Since it’s been kind of slow in the NFL - and especially with the Purple and Black - I thought I’d post an interesting picture I saw on the Baltimore Sun’s web site:

Yeah, that’s super big Jonathan Ogden (6′ 9″) and super tiny Cory Ross (5′ 6″). Just who’s idea was it to let this pip squeak return balls last year?

Are you excited about Willis McGahee replacing Jamal Lewis yet? I know I am…

On the official site, Mike Duffy writes:

Looking back on the Ravens’ organized team activities (OTAs), which wrapped up last week, Willis McGahee admitted that he was wary of meeting his new teammates for the first time.

After all, the personnel staff that nabbed him from Buffalo already knew what the former Bill could bring to Baltimore. The Ravens’ coaching team had already spent face-time with McGahee since the March trade took place.

So while there was a sense of camaraderie and fellowship as the players that had previously worn purple and black returned to their familiar team headquarters, there was also a new starting running back to meet. The welcome mat was certainly placed in front of the locker room from the start, but nobody had played with McGahee before.

It only took a few plays from scrimmage for the Ravens’ veterans to realize what those minds upstairs were thinking.

“I think he is going to be a great addition to the team,” said quarterback Steve McNair. “Looking at him and how he’s getting a feel for this offense, he’s not only going to help us in the running game but also the passing game.

“If you give the ball to him at five yards, you’ll get 10 out of it. Those are all the things he brings to the table, with his experience and with his ability to get outside to make plays.”

That’s exactly what I’m looking for in a back - you don’t necessarily need a prototypical ‘power back’, but rather someone who is smart enough to find a hole, a lane - anything, and turn 5 into 10.

In his second season as a Raven, McNair has some great targets - Mason, Clayton, Williams, Heap, Wilcox… and now McGahee. That has the potential to be a really scary list once we start playing games that matter.

Duffy continues:

Offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel was in agreement after watching tape of McGahee, who will provide an alternative to the power-running style of Jamal Lewis, whom the Ravens released this offseason.

The four-year veteran sat out his rookie campaign while recovering from a major knee injury, but bounced back with two-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. After rushing for 990 yards in 2006, the Ravens are looking for their young and athletic offensive line to help McGahee break the 1,000-yard barrier again.

“With McGahee, we’ll probably be more in one-back [formation],” Neuheisel explained. “He’s more of a draw runner, outside, zone runner, able to use his speed. Our personnel will adapt to the style of the runner. We’ll have a chance to be more explosive and get four receivers down the field fast.”

That philosophy-change showed in OTAs, as McGahee was frequently seen making the linebackers work to cover him out of the backfield.

“You can’t be grabbing me,” he kidded Bart Scott when the linebacker got a handful of jersey during a skel drill.

Much like how McNair took the offense up a notch last year, I have a feeling that McGahee will be the icing on the McCake. Is a 1,000+ yard season out of the question? Absolutely not. With our athletic line opening up the holes, he’ll break off some big gains.

McGahee’s tattoo reads “Guess Who’s Back?”

The Baltimore running game.

Quote of the Day:
“[This is a] perfect scenario, perfect situation, perfect team. It doesn’t get any better than this. When I got here, at first I was little nervous. But it’s all love right now.”
-Willis McGahee