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Camp Notes - CAMP NOTES FROM TODAY'S OTA'S
McGahee works out with team for first time
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Posted On: 5/17/07
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Today’s OTA's were open to the media under partly cloudy skies and moderate temps. The notable MIA’s for today’s voluntary activity included: Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden, Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle, Terrell Suggs, Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg, Mike Flynn, Mike Anderson and NFL Europe players Drew Olson, TE Rob Abiamiri and LB Jim Cottrell.
The 2006 season ended somewhat acrimoniously for Derrick Mason but today any signs of bitterness or frustration were nothing more than four month old memories. Mason was jovial, energetic and seemingly eager to get back to work. During stretching exercises Mason kidded with WR Devard Darling.
“What’s up Devard? Give me a conch fritter while we're here.”
Darling is a native of the Bahamas.
Willis McGahee stretched alongside of Troy Smith and there was some good natured bantering going on about Smith being the reigning Heismann Award winner. Kyle Boller lost the longer locks and beard that he sported earlier this offseason opting instead for a buzz cut that would make Sinead O’Connor green with envy.
During unit break out drills, the veteran receivers in their best Caribbean accents teased Ravens’ rookie WR Figurs with chants of “Ya-Mon.” Receivers coach Mike Johnson took the tone to a more serious level when he chastised the corps to not run the drill at half speed. He then brought Mark Clayton front and center during the cone drills and said, “Watch Mark Clayton. This is how we should be doing the cone drill.
“Compete! Compete!”
The offense ran through some drills simulating formations such as “Kick Left 6” against a variety of Cover zones. McNair seemed to struggle with his throws early, many fluttering. He recovered and finished strong as later pointed out by Brian Billick during his post practice discussion with the media. During these drills, Billick implored the receivers to accelerate out of their breaks towards the sidelines. It isn’t how fast you get to the safety when the QB is in his drop and play faking, it’s how you separate from the safety after the break.
Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams looked very good doing exactly that. Both vary their pacing of their routes keeping DB’s off balance. Both were successful finding holes in the zones during 7 on 7 drills although Clayton dropped a very nice pass along the sidelines dropped in nicely between defenders by McNair.
Kyle Boller looked good throwing the ball and threaded the needle on one toss deep down the right seam to Devard Darling. But as is typical of Boller, he at times appeared flustered when coverage was good and that clock ticks down in his head.
During one on one drills, Mark Clayton torched Evan Oglesby twice. On the first Clayton feigned a sideline break and headed up field leaving Oglesby far behind. On their next encounter, Clayton just blew past Oglesby for the score prompting secondary coach Dennis Thurman to exclaim, “C’mon E.O., that’s twice!”
David Pittman looked very solid in one on one drills. After a nice move to the post by Romby Bryant, Pittman showcased fluid hip movement adjusting to the route and then closing on the ball to bat it away. Later when taking on UDFA WR Matt Willis from UCLA, Pittman had the former Bruin blanketed. Willis was later grilled by Brian Billick during 7 on 7’s to, “Get your ass back to the quarterback” when he failed to work his way back towards Boller to find a hole in the zone. Coaches later lauded a move by Yamon Figurs while going head up on UDFA safety Donnie Johnson out of Penn State.
Other notes & observations…Dan Cody looks like a man on a mission and a man who has trained hard in the offseason. ..Demetrius Williams and Derrick Mason were flawless catching the ball. I liken Williams to Spiderman with those hands…P.J. Daniels sported a Ricky Williams-like beard…Cory Ross changed his number from 40 to 34…B.J. Sams seemed to move very well after hauling in punts from the pitching machine cleanly…Willis McGahee appeared eager to get to work and to camp and physically looked very strong…OTA’s will be open to the media again next Tuesday as the team voluntarily convenes again on May 21-23...The Ravens officially signed UDFA QB Cullen Finnerty yesterday out of Grand Valley State. They also signed UDFA safety Bobby Blackshire out of Tulsa. Blackshire is a two-time First Team All-Conference USA selection...Later today we will have sound bites from Brian Billick, Steve McNair and Willis McGahee.
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Posted On: 5/17/07
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