EDGEWOOD - Intent on building a more explosive, harder-hitting body, it appears that Baltimore Ravens starting inside linebacker Jameel McClain has succeeded in his goal.

There's literally less of him this offseason having lost more than 10 pounds since last season and a significant amount of body fat.

Following a regimen of track workouts, boxing, mixed martial art classes and even yoga, the 6-foot-1 former Syracuse standout is down to a lean 244 pounds after operating at a playing weight as heavy as 255-260 pounds in the past.

"Man, I'm rock-solid," McClain told Ravens24x7 during his fitness and football clinic Saturday at the Edgewood Boys & Girls Club. "I'm doing everything in the world to stay in shape and do different things with my body. I'm definitely faster now."

Besides getting in some workouts in California during the NFL lockout, McClain returned to his Philadelphia roots. He has been training regularly with speed coach Tony Fulton, traveling back and forth to his hometown for a series of workouts. And Fulton has also visited him in Baltimore, as he did this weekend.

"Jameel is leaner and more explosive," Fulton said. "He's keeping himself active and in shape. I tell the guys with the unexpected nature of when camp will start we have to be ready.

"With guys like Jameel, they've picked up the intensity of the workouts. We want to be in shape. If you're not in shape, that's when injuries can occur."

McClain has employed everything from spinning to plyometrics and swimming in his quest to be as well-conditioned as possible.

"Swimming is the best exercise you can do," Fulton said. "It works all the muscles. I've gotten away from the traditional and am looking to shock the muscles in different ways."

McClain started all but one game last season and registered a career-high 91 tackles, forcing one fumble and posting one sack. Assigned a second-round restricted tender worth roughly $1.9 million, the former undrafted free agent led the Ravens with six tackles in an AFC wild-card playoff win over the Kansas City Chiefs last season.

Although McClain made a lot of plays and was a stalwart, complementary presence operating next to All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis, he'd like to have a bigger impact this fall.

"I want to shoot those gaps," McClain said. "My goal is to do some important things this year. Our goal as a team is to do big things."

One way for McClain to accomplish his goals was through improving his speed.

Is he truly faster?

"I believe that I am," McClain said. "Speed kills."

"Jameel is faster now," Fulton said. "That's the key in football. Yes, it's about contact. But you can avoid contact. You can avoid those 300-pound guards and hit that little running back."

Now, all McClain needs is for the work stoppage to end so he can get back on the field and put his cross-training into practice.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed," McClain said. "We all want football. I'm sweating right now, not because it's hot, but because I want to play football."