Adam Terry

The Ravens face the usual crunch of having to sign four draft picks before players report to training camp Sunday. But this year, time is on the Ravens' side. With only the Philadelphia Eagles starting camp later than the Ravens, there is more immediacy for the rest of the league to sign their picks. That means the market value of the Ravens' picks will be established this week through "slotting" (basing deals on what the player in front of your pick and the player behind him received)

Oct. 7, 2007 The Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers, but the 9-7 score foretold an ominous ending. The offense's only scoring punch came from kicker Matt Stover. The team lost center Mike Flynn (right knee) and left tackle Adam Terry (left ankle), forcing the coaches to insert three rookies -- (Jared Gaither, Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda) -- into the offensive line. The extended absences of left tackle Jonathan Ogden, tight end Todd Heap, defensive end Trevor Pryce and cornerback Samari Rolle to injuries and illnesses contributed to the Ravens finishing 5-11 and ushering the departure of coach Brian Billick, the franchise leader in career coaching wins.

Tight end Adam Bergen has gone from the unemployment line to the top of the Ravens' depth chart. Less than a year removed from being waived by the Dallas Cowboys before the start of the 2007 season, Bergen found himself running with the first offense, starting in the Ravens' two preseason games this summer. While two-time Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap (right calf) and Daniel Wilcox (offseason toe surgery) have been sidelined, Bergen, 6 feet 4, 267 pounds, who was signed by the Ravens on July 22, has impressed coaches with his durability and pass-catching skills.

Normally, having 12 men earns a defense a quick penalty. But this Sunday, the Ravens will be dealing with a 12th man like no other. Seattle Seahawks fans are renowned for their boisterous support and have contributed significantly to the home-field advantage the team has enjoyed at Qwest Field. Since 2005, Seahawks opponents have been flagged an NFL-high 68 times for false starts - an average of 2.96 per game. The next closest is at the Metrodome, where Minnesota Vikings opponents have incurred 54 false starts.

New Orleans Saints starting cornerback Tracy Porter will miss the rest of his rookie season after dislocating his right wrist during Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Porter had surgery on the wrist and the Saints decided yesterday afternoon to place him on injured reserve, team officials told the Associated Press. Porter hurt the wrist while attempting to defend a desperation heave by Minnesota's Gus Frerotte. Bernard Berrian caught the pass for the tying touchdown as he collided with teammate Aundrae Allison, Porter and Saints safety Josh Bullocks near the goal line.

The Ravens continued the reconstruction of their offensive line yesterday, although it's uncertain whether they drafted the lineman they coveted the most. They selected Auburn guard Ben Grubbs with the 29th overall pick, taking the draft's top-rated guard only after Central Michigan offensive tackle Joe Staley was swiped away by the San Francisco 49ers. It appeared as though the Ravens would have a shot at Staley after he had been passed over by three interested teams, but they were outdone by a former colleague.

Ravens officials said yesterday that they remain optimistic that Jonathan Ogden will play this season instead of deciding to retire, but they said they have not received a definitive answer from the Pro Bowl offensive tackle. The offensive line is expected to be an ongoing story line for the Ravens this weekend because the consensus among NFL draft experts is that the team will address this position in the first round. There is a debate, however, over who that lineman will be. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Ravens will draft Southern California center Ryan Kalil.

Taking snaps yesterday behind his reconfigured starting offensive line - which included three rookies and two 24-year-old players - Ravens quarterback Steve McNair acknowledged feeling somewhat out of place. None of his young blockers was even in high school when he started his NFL career in 1995. "You have to start somewhere," McNair said. "They know what's ahead. I'm not going to be worried about it. If I worry about who is protecting me right now, it'll take me out of my game. I got confidence in those guys."

Four starts into what some might call a solid rookie season, Marshal Yanda is still searching for the perfect performance. "I'd say I still have a long, long way to go to be the player I want to be," the right offensive tackle said yesterday. "I've got a lot of learning to do. There's still stuff out there that I'm not 100 percent completely down with. I've just got to keep on improving, and it's going to be a long road. I need to get better every day. That's pretty much my goal." It's the kind of statement that the Ravens have come to expect from the modest Yanda, who a year ago could barely contemplate making an NFL roster.

There is no conflict between Jonathan Ogden and his coach. Two days after coach Brian Billick openly suggested that the Ravens might have to consider placing Ogden on injured reserve if he cannot play by Nov. 5, the 10-time Pro Bowl pick did not disagree with Billick's assessment. "I understand that," Ogden said yesterday after practice. "I would think the same way, too. But like I said, I'm going to try and get ready." Ogden, who was limited in practice, has been hobbled by a sprained left foot and hyperextended big toe on the foot since the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept.