Efficient Scrimmage Encourages Ravens

BALTIMORE, Aug. 4 -- After five days of lining up against one of the best defenses in the NFL, Baltimore Ravens tight end Daniel Wilcox was glad to finally go up against defenders that weren't wearing purple and white. Even though it was just a scrimmage and the Washington Redskins didn't use many of their starting players, the fact that the Ravens' offense ran smoothly and moved the ball was cause for optimism. But it wasn't a surprise, considering the preparation it has had.

"We've got a great, great defense," said Wilcox, who made two catches for 53 yards on Baltimore's touchdown drive. "We have to see them every day in practice, so a lot of times in practice we're off our rhythm. [Baltimore's defense is] doing all kinds of crazy stuff. We never get a chance to game-plan for them. The Redskins are the closest things we've seen to a regular defense this year, so it wasn't a surprise to me."

The first-string players on that vaunted defense, which ranked first overall in the NFL and set franchise records for sacks (60) and interceptions (28) last season, didn't participate in the 11-on-11 portion of the scrimmage. So all eyes were on the offense, which was missing just one established starter (left tackle Jonathan Ogden).

This was the first real chance for the Ravens and their fans to take a look at running back Willis McGahee, their biggest offseason acquisition; Baltimore traded three draft picks to the Buffalo Bills for the fifth-year back. His arrival gives the Ravens a slightly different look; he was often lined up by himself in the backfield, without a fullback -- something that rarely happened with his predecessor, Jamal Lewis. McGahee was on the field for much of Baltimore's opening 13-play series, and carried the ball four times for nine yards and caught one pass for three yards.

The Ravens' first- and second-string offense produced two scoring drives, and unofficially won the scrimmage, 10-7. Quarterback Steve McNair took five snaps and completed all three of his passes for 33 yards.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign for the Ravens was that the offense continued to move the ball once he left the game; Kyle Boller took over and twice moved Baltimore inside the Redskins 5-yard line. One drive ended with a 22-yard field goal from Matt Stover, and the other with a one-yard touchdown run by P.J. Daniels. Boller, who is entering his fifth season, was 5 for 8 for 88 yards, including a 39-yard completion to Wilcox.

"We had some rhythm," Coach Brian Billick said. "I liked the fact that no matter who was in, we didn't have a procedure penalty and we didn't have the center-quarterback exchange problem that you typically see with a scrimmage. I was pleased with the way they handled themselves."

At this time a year ago, McNair was trying to adjust to the Ravens, to learn the playbook and the personnel. He was just warming up; now, he said he feels much more comfortable and trusts the players around him.

"When you play against the number one defense in the National Football League [in practice], it's kind of hard to see how good our offense really is," McNair said. "Of course you're going to make some mistakes here and there, but overall we moved the ball down the field. We made some good throws down the field, we ran the ball efficiently, and I think that shows where we're at and how far we have to go to improve."

Ravens Notes: Head groundskeeper Don Follett measured the field temperature at 141 degrees. "My toes are still burning," McNair said afterward. . . . Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith completed 2 of 4 passes for 22 yards. . . . Rookie Jared Gaither started in place of Ogden (toe). The former Maryland lineman was impressive during live one-on-one pass rush drills, when he was matched up against Andre Carter. When asked if he was surprised at the way he "swallowed up" the veteran defensive end, Gaither replied, "No, I'm just working hard right now. I'm just taking everything in stride, trying to do the best I can." . . . Wide receiver Clarence Moore (hamstring), nose tackle Kelly Gregg (thigh bruise) and linebacker Antawn Barnes (ankle) did not participate. Rookie guard Ben Grubbs (knee), Baltimore's first-round draft pick, took part in the individual drills but sat out the scrimmage.