OWINGS MILLS – The Baltimore Ravens’ roster construction project got a test run Sunday, the first formal unveiling of their personnel changes.

Considering how their new players fared and that the competition was the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens are encouraged about their outlook after an overhaul.

During a 35-7 shellacking of the Steelers, several newcomers and first-time starters contributed heavily as the Ravens (1-0) broke in 20 new players and eight new starters.

“We expect to get better, that’s the plan,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “We’re only going to get better, and we’ve got the kind of guys in the room that are going to do nothing but get better. That’s what we have to do. If I was going to be surprised, then I would have had to have an expectation or said, ‘Hey, this is what I think we’re going to be,’ and I didn’t know.

“I don’t think you ever know how you’re going to go out and play in the first game, especially with all of the things that you’re talking about. We expected to win the game. We felt we had a chance to play really well, but you never know until you go do it. So, that’s what you’re proud of as a coach.”

Most notably, newly-acquired left offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie plowed through outside linebacker James Harrison.

A former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison didn’t record a sack against McKinnie. Baltimore rushed for 170 yards.

It was a thorough butt-kicking.

“The way they beat us is embarrassing,” Steelers nose guard Casey Hampton said. “Since I’ve been here, nobody has beaten us like that on both sides of the ball for the entire game.”

The Ravens’ starting offensive line didn’t play a single snap together during the preseason, and only left offensive guard Ben Grubbs and center Matt Birk lined up at their same positions from last year.

The Ravens also signed five-time Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode to back up Birk, shifting Marshal Yanda back to his right guard and Michael Oher over to right tackle.

“That’s not a surprise to us, I’m surprised how surprising it is to everybody else,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said. “Bryant McKinnie is a proven player. We get Michael Oher back on the right side where he’s more comfortable. We never missed a beat. These guys are the real deal.”

Signed to a three-year, $11 million contract days into free agency, All-Pro fullback Vonta Leach knocked down several linebackers to open holes for running back Ray Rice to roam through. And Rice rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

“Vonta’s blocking did stand out,” Harbaugh said. “He’s an all-around player.”

In relief of Rice, new backup running back Ricky Williams gained 63 yards on 12 carries.

The Ravens piled up 385 yards of total offense, averaging 6.3 yards per offensive play.

“This is just a start,” wide receiver Anquan Boldin said. “We wanted to come out and make a statement, but we think we can only get better from here.”

Landed in a trade from the Buffalo Bills to become the Ravens’ deep threat, wide receiver Lee Evans didn’t catch a pass in his regular-season debut with the Ravens.

He was targeted four times and appeared to be out of sync with quarterback Joe Flacco as he returned from a left ankle injury.

Evans did draw the attention of the Steelers’secondary with their top cornerback, Ike Taylor, guarding him. It seemed to open things up for Boldin, who caught four passes for 74 yards and a score, and tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta. The replacements for tight end Todd Heap combined for seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown.

“Lee opened up a couple of crossing routes for us,” Harbaugh said. “He takes the top off the coverage, and if they don’t run with him, Joe is going to throw it to him. He cleared out some of the deep crossing routes that you saw. Dennis Pitta’s play is one that comes to mind right away, going down into the red zone.

“So, he had that kind of impact. People don’t think this is a big deal, but he had some big blocks for us downfield on some of those runs. He played well. He was a factor, no doubt.”

Before training camp, the Ravens cut Heap, wide receiver Derrick Mason, nose guard Kelly Gregg and running back Willis McGahee to clear salary-cap space.

Now, they have eight new starters. That includes McKinnie, Evans, Dickson and Leach and nose guard Terrence Cody, cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams and strong safety Tom Zbikowski.

They also have a 6-foot-1, 228-pound bruiser backing up Zbikowski in Bernard Pollard, a former Houston Texans starter who signed a two-year contract.

"He added a physical presence, no doubt," Harbaugh said of Pollard. "He's very smart, he's talented in coverage. He's a complete football player, and he's a big addition for us."

Judging by first impressions, the changes seem to be working.

“That’s a very rewarding thing for coaches and for players, but the challenge now is to build on it and improve,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what you have to do because everybody else is going to improve. We have to continue to get better.”