Olson Quietly Enjoying a Productive Camp

WESTMINSTER, Md., Aug. 18 -- Drew Olson wasn't thrilled at first when the Baltimore Ravens asked him to play in NFL Europe during this past offseason. Olson would have rather spent the time working out with the Ravens, especially because he expected them to draft a quarterback who could be the third signal-caller behind Steve McNair and Kyle Boller.

Olson, who spent last season on Baltimore's practice squad, wanted that job. And sure enough, while he was playing for the Amsterdam Admirals, Baltimore selected Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith in the fifth round of the draft.

But Olson's stint in the now-defunct league has helped him in his competition with Smith. Both quarterbacks will get a chance to play on Sunday night as the Ravens host the New York Giants in a nationally televised preseason game.

"Anytime as a quarterback you can get out there and being under center and drop back and have to make throws and read routes, that's the kind of stuff that's huge for us," said Olson, who completed 54.6 percent of his passes for 1,724 yards (third most in NFL Europe) and 11 touchdowns with the Admirals. "There's nowhere in the States where you can do that, unless you're a starter in the NFL or come preseason. The best way is going over [to Europe] and getting snaps. You're the man, you're running the team and you're in control."

Olson was definitely that in the Ravens' first preseason game, a 29-3 win over Philadelphia on Aug. 13. He played the entire fourth quarter, completed 7 of 9 passes for 84 yards, led Baltimore on three scoring drives (a total of 13 points) and had a passer rating of 142.6. His 33-yard completion to Kendrick Ballantyne down the right side set up a four-yard touchdown pass to rookie fullback LeRon McClain.

"The more you play, the more you get comfortable," offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel said. "You get the offense down, you get confident in the speed of the game and you're able to just execute. [Against Philadelphia] Drew was certainly more comfortable. I expect him to pick up where he left off."

Both Smith and Olson struggled at times during training camp at McDaniel College. On Friday, for instance, cornerback Chris McAlister intercepted a deep ball from Olson and then moments later, Smith had a pass tipped at the line and grabbed by 6-foot-1, 325-pound defensive tackle Keyonta Marshall.

Smith seemed to have the edge through the first couple weeks -- he got more repetitions in practice and was the third quarterback to enter the game against Philadelphia -- but Olson clearly outperformed him against the Eagles.

Smith received a nice ovation from the fans inside M&T Bank Stadium when he took the field at the start of the third quarter, but he misfired on his first five attempts. He led the Ravens on one scoring drive, taking them 56 yards before Matt Stover was called on for a 50-yard field goal. Overall, Smith was 3 of 11 for 34 yards; his most impressive play was a 13-yard scramble.

"He's learning," Neuheisel said. "He had that nervous energy last week, so we'll see if he can calm himself down more this week and be a little bit more productive."

Olson's arrival last season didn't attract the same kind of attention that Smith's did this year, even though Olson was a star at UCLA, throwing for 8,532 yards (second on the Bruins' all-time list) and 67 touchdowns, and finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a senior. He wasn't drafted, but chose to sign with the Ravens as a rookie free agent.

"I'm sure there was a lot of excitement having the Heisman Trophy winner come in," Olson said. "But it's just a motivating factor, showing people what I can do."

Ravens Notes: Saturday was the final day of training camp, which Coach Brian Billick referred to as "a phenomenal camp, the best I've ever been a part of." . . . Wide receiver Derrick Mason, who did not practice on Friday because of a minor shoulder injury, participated in portions of Saturday's walk-through but might be held out of Sunday's game. Nose tackle Kelly Gregg (thigh and knee) has resumed practicing, but will not play against the Giants. Guard Chris Chester (foot), linebacker Antawn Barnes (ankle), running back P.J. Daniels (hamstring) and tight end Daniel Wilcox (ankle) have been ruled out. . . . Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd finally reported to camp and blasted his first kick into the end zone and his second one through the end zone, drawing hoots and hollers from his teammates. Lloyd, who is from Dover, England, was a late arrival because he had problems acquiring a work visa. "You gotta give the guy some credit; that takes some [guts] to show up the last night of training camp," Billick said with a laugh.