June 8 was the day that could change the Ravens? future.
The team acquired quarterback Steve McNair in trade from the Tennessee Titans, finally giving an organization built on the reputation of stifling defenses an offense to match.
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“His record speaks for itself,” head coach Brian Billick said the day McNair was introduced to the media. “Clearly, as our starter going in, Steve is going to add a dimension for us in this football team that we have not had since I?ve been here.”
Finally, after six seasons there would be a balanced team in Baltimore.
“You get a great player, regardless of the position, you are so excited about it,” defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. “The fact that he?s a quarterback and all of that ? but you add an unbelievable guy, a guy that has almost done it all. The one thing he hasn?t done yet is win a Super Bowl, so I think he?s energized by it, and we are, too.”
When Billick was hired in 1999, he brought with him the reputation of being an offensive guru. He was one of the masterminds behind the NFL?s highest-scoring offense in history, the 1998 Minnesota Vikings.
Ironically, the Ravens took on a defensive image under Billick, especially when the team won the Super Bowl in 2001 with one of the most dominant defensive units in league history. That same season, the team endured a five-game stretch without scoring a touchdown.
The offensive struggles have not disappeared since then. The Ravens have bounced from quarterback to quarterback and dubbed former Giants head coach Jim Fassel as offensive coordinator in 2004 in hopes of finding the answers.
As the 2006 preseason comes to a close, there have been tantalizing flashes of what the Ravens could do offensively. But there are red flags, as well. The team, which struggled in the red zone in years past, is struggling once again, having scored only two first-team touchdowns in four preseason games.
“We?ve got a long way to go before that first game,” receiver Derrick Mason said after last week?s preseason win over the Washington Redskins. “We?ve got a week to prepare and to get this thing going.”
Lately, the team has been viewed as one-dimensional offensively, with running back Jamal Lewis and tight end Todd Heap being the chief threats. In recent years, the Ravens? front office has assembled players to address glaring needs. In addition to resigning Lewis, the Ravens brought in 1,000-yard rusher Mike Anderson.
“I think it?s a good one-two punch,” Lewis said. “With Steve McNair back there throwing the ball, we?re going to have a more balanced approach coming in this year. That?s what we try to get every year. And it?s no big deal that you have two good running backs in the backfield.”
The team has greatly improved its receiving corps by adding Pro Bowl receiver Mason and first-round pick Mark Clayton last season. In 2005, Mason topped 1,000 yards receiving, and Heap went over 800.
Still, quarterback Kyle Boller was largely ineffective during his three seasons, often looking overwhelmed on the field. On top of that, the offensive line struggled in pass protection and even in its strength, run-blocking.
“Yeah, I really feel that last year, we just didn?t have an effective season running the football and there are a lot of reasons for that, but the line was definitely a part of it and we?re going to try to make that?s a priority for us this year,” tackle Jonathan Ogden said.
Now, excuses must end. The team expect results.
“I think there?s pressure every season, and this is one of them,” Heap said. “I think our expectations are little different this year. Obviously, we?ve got some good additions to our offense. It makes it a little exciting to get out there and see what we can do with all these parts intermixed.”
Inside the organization, there are general feelings that this is a do-or-die year. The 2005 team underachieved at 6-10 after toying with Super Bowl aspirations.
That left critics with plenty of ammunition to fire at team management, which they thought wasted some of the defense?s best years with a stumbling offensive counterpart.
“You?re always trying to create a certain balance, but the age of the defense, there is always a natural progression,” Billick said. “And yeah, we have a couple of guys who are getting a little older in their careers, but we also have an infusion of young talent.”
McNair and his fellow offensive mates believe that any preseason issues they might have had will melt away when the season starts Sunday in Tampa Bay.
“We got it fixed, and that?s the sign of a good football team,” McNair said after the win over Washington.
Defensive players are hoping those kinks are ironed out and that they no longer have to carry the team.
“For us, on the defensive side, nothing changes,” linebacker Ray Lewis said. “Actually, we get hungrier. Whatever Steve and them on the offensive side do … is a bonus for us. But our defense has already made its mind up to be something special.”
