B A L T I M O R E   R A V E N S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Brian Billick 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 25 at Western Maryland College  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  at Car.  1 p.m.  Sept. 15  T.B.  1 p.m.  Sept. 22  Open     Sept. 30  Den.  9 p.m.  Oct. 6  at Cle.  8:30 p.m.  Oct. 13  at Ind.  1 p.m.  Oct. 20  Jac.  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  Pit.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  at Atl.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  Cin.  1 p.m.  Nov. 17  at Mia.  1 p.m.  Nov. 24  Ten.  1 p.m.  Dec. 1  at Cin.  1 p.m.  Dec. 8  N.O.  4:05 p.m.  Dec. 15  at Hou.  1 p.m.  Dec. 22  Cle.  4:15 p.m.  Dec. 29  at Pit.  1 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

Baltimore enters the 2002 season a year removed from the offseason glow of Super Bowl champion. The Ravens also will suit up with an overhauled lineup, beginning with a new quarterback for the third consecutive season.

Chris Redman and free-agent pickup Jeff Blake will look to do what Elvis Grbac could not -- win, like Trent Dilfer did. (We'll give you a moment to let that soak in ...) Also gone are the likes of Shannon Sharpe, Rod Woodson, Jamie Sharper and Tony Siragusa.

Another offensive hurdle for Baltimore will be the return to health of running back Jamal Lewis. A first-round draft choice in 2000, Lewis helped offset the Ravens' anemic passing game during their championship season. However, a preseason knee injury shelved him last season.

"Everybody is looking for a big back who can run fast and break tackles," Raven general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "Jamal can do that. Jamal could cover a lot of our ills."

Defensively, Baltimore will use a 3-4 scheme more often; what remains to be seen is how often.

"The 3-4 and the way we're going to use it is nothing more than an extension of what we've already done," head coach Brian Billick said. "The key becomes what percentage. We've been in the 3-4 in the last couple years, but it hadn't been more than two or three percent of the time. We anticipate expanding on that.

"At best, we may be in it 35 percent of the time. At its least, we'll probably be in it 15 percent of the time, if indeed we find that the other configurations are better for us.

"A lot of people are probably making more of this than they should," Billick said. "The amount of times that we're in the pure 3-4 is not as much as some people think it's going to be. It's more highlighting the abilities of certain individuals like Adalius Thomas and Peter Boulware, and what they'll do out of it."

Fact Ravens obtained the 26th choice -- used to select Ray Lewis -- from San Francisco in a 1995 draft-day trade.

Ray Lewis, LB -- Only the second player in NFL history to be named NFL defensive player of the year and Super Bowl MVP in the same season, Lewis remains the heartbeat of the Ravens. He had a team-leading 196 tackles with 3 1/2 sacks and three interceptions last season.

However, he has some fence-mending to do with Billick.

Lewis and Boulware skipped the team's passing camp May 20-23. The Ravens have been in discussions with Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes, the agents for both Lewis and Boulware, about restructuring the players' contracts. Lewis has two years remaining on his contract; Boulware has one.

"There are two separate issues," Billick said. "One is that there are some contract issues that [Lewis] has to deal with. That will take care of itself, and it's not my concern right now. The key was that there was a lack of communication, for whatever reason. Ray recognizes that, and he was apologetic about it. He understood that there was a process that he probably needed to follow up with.

"He understands, and more so now, that I don't communicate through agents. I don't communicate with my players through agents, and they don't communicate with me through agents. In fact, the less conversation I have with agents, the better my life is. There was a breakdown in the understanding of the process that I don't think will happen again."

Fact Chris Redman was the third player selected from Louisville by the Ravens, and the third QB: Jon Stark in 1996, Wally Richardson in '97.

Chris Redman, QB -- After carrying a clipboard since his rookie season, Redman has been handed the reins. Grbac was released in February when the Ravens wanted to restructure his 11-month-old five-year split-bonus/option $30 million contract and the sides could not come to an agreement.

Drafted in the third round in 2000, Redman was the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, Conference USA offensive player of the year and an All-Conference USA first-team selection in his senior year at Louisville in 1999.

Redman has played in only two games (both in 2000), and was handed the starter's role this offseason. "Chris knows the offense, so a big part is him getting used to the receivers around him and taking control of the huddle, and I think he did a nice job of it over the four days," Billick said after Baltimore's passing camp.

"Chris' big advantage is that he's heard it all before," offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh said. "He knows the reads and protections a little bit better, but he needs to be on the field getting the reps to be real good at them.

"I have no doubts whatsoever about the way he throws the ball," Cavanaugh said. "The thing I was looking for from him was to start establishing himself as the quarterback of this team."

Will Jamal Lewis be an every-down, 1,000-yard back?

Lewis is back after suffering a season-ending knee injury Aug. 8. He is just one of six remaining starters from the team that won Super Bowl XXXV -- and arguably the most difficult to replace.

It also was his second anterior cruciate ligament surgery, having missed most of the University of Tennessee's national championship run in 1998.

Lewis was the Ravens' leading rusher during their title trek in 2000. The Ravens ranked fifth in rushing yards that season, but slipped to 11th last year as Terry Allen and Jason Brookins split time. Allen posted a team-high 658 rushing yards, while Brookins scored a team-leading five rushing touchdowns.

On May 20, the Ravens waived Brookins, reportedly because of his weight problem and other unspecified issues. In April, Brookins was charged with second-degree assault by his former girlfriend. Brookins' attorney, Carey Deeley, said Brookins denies the allegations.

Lewis, who was suspended four games in November after violating the NFL's substance and alcohol abuse policy and fined four game checks, participated in a non-contact camp April 26-28 and in the team's passing camp.

"I'm able to do a lot more because I've been able doing my offseason training, working pretty hard on the football drills and things that I'm really going to need," Lewis said. "I'll be 100 percent by training camp."

However, he does understand his importance to the team. "I don't want to go out there and take over the game and I don't have to be the star of the game," Lewis said. "I just want to be a leader."