The reigning Super Bowl champions hardly rested on their laurels during the
offseason. Head coach Brian Billick said he knows his team will have "a
bullseye" on its back in 2001. And so, with proactive free agent signings of
quarterback Elvis Grbac to take over for released starter Trent Dilfer and
starting tackle Leon Searcy, Baltimore is looking to be even better this year.
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CAMP AT A GLANCE
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| The Ravens are expecting big things from Grbac. |
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Location:Western Maryland College, Westminster, Md.
Rookies report: July 29
Veterans report: July 29
Preseason schedule:
Aug. 13: at Philadelphia
Aug. 18: at N.Y. Jets
Aug. 23: Carolina
Aug. 31: N.Y. Giants
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Man in the spotlight
Grbac, who was a productive quarterback in Kansas
City, is replacing Dilfer, who won 11 of the 12 games he started in 2000, has
the pressure of being better. He has the pressure of making sure the Ravens
don't fall into another five-game stretch without a touchdown _ as happened
in 2000.
Key position battle
In an effort to improve offensively, the Ravens are
hoping to see 2000 No. 1 draft pick Travis Taylor unseat Qadry Ismail at
starting receiver. Taylor was slowed by a preseason holdout and some nagging
injuries as a rookie. Baltimore hopes his second year will be his breakout
season.
Biggest adjustment
The entire team must adjust to being the hunted, not the
team trying to prove its critics wrong by taking umbrage on the field. Last
year, expectations for the Ravens were modest at best. This year, the world
expects their record-setting defense to shut every opponent out. En route to
the Super Bowl victory, Baltimore outscored its playoff opponents 95-23 in
the postseason while its defense allowed only one playoff touchdown.
Rookie report
Arizona State tight end Todd Heap was regarded as the best at
his position coming out of college and is a more traditional tight end than
is Shannon Sharpe, the Ravens' leading receiver. He should get immediate
playing time, particularly as a blocker. The Ravens want to see Wisconsin
center Casey Rabach quickly develop into a starter.
Ravens' complete offseason moves