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H8 SPECIALSPT 09-05-07 EZ EE H8 CMYK

Wednesday, September The Washington Post H8 5, 2007 R x NFL ’07 THE RAVENS

Ravens Will Try to Hold Their Position With Most Key Players Back Following a Division Title, Baltimore Won’t Be Able to Sneak Up on the Competition

By Camille Powell played in at least one — are Washington Post Staff Writer back. Only linebacker Adalius Thom- as, who left for New England, isn’t The challenge the Baltimore Ra- around. vens faced at the start of the 2006 sea- “Even when we won the Super son was difficult to be sure. They Bowl, we didn’t have that certainty of were coming off of a 6-10 season, play- going into the season that we’d be ing under an embattled head coach, that type of team,” linebacker Ray and competing for a playoff spot in Lewis said on the first day of training one of the toughest divisions in the camp. “But right now, we have that. I most competitive conference in the think that’s why everybody’s so ener- NFL. getic about being back.” The Ravens flourished. They post- Much of the optimism centers on ed the best record in franchise history the belief Baltimore’s offense will im- (13-3), won the AFC North for the prove under quarterback Steve second time and earned a bye in the McNair, who is in his second season playoffs for the first time. Now the Ra- with the Ravens. McNair completed vens face a different kind of challenge, 63 percent of his passes and threw for one that may be even harder. 3,050 yards and 16 in “It’s easy to creep up on people. 2006, but was ineffective in the play- When you’re a champion, when you’re off game, throwing two interceptions. on top, it’s hard to stay on top,” veter- Still, he gives the Ravens some- an defensive end Trevor Pryce said. thing they haven’t had. The year after “It’s 10 times easier to get there. We they won the , Baltimore have more pressure on us now as a brought in a new quarterback, Elvis football team, I think, second to the Grbac; he lasted one season. In 2004, . And I really don’t when they were trying to defend their think they care. They know they’re AFC North title, the Ravens relied on going to be good regardless, whether , who was in his second they win a Super Bowl or not. I think season. we’re at a point where we want to “One of the things that I’m excited build something. We have to build on about is it’s been a while since we’ve what we did last year.” been able to return with [this] kind of Sometimes it seems as if the only continuity at quarterback. We’ve re- thing tougher than achieving success turned with a quarterback [before], in the NFL is maintaining it. In each but not with the level of success and of the past two seasons, seven teams competence we have in Steve,” Billick that made the playoffs the previous said. “This is the first time in nine year failed to get back there the fol- years — probably the first time in the lowing year. The last time the Ravens entire 11 years of the organization — won the AFC North — in 2003, they that you’ve had that kind of stability. were 10-6 — they went 9-7 the next It feels pretty good.” season and just missed a wild card. McNair is one of nine starters (in- Between the 2000 and 2006 sea- cluding kicker ) to have sons, four teams won 13 or more played in a Super Bowl. games and secured a playoff bye, only “You look around, and we’ve got a to lose in the conference semifinals. lot of experience — that’s one thing I (Baltimore lost to Indianapolis, 15-6, see,” said Heap, who was drafted in in the AFC semifinals last season.) April 2001, three months after the Ra- Three of those four teams failed to vens won Super Bowl XXXV. “We’ve reach the playoffs the following sea- got guys who know what to do and son, but the Colts, who were 14-2 in know how to respond in situations 2005 and lost to Pittsburgh in the where everything might not be going semifinals, won the Super Bowl fol- right.” lowing the 2006 season. The flip side of maturity and ex- The AFC has produced eight of the perience is age. Of those nine Super past 10 Super Bowl champions, and Bowl veterans, the youngest is cor- most of the preseason attention in the nerback Chris McAlister, who recent- conference has been focused on Indi- ly turned 30 and is in his ninth season. anapolis, New England and San Die- McNair is 34, and the man who pro- go. tects his blindside — left tackle Jona- “Even though we did have a great than Ogden — is 33 and contemplat- year last year, I still feel like we’re un- ed retirement during the offseason . der the radar a little bit,” tight end “Steve is getting older, and he’s the said. “I feel like we’re in a guy that’s been the difference for us; good place, and we’re hungry because everybody else has pretty much been we didn’t go as far as we wanted to the same. He’s the swagger,” Scott, last year. We’ve got a lot of guys who 27, said. “We know that he may only have their minds set and have their have two or three years left and then eyes on something greater.” hang it up. Jonathan, he’s one of the The Ravens are confident because greatest — I’m going to go with the they have something this season that greatest — left tackle to ever play the is becoming rare in the NFL: Continu- game, he may be hanging ’em up in a ity. Coach , who signed a little while. The team is going to have contract extension in the offseason, BY TONI L. SANDYS — THE WASHINGTON POST to change its philosophy a little bit.” didn’t lose a single assistant coach Steve McNair, who is entering his second season as the Ravens’ quarterback, is one of nine starters on the team to have played in the But for now, it will play with a from his staff. Nearly all of Balti- Super Bowl. Last year he passed for 3,050 yards and 16 touchdowns, but struggled in a playoff loss to the Colts with two interceptions. sense of urgency. The Ravens can’t af- more’s skill position players are back, ford to stumble at the start of the sea- the major exception being running son, considering they have an ex- back . But the Ravens feel Carryover Effect tremely difficult three-game stretch like they upgraded that position with — at San Diego, and against New the addition of the younger, more ver- A stellar regular season does not always translate into success in the England and Indianapolis at home satile Willis McGahee. postseason, nor does it guarantee a run at the playoffs the following year: (combined 38-10 in 2006) — starting “Look at the Colts. They keep most in late November. In the seven weeks of their team in on the offensive side, Conference leading up to its bye, Baltimore faces and that allows them to continue to be Year Team Rec. Semifinal Result Record, Following Year one team that posted a winning rec- a great unit,” linebacker Bart Scott 2000 Tennessee 13-3 lost to Baltimore, 24-10 2001: 7-9, no playoffs ord in 2006: the (10-6, said. “Because they’ve played with wild card). each other so long, there’s not a lot of 2001 Chicago 13-3 lost to Philadelphia, 33-19 2002: 4-12, no playoffs “We’re not looking past any team, new teaching. They can take bigger but the bottom line is [Super Bowl] strides. We’re built on defense.” 2003 Kansas City 13-3 lost to Indianapolis, 38-31 2004: 7-9, no playoffs for us,” Lewis said. “We’re not caring Defensive coordinator , about anything else right now. Play- the mastermind behind the Ravens’ 2005 Indianapolis 14-2 lost to Pittsburgh, 21-18 2006: 12-4, Super Bowl XLI champs offs are cute; it’s great to make it top-ranked defense, is in his ninth sea- there, but we don’t want to be sitting 2006 Baltimore 13-3 lost to Indianapolis, 15-6 2007: ??? son in Baltimore. Fourteen of his top BY JONATHAN NEWTON — THE WASHINGTON POST at home. I’ve been on both ends of the 15 players from last season — in- contemplated retirement 2006 San Diego 14-2 lost to New England, 24-21 2007: ??? spectrum, and it doesn’t feel good. cluding seven players who have after a difficult end to the 2006 season. Our thing is right now.”

