Ravens Centraltag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//1092008-06-23T19:41:56ZSun reporters coverage of the Baltimore RavensMovable Type 3.36Sims goes to the 49erstag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1098232008-06-23T18:23:38Z2008-06-23T19:41:56ZFree-agent offensive tackle Barry Sims has decided to sign with the San Francisco 49ers. A nine-year starter for the Oakland Raiders, Sims had worked out recently for the Ravens, St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots. Sims chose the 49ers...Jamison Hensley
Free-agent offensive tackle Barry Sims has decided to sign with the San Francisco 49ers. A nine-year starter for the Oakland Raiders, Sims had worked out recently for the Ravens, St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots.
Sims chose the 49ers because they offered him the best chance to compete for a starting job. The Ravens are looking to start Jared Gaither at left tackle this season following the recent retirement of Jonathan Ogden.
Sims could be long shot for Ravenstag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1095142008-06-20T22:43:35Z2008-06-20T23:00:46ZThe Ravens are probably behind the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams in signing free-agent offensive tackle Barry Sims. Unlike the 49ers and Rams, the Ravens are more set on their offensive line, which could push them farther down...Jamison Hensley
The Ravens are probably behind the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams in signing free-agent offensive tackle Barry Sims.
Unlike the 49ers and Rams, the Ravens are more set on their offensive line, which could push them farther down Sims' list. A former nine-year starter at left tackle for the Oakland Raiders, Sims recently worked out for the Ravens.
The Ravens are preparing to go into training camp with Jared Gaither as their left tackle.
Not your ordinary summer vacationtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1092122008-06-19T19:12:23Z2008-06-19T22:33:01ZWith the conclusion of the rookie minicamp yesterday, the Ravens won’t return to practice until July 22 for quarterbacks, rookies and injured veterans and July 25 for the remaining veterans. But that doesn’t mean that the players are allowed to...Edward Lee
With the conclusion of the rookie minicamp yesterday, the Ravens won’t return to practice until July 22 for quarterbacks, rookies and injured veterans and July 25 for the remaining veterans.
But that doesn’t mean that the players are allowed to slide on their responsibility of staying in shape and absorbing the playbooks, according to coach John Harbaugh.
“Guys have got to work on their own,” he said. “There are skill-specific things at every position. Offensive linemen take pass sets and punch and also work on footwork. Defensive backs, all the footwork and technique. Quarterbacks or receivers can throw or catch, and I think our guys are planning on getting together and throwing and catching – one set on the West Coast and one set here on the East Coast. Those are the little things that guys do to make themselves better.”
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said one of the first tasks awaiting the offensive players is a pop quiz.
“When we come back, the first thing we give them is a 12-minute test,” he said. “It’s an eight-minute test for the offensive line, it’s a 12-minute test for the skill guys. In all of our segments throughout the year, we start with a test, and we remind them that it’s not really to point anybody out, [but] it’s to find out, ‘OK, where are you? Where do we need to grow from?’ We’ll find out. We’ll test them. ... We give them a timed test, and put a little heat, a little pressure on them and see what they’ve retained. There will be a significant number of guys that will know more when they get back than when they left.”
Injury reporttag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1089132008-06-18T16:33:51Z2008-06-18T16:38:10ZThird-round pick and offensive tackle Oniel Cousins returned to rookie minicamp today after sitting out yesterday with recurring migraines. But seventh-round pick Allen Patrick did not participate today after injuring his left hamstring yesterday. “Allen tweaked his hamstring,” coach John...Edward Lee
Third-round pick and offensive tackle Oniel Cousins returned to rookie minicamp today after sitting out yesterday with recurring migraines. But seventh-round pick Allen Patrick did not participate today after injuring his left hamstring yesterday.
“Allen tweaked his hamstring,” coach John Harbaugh said of the running back from Oklahoma. “He’s been fighting that, really, since he got here. He’s going to have to work hard on that for the next couple of weeks and get healthy.”
Coaches getting involvedtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1089032008-06-18T16:21:22Z2008-06-18T16:40:55ZI can’t speak to this with 100 percent certainty, but it appears to me that this current crop of coaches is taking more of a hands-on approach with the players than the previous regime. All three days of the rookie...Edward Lee
I can’t speak to this with 100 percent certainty, but it appears to me that this current crop of coaches is taking more of a hands-on approach with the players than the previous regime.
