The next time the Ravens had the ball, early in the second quarter, Rice rattled off 19 more yards on the first two plays - 8 on a well-executed screen and 11 more on another nifty move left. The Ravens didn't get any points out of that, just a sense of relief that, in a worst-case scenario with McGahee's knee, they could manage.
They were getting exactly what they thought they would get out of Rice when they drafted him after his brilliant career at Rutgers: an ability to make things happen with the ball on runs and passes. The bonus appears to be his ability to pick things up fast.
"I was thrown right into the fire, with guys getting hurt," Rice said. "One day, I'm working with the twos and threes, and the next day, all of a sudden I'm working with the ones. If I hadn't learned fast, you might not have seen [last night] what you saw."
Reports of McGahee's return by opening day sound a tad optimistic. Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Rice is going to get his chances, beginning with that opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Even if that optimism is borne out, Rice earned his touches last night, if he hadn't already earned them throughout camp.
Of course, the Ravens proved again that they're going to need all the offensive weapons they can wring a big play out of at all times. Smith presided over one turnover in his half, a deflection off the hands of wide receiver Mark Clayton. Kyle Boller threw a pick in the second half. Joe Flacco threw one on the final drive that was nullified by a penalty. Once again, offensive Most Valuable Player candidates included a defensive player - Derrick Martin, for his interception return.
Rice, however, looks like a weapon. The Ravens should feel very confident that if they have to, they can count on him.
david.steele@baltsun.com
Listen to David Steele on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. on WNST (1570 AM).
