Ch-ch-changes (cont.)

Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State, is in the running to be the Ravens starting quarterback this fall.

James Lang/US Presswire

Don Banks's Mailbag

Submit a comment or question to Don Banks.

Follow Don Banks on Twitter

In particular, Harbaugh and new Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron have vigorously attacked the inferiority complex that Baltimore's offense has always labored under in relation to its much more celebrated defense. Throughout Billick's tenure, the belief the Ravens quarterback-challenge offense would in the end eventually wind up wasting the defense's stalwarts efforts became a sad and almost self-perpetuating cycle.

Harbaugh has worked hard to stop the internecine warfare, to the point where the defense's practice-field penchant for trash-talking to the offense is no longer acceptable. "There's a difference between building up your teammate and showing up your teammate,'' a team source said. "The defense here was always pointing the finger at the offense. It became all about the offense and about Billick. It was all Billick's fault. That became the easy excuse, and that had to stop.''

According to a team source, Cameron has excelled at starting to get the offense to be seen as equal partners to Baltimore's defense. "The offense is not backing down,'' the source said. "The offense used to just crack when they were against the defense. But they're coming off the ball and they're finishing blocks. Little brother is not backing down any more.''

Said another Ravens source: "We had to create a sense of self-worth on offense, and while a lot of it remains to be seen, Cam has done a great job of instilling some pride and some confidence and a sense of tempo to our offense. That's been fun to see. Before on our team, the defense won maybe nine out of 10 times. Now it's maybe seven out of 10. That's a difference.''

And here's another key difference that you might quickly notice about Baltimore this season: They've got a quarterback who can get it done. And maybe two. Even with Steve McNair opting for retirement in May.

Last year's fifth-round pick, Troy Smith, has made huge strides this spring and has passed up veteran Kyle Boller as the odds-on favorite to be the Ravens opening-day starter. Smith can still struggle with his accuracy on some throws, but he has excited Ravens decision-makers with his rapid development after starting the final two games of 2007, and it's understood that there will be no real competition between him and Boller in camp.

Cameron has infused Smith's game with plenty of plays that get him moving around and throwing on the run, in part to better utilize his athleticism and minimize the problems the 6-foot Smith has in finding clear throwing lanes at the line of scrimmage.

"When Cam was head coach at Indiana, he coached Antwaan Randle-El (at quarterback) and made him maybe the most dangerous player in college football,'' a Ravens source said. "We're doing some very exciting things with Troy Smith, and he's much better than people are expecting.''

Which is the same optimistic sentiment that Ravens insiders are quietly expressing about rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, the team's first-round pick this year. Smith's only competition for the Week 1 starting job is Flacco, and the sense I get from Ravens sources is Baltimore expects to have a much tougher decision to make than anyone foresaw. Prudence will likely dictate that Smith gets the nod, with Flacco not getting his chance until mid-October or so, but it's a much more fluid situation than most anticipated.

Ravens sources told me Flacco never makes the same mistake twice, and at this early date has already exhibited a good command of Cameron's offense. He's smart, poised and the former Division I-AA standout has yet to look in over his head against Baltimore's veteran defense in offseason workouts. If he looks solid in camp and puts together a quality preseason, prepare for the Start Flacco Now campaign to be off and running. And the movement may have backers among the Ravens coaching staff and front office.

"When it all comes together, he could be really special,'' a Ravens source said. "He's made some throws that make you have to fight the urge to throw him in here from day one. He looks so good, so strong, so accurate. But the best case for us is that Troy keeps playing really well and we don't have to play Joe early. If that's the case, all the better.''

Two quality quarterbacks to choose from in Baltimore? That would pass as a pretty dramatic culture change in and of itself. Could anything in the NFL this year top that transformation?