Ravens quarterback Brian St. Pierre displayed the poise of a veteran signal-caller when he rolled to his right and fired a touchdown pass to wide receiver Romby Bryant during Wednesday?s practice at McDaniel College.
While the touchdown did not count in any official record book, it had significant meaning to St. Pierre, a four-year veteran out of Boston College who is trying to make the Ravens? roster as the third-string quarterback behind starter Steve McNair and backup Kyle Boller.
To make the team, St. Pierre must beat out Drew Olson, an undrafted free agent out of UCLA. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound St. Pierre entered training camp with an early advantage, having spent most of last season on the Ravens? practice squad before the team signed him to the active roster on Dec. 8. He came to the Ravens last September after the Pittsburgh Steelers waived him.
“I feel real comfortable in what I?m doing here,” St. Pierre said. “Coming in from Steelers camp last year was a getting-used-to process for me. I didn?t know any of the guys, but I quickly made a lot of friends. I definitely feel I?m plenty talented enough to make the team. Someday, I want the opportunity to compete for a starting position. But right now, I?m going to concentrate on getting better.”
Olson, who has a great relationship with St. Pierre, said he is enjoying his first professional training camp. However, Olson is not completely unfamiliar with the Ravens? offense. He was the team?s lone quarterback during its spring rookie camp. This came after he threw for 3,198 yards, 34 touchdowns and six interceptions in leading UCLA to a 10-2 record last year.
“You?re moving up to the next level here,” Olson said. “The game?s faster and more complex than college, and you?re surrounded by the best football players in the world.”
Ravens quarterback coach Rick Neuheisel said each quarterback brings certain skills that could aid them in their quest to make the team.
“Brian St. Pierre is a real cerebral player,” Neuheisel said. “I think he understands the game about as well as anyone I?ve been around, and if given the opportunity to play, I think he would do very well. Drew Olson has a magnetic personality that people like to be around. He had unbelievable numbers at UCLA as a senior with what you would not call a great team around him. Still, he managed to win 10 games.”
QUARTERBACK NOTES
» St. Pierre was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the fifth round in 2003. He is third in Boston College history with 5,837 yards and 48 touchdowns.
» Olson ended his college career second on the UCLA all-time passing yardage list (8,532), completions (664) and touchdowns (67).