All three days of the rookie minicamp in Owings Mills have featured coach John Harbaugh getting in the trenches to instruct safety Haruki Nakamura or defensive lineman Lorenzo Williams on the proper method of punt protection.
Quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson has been simulating a pass rush that quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Brad Roach have to evade. And wide receivers coach Jim Hostler and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg have filled in at cornerback and nickel back, respectively, when the offense uses a three-receiver set.
“Andy Reid was hands-on with the offense,” Harbaugh said of the Philadelphia Eagles head coach and his former boss. “I think football coaches like to coach. We’ve got a great staff, and they’ve been gracious to let me step in and coach ball every now and then. So I appreciate it.”
Ogden and McNair officially retiredtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1088612008-06-18T14:25:14Z2008-06-18T14:41:02ZThe Ravens have officially placed offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and quarterback Steve McNair on the reserve-retired list. By making the transaction after June 1, the Ravens were able to spread out the salary cap hits over two seasons (2008 and...Jamison Hensley
The Ravens have officially placed offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and quarterback Steve McNair on the reserve-retired list.
By making the transaction after June 1, the Ravens were able to spread out the salary cap hits over two seasons (2008 and 2009). The retirement of Ogden and McNair should free up about $6.5 million in cap space for this season.
The Ravens are expected to use that on signing their draft picks as well as possible contract extensions for linebacker Terrell Suggs and center Jason Brown.
Zbikowski-Nakamura competitiontag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1087142008-06-17T19:54:03Z2008-06-17T20:33:08ZI wrote a column this morning on Tom Zbikowski, the Ravens' third-round pick out of Notre Dame, and his attempt to make the team's roster. What I found interesting was the way Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan told Zbikowski he...Mike Preston
a column this morning on Tom Zbikowski, the Ravens' third-round pick out of Notre Dame, and his attempt to make the team's roster. What I found interesting was the way Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan told Zbikowski he needed to lose some weight if he wanted to seriously compete in training camp. Ryan would never have uttered those words under the former coaching regime. The coaching staff was always told to have positive comments. I like the truth. Ryan wasn't trying to embarrass Zbikowski, just say what he observed. Later, Zbikowski agreed, and admitted Ryan was right.
It will be interesting to watch the competition between Zbikowski and rookie Haruki Nakamura. Zbikowski has the better background being drafted out of Notre Dame, but Nakamura, a sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati, has been impressive. He appears to have a natural flow pursuing the ball. We'll see what happens when they put the pads on.]]>
Expectations on the risetag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1086382008-06-17T16:30:52Z2008-06-17T16:45:54ZThe coaches are no joke and are making their expectations known to the rookies at minicamp in Owings Mills today. During one special teams drill, running back Allen Patrick appeared to be hesitating to man a winger spot on the...Edward Lee
The coaches are no joke and are making their expectations known to the rookies at minicamp in Owings Mills today.
During one special teams drill, running back Allen Patrick appeared to be hesitating to man a winger spot on the field. That caught the attention of special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg, who roared repeatedly at Patrick, "Are you hurt? Are you hurt? Tell me yes or no. Are you hurt? Were you in treatment this morning? Yes or no?" (Later, a trainer did wrap a bag of ice on Patrick's left hamstring.)
A little bit later, coach John Harbaugh was imploring the special teams to move faster into position to get acclimated to game speed. "You are going to be shocked," he said a few times.
The other quarterbacktag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1086452008-06-17T15:56:03Z2008-06-17T17:07:11ZIf the Ravens had a rookie and free-agent camp version of Trivial Pursuit, Brad Roach would be the answer to the question, "Who is the other quarterback aside from Joe Flacco in Owings Mills this week?" Roach, a rookie free...Don Markus
If the Ravens had a rookie and free-agent camp version of Trivial Pursuit, Brad Roach would be the answer to the question, "Who is the other quarterback aside from Joe Flacco in Owings Mills this week?"
Roach, a rookie free agent from little Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., is hoping to do enough here to get invited back to training camp next month at McDaniel College.
"I'm just trying to take the opportunity I have right now and make the most of it,'' Roach said Monday.
Despite having NFL size (6-6, 245) and what many say is an NFL arm, Roach knows the odds are stacked against him. Though general manager Ozzie Newsome raised the possibility of having four quarterbacks on the roster -- that was before Steve McNair retired -- it seems very unlikely.
Roach is undeterred.
