Ravens Seeking Answers for Sluggish Offense

Mason: 'We Played Real Bad' and Deserve an F

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Sept. 18 -- Steve McNair received a hero's welcome during the Baltimore Ravens' home opener on Sunday when he was introduced for the first time as the team's starting quarterback. Bursts of fire shot into the air as McNair -- helmet off, arms waving to the fans -- jogged onto the field during pregame introductions, and the largest crowd in Baltimore football history roared in appreciation of the man whom they hoped would transform the Ravens' offense.

But there were few signs of that during Baltimore's lopsided 28-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders. McNair, a three-time Pro Bowl pick and former league co-MVP, was not particularly sharp; in fact, he was occasionally as erratic as his predecessor, Kyle Boller. He completed 48 percent of his passes (16 of 33) for 143 yards and threw one touchdown pass and one interception. During one stretch in the first half, he missed on seven consecutive pass attempts.

"We miscued a lot," McNair said after the game. "It wasn't as sharp as we've been in the past, and the timing wasn't there."

"I wouldn't attribute it to any one thing, other than we just never really got our rhythm, whether it was what we were running or how we were running it, the calls, his comfort zone with what he was seeing in front of him, protection, the routes, the whole nine yards," Coach Brian Billick said on Monday during his weekly news conference. "We'll address all of it."

Several of the veteran offensive players were visibly frustrated with the unit's overall performance against Oakland. Early in the second half, tackle Jonathan Ogden appeared to be upset as he came off the field following a three-and-out and went over to talk to Billick. After the game, wide receiver Derrick Mason was sharply critical when speaking with reporters, saying the offense deserved an F and that "we played real bad."

"We sputtered, we made mistakes, and we kind of feel like we shot ourselves in the foot," McNair said on Sunday. "It wasn't about how hard it was to get there. It's not about what they've done to us. It's what we do to ourselves, and that's what stopped us today."

Much of the frustration stemmed from the way the offense wasted opportunities to score touchdowns. The Ravens made six trips into the red zone and came away with one touchdown -- something that plagued the team last season. The Ravens' defense came up with six turnovers, but the offense turned them into just nine points. In the third quarter, for instance, linebacker Ray Lewis's interception and subsequent 27-yard return put the Ravens on the Oakland 32-yard line, but McNair threw two incompletions, running back Musa Smith was hit for a five-yard loss, and Baltimore was forced to punt.

Baltimore's defense and special teams repeatedly gave the offense terrific field position; six of its first 12 drives began inside the Oakland 45-yard line. But Baltimore didn't score a touchdown on those possessions; instead, they resulted in four field goals, an interception and a punt.

"We had the potential to do a great deal more offensively, given the way it was teed up for us," Billick said. "We didn't deliver to the degree that we needed to, that we would need to against a better football team. We left ourselves a little vulnerable, so that's what we're addressing right now."

McNair was efficient in the Ravens' season-opening win in Tampa, completing 63 percent of his passes for 181 yards and finishing with a quarterback rating of 94.8. He has displayed a level of comfort with tight end Todd Heap (10 catches for 63 yards in two games) and Mason (8 for 93), his former teammate with the Tennessee Titans.

But McNair is still adjusting to his new team after spending the previous 11 seasons with Tennessee/Houston.

"It's still early," McNair said. "We're not pushing the panic button right now. We've got a lot of work to do."

Ravens Notes: Billick said Ogden (hyper-extended knee) and cornerback Samari Rolle (sprained foot), both of whom left the Oakland game early because of injuries, should be available to play on Sunday in Cleveland. . . . Defensive tackle Kelly Gregg's 59-yard fumble return against the Raiders was the longest in franchise history.