Offensive Two-Deep Starters are shaded Defensive Two-Deep Starters are shaded

No. Quarterbacks Yr. Ht. Wt. School No. Left Guard Yr. Ht. Wt. School No. L. Defensive Tackle Yr. Ht. Wt. School No. Right Linebacker Yr. Ht. Wt. School 9 Steve McNair 13th 6-2 230 Alcorn State 60 Jason Brown 3rd 6-3 320 North Carolina 90 Trevor Pryce 11th 6-5 286 Clemson 57 Bart Scott 6th 6-2 240 Southern Illinois 7 Kyle Boller 5th 6-3 220 California 66 Rookie 6-3 314 Auburn 93 Dwan Edwards 4th 6-3 315 Oregon State 58 Dennis Haley 3rd 6-1 247 Virginia Center Running Back Nose Tackle Left Cornerback 62 Mike Flynn 11th 6-3 305 Maine 23 Willis McGahee 5th 6-0 232 Miami 97 9th 6-0 310 Oklahoma 21 Chris McAlister 9th 6-1 206 Arizona 65 Chris Chester 2nd 6-3 305 Oklahoma 38 Mike Anderson 8th 6-0 230 Utah 94 Justin Bannan 6th 6-3 310 Colorado 27 Ronnie Prude 2nd 5-11 178 Louisiana State Fullback Right Guard R. Defensive Tackle Right Cornerback 33 3rd 5-11 251 Montana 65 Chris Chester 2nd 6-3 305 Oklahoma 92 2nd 6-4 340 Oregon 22 Samari Rolle 10th 6-0 175 Florida State 37 Le’Ron McClain Rookie 6-0 260 Alabama 66 Ben Grubbs Rookie 6-3 314 Auburn 94 Justin Bannan 6th 6-3 310 Colorado 35 Corey Ivy 8th 5-9 188 Oklahoma Wide Receivers Right Tackle LOLB Strong Safety 89 Mark Clayton 3rd 5-10 195 Oklahoma 78 3rd 6-8 330 Syracuse 95 Jarret Johnson 5th 6-3 270 Alabama 26 2nd 6-0 220 Georgia Tech 85 Derrick Mason 11th 5-10 192 Michigan State 73 Rookie 6-3 310 Iowa 54 Rookie 6-3 240 Michigan 42 Gerome Sapp 6th 6-1 216 Notre Dame 87 Demetrius Williams 2nd 6-2 197 Oregon ROLB Free Safety No. Pos. Specialists Yr. Ht. Wt. School 81 4th 6-1 215 Washington St. 55 5th 6-3 260 Arizona State 20 6th 5-11 200 Miami 3 PK Matt Stover 17th 5-11 178 Louisiana Tech 50 Rookie 6-1 240 Florida Int. 42 Gerome Sapp 6th 6-1 216 Notre Dame Tight End 4 P 2nd 6-1 230 Nebraska 86 Todd Heap 7th 6-5 252 Arizona State 70 LS Matt Katula 3rd 6-6 272 Wisconsin Middle LB 83 Daniel Wilcox 7th 6-1 245 Appalachian St. 36 RS B.J. Sams 4th 5-10 185 McNeese State 52 12th 6-1 250 Miami Left Tackle 16 RS Rookie 5-11 174 Kansas State 58 Dennis Haley 3rd 6-1 247 Virginia 75 Jonathan Ogden 12th 6-9 345 UCLA

71 Rookie 6-9 350 Maryland

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