re all pretty much confident,” running back Jamal Lewis said. “We are doing things, as far as coaching staff on down to the players, trying to get thing worked out.”
Lewis said his rushing averages (78 yards a game and 4 yards a carry) took a steep drop because of strong defenses featured by San Diego and Denver. Lewis is averaging less than 18 carries a game, sharing the running load with Mike Anderson and Musa Smith.
“It?s all right with me, but you know it?s hard, really, to get into a good tempo,” Lewis said. “Hey, it is what it is, and I?m not the one who makes that call or whatever. We just have to try to get it done.”
While saying he doesn?t mean to sound insensitive, Billick said, “I don?t give a flip who carries it as long we get the productivity and the number of runs out of the running game.”
Ivy released from hospital: Defensive back Corey Ivy was released from a Pittsburgh hospital, the team confirmed Thursday, after he tore his kidney in Monday?s loss to Denver. Ivy will not play against the Panthers.
Stills added to injury list: Linebacker and special teams leading tackler Gary Stills missed practice Thursday with an abdomen injury and is listed as questionable for the Panthers game. Linebacker Terrell Suggs also missed practice with a lingering hamstring injury.
Still thinking about Denver: Three days after losing to his former team, Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce was still ruminating about a 13-3 loss to Denver.
“That game, I think, was between two good teams,” Pryce said. “And I am hoping, wishing and praying that we play them again in the playoffs, and I don?t care where. It could be a sandlot. I really don?t care where.”