"I think the situation here is good. We're all working together to learn the new offense,'' Roach said. "I know it's tough for a first-year guy to come in and start right away, but I if I can get on the practice squad and get a year under my belt that would be good."
Who knows?
He might be the next Derek Anderson.
Or not.
Training camp schedule releasedtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1085542008-06-17T13:25:37Z2008-06-17T14:02:40ZThe Ravens released their training camp schedule with two practices -- one at 8:45 a.m. and the other at 3:30 p.m. -- on Tuesday, July 22 to open the almost four-week camp. Rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans will report to...Edward Lee
The Ravens released their training camp schedule with two practices -- one at 8:45 a.m. and the other at 3:30 p.m. -- on Tuesday, July 22 to open the almost four-week camp. Rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans will report to the Best Western at 461 WMC Drive in Westminster on Monday, July 21, while the remaining veterans will report on Wednesday, July 23. The first full-squad practices will take place on Friday, July 25 at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
The team will practice twice a day on 20 of the 26 days slated for training camp, including a string of 12 consecutive two-a-days July 25 through Aug. 5. All sessions are open to the public except on Thursday, July 24 (administrative day), Wednesday, Aug. 6 (pre-game walk-through), Thursday, Aug. 7 (preseason opener at the New England Patriots) and Friday, Aug. 8 (players off). Tuesday, July 29, is Suite Holders and Sponsors Day with the morning session open only to those guests.
Camp officially ends with a walk-through closed to the public on Aug. 15 prior to the Ravens' first home game of the preseason against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 16. For updated practice information, call 410-261-RAVE (7283).
Making rookie camp counttag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1083872008-06-16T18:11:16Z2008-06-16T22:00:00ZThe Ravens turned a minus into a plus when they rescheduled their first rookie minicamp for this week. The impetus for the change was the NCAA rule that precluded quarterback Joe Flacco and safety Haruki Nakamura from attending the first...Ken Murray
The Ravens turned a minus into a plus when they rescheduled their first rookie minicamp for this week. The impetus for the change was the NCAA rule that precluded quarterback Joe Flacco and safety Haruki Nakamura from attending the first camp because their college class had not graduated.
By rescheduling, both Flacco and Nakamura were able to participate, and coach John Harbaugh saw dividends just from Monday's practice.
"It's kind of neat now to have the rookie camp at the end after these guys have had the minicamp they were allowed to be at, plus all the OTAs," Harbaugh said. "They’re so much further along than if we would’ve had this camp in the beginning before they had been through the offense twice. For a lot of these guys, it’s their third time through the offense, and it showed up today in their ability to operate the offense and run the routes and make the adjustments."
Along those lines, the Ravens coaches were able to go farther into the respective systems because of the familiarity. "We're taking it deeper than we would have had the rookie camp been earlier," Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh did not rule out the possibility of scheduling a rookie camp at the end of offseason preparation in the future.
Oniel Cousins updatetag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1083782008-06-16T17:47:03Z2008-06-16T17:57:56ZThe rookie offensive tackle out of UTEP walked off the practice field about 40 minutes after the beginning of the first session of rookie minicamp due to a reoccurrence of migraines. “He had migraines again," coach John Harbaugh said after...Edward Lee
The rookie offensive tackle out of UTEP walked off the practice field about 40 minutes after the beginning of the first session of rookie minicamp due to a reoccurrence of migraines.
“He had migraines again," coach John Harbaugh said after practice. "We’ve got migraines going around, I guess, on the offensive line. He had to come out because of the migraines.”
Cousins was the only injury of note today.
Blue collar Ravenstag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1083652008-06-16T16:54:40Z2008-06-16T17:55:56ZCoach John Harbaugh wants the Ravens to be a blue-collar team. If the players didn't know that before, they certainly do now. Harbaugh placed a button-down, blue-collar shirt in each locker. Each shirt has the player's first name written in...Jamison Hensley
Coach John Harbaugh wants the Ravens to be a blue-collar team.
If the players didn't know that before, they certainly do now.
Harbaugh placed a button-down, blue-collar shirt in each locker. Each shirt has the player's first name written in red cursive script over the left pocket.
This message even extends to the coaches, who also received the new shirts.
Ravens out earliertag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1083232008-06-16T15:09:17Z2008-06-16T16:00:05ZAfter moving rookie and free agent camp back a month to accommodate first-round draft choice Joe Flacco, the Ravens pushed the start of today's workout up by around an hour to a little past 10 this morning. I was thinking...Don Markus
After moving rookie and free agent camp back a month to accommodate first-round draft choice Joe Flacco, the Ravens pushed the start of today's workout up by around an hour to a little past 10 this morning.
I was thinking -- and hoping -- it was because the coaches wanted to see Tiger Woods teeing off against Rocco Mediate in the U.S. Open playoff, but I think it was more to get the 25 players out on the practice field a little longer, a certain quarterback in particular.
Aside from Flacco's progress, the most intriguing aspect to these three days of workouts is the fluidity at the tight end position and along the offensive line.
Joe Reitz, a former basketball player at Western Michigan, is now being shuttled between both spots. After wearing No. 46 at minicamp, Reitz is now wearing No. 77, an offensive lineman's number. Xavier Lee, a former quarterback at Florida State, was brought back after his tryout at minicamp and is getting a lot of work at tight end.
O'Niel Cousins, a rookie tackle from Texas El-Paso who has received his share of attention for getting in a couple of blowups with teammates (including the brawl last month with Amon Gordon) came off the field midway through the morning workout looking a little woozy.
And for those who are interested, Tiger tees off around noon.
Laughs, not tears, highlight Ogden's retirementtag:weblogs.baltimoresun.com,2008:/sports/ravens/blog//109.1077132008-06-12T19:40:16Z2008-06-12T20:05:55ZThe news conference to announce offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden’s retirement seemed more joyous and light-hearted than those you’ve seen on television. No tears were shed, and a smile never seemed to leave Ogden’s face. Ogden, in fact, played the role...Edward Lee
Asked if a return was out of the question, Ogden said enthusiastically, “Oh yeah. You ain’t got to worry about me coming back. That won’t be happening.”
Ogden recalled getting handed a white Ravens baseball cap with black block lettering when his name was announced during the draft. “I’m like, ‘What is this?’” he said, drawing hearty laughs from the crowd. “We didn’t have colors, we didn’t have logos, we didn’t have nothing. And I remember coming to minicamp and my first rookie card, I got a white helmet on.”
Ogden seemed to chafe at the suggestion that he redefined the left tackle position. “I always thought Anthony Munoz defined the position. [He was] the first one, but you know, if people want to say I was the next one to redefine it, I’m very happy with that, and I’ll take that. I’m not going to be too modest anymore. I’m retired.”
Newsome also got into the act, especially when Ogden’s three-year-old son, Jayden, began to talk during Newsome’s opening statement. “We’ve got Jayden talking, and he’s already committed to come to Alabama,” Newsome said, referring to his alma mater. “So I’m happy about that.”
The biggest laughs, however, may have belonged to former Denver Broncos and current Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce, who recalled playing against Ogden on Dec. 11, 2005 -- less than a year removed from missing the 2004 season with an injured back. “I come around the corner and thought, ‘Oh, he’s 380 pounds. Let’s try to throw him out of the way.’ I don’t think he lifted a foot off the ground. In the middle of the play, he said, ‘Oh man, are you all right? You can’t do that. Your back hurts,’” Pryce said. “That was my most vivid memory. In the middle of the play, he’s trying to help me out.”
Top photo from today's news conference by Sun photographer Karl Merton Ferron; 1996 photo: AP ]]>
Ogden seemed to chafe at the suggestion that he redefined the left tackle position. “I always thought Anthony Munoz defined the position. [He was] the first one, but you know, if people want to say I was the next one to redefine it, I’m very happy with that, and I’ll take that. I’m not going to be too modest anymore. I’m retired.”
Newsome also got into the act, especially when Ogden’s three-year-old son, Jayden, began to talk during Newsome’s opening statement. “We’ve got Jayden talking, and he’s already committed to come to Alabama,” Newsome said, referring to his alma mater. “So I’m happy about that.”
The biggest laughs, however, may have belonged to former Denver Broncos and current Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce, who recalled playing against Ogden on Dec. 11, 2005 -- less than a year removed from missing the 2004 season with an injured back. “I come around the corner and thought, ‘Oh, he’s 380 pounds. Let’s try to throw him out of the way.’ I don’t think he lifted a foot off the ground. In the middle of the play, he said, ‘Oh man, are you all right? You can’t do that. Your back hurts,’” Pryce said. “That was my most vivid memory. In the middle of the play, he’s trying to help me out.”
Top photo from today's news conference by Sun photographer Karl Merton Ferron; 1996 photo: AP ]]>