Dan Cody

Linebacker and defensive end Dan Cody is entering his second NFL season. The Ada, Okla., native was a second-round draft pick for the Ravens in 2005 but missed his entire rookie season after injuring his knee on the first day of training camp last year. What's your favorite food? I like anything that's Southern cooking. Steak fingers, chicken fried steak, pork chops, steak. I grew up on a ranch, so I grew up having beef and swine. That's all I really ate my whole life. I never really ate chicken until I got out of high school.

Most Ravens fans will tell you that inside linebacker Ray Lewis was the greatest draft pick in franchise history. But the fine stat heads over at ESPN have calculated that Lewis was the NFL's most valuable pick since 1994. In this week's ESPN the Magazine, they put together a chart of the best draft picks from each franchise based on Surplus Approximate Value (AV), which essentially measures the difference between what each player produced during his career compared to what he was expected to produce based on where he was drafted.

One reason the Ravens drafted Dan Cody in the second round a year ago was his endless pursuit of the quarterback. Still, it took Cody's recovery from major knee surgery to realize how relentless he truly is. Ravens rookie camp Saturday-Monday, Ravens training complex (closed to public)

While doing my homework on the Ravens and their history in the NFL draft, I spent a little time exploring our Ravens draft database (sorry for the shameless plug, but it's pretty neat feature if you haven't checked it out ). In no particular order, here are some trends and random factoids from the 126 picks they've made in 16 years. ••• Much is made about G.M. Ozzie Newsome's preference for players from Alabama, his alma mater, and how the Ravens have hit big on prospects from The U (of Miami)

Most Ravens fans will tell you that inside linebacker Ray Lewis was the greatest draft pick in franchise history. But the fine stat heads over at ESPN have calculated that Lewis was the NFL's most valuable pick since 1994. In this week's ESPN the Magazine, they put together a chart of the best draft picks from each franchise based on Surplus Approximate Value (AV), which essentially measures the difference between what each player produced during his career compared to what he was expected to produce based on where he was drafted.

BIG SURPRISE When the Ravens drafted Colorado tight end Quinn Sypniewski in the fifth round in April, they knew the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Sypniewski could block. But so far in training camp, he has been catching everything thrown his way, including a diving reception of a 30-yard pass from quarterback Kyle Boller. If he continues to play well, Sypniewski makes the roster. PICKED OFF Cornerback Samari Rolle made a short McNair pass disappear, and 50 yards later he had what would have been a touchdown in a game.

A HAND FOR BOLLER Quarterback Kyle Boller floated a perfect 44-yard pass over cornerback Willie Gaston into the hands of rookie wide receiver Yamon Figurs. That play caused the crowd to erupt in applause. A GOOD READ The secondary seemed to read the routes the receivers were running and jumped on them with moderate success. Cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister each grabbed interceptions, and cornerback Evan Oglesby ended practice with another interception. BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO Linebacker Joe Martin nearly added his name to that list of defensive players with an interception.

When the Ravens open their preseason tonight against the Philadelphia Eagles, the first player introduced at M&T Bank Stadium will be new running back Willis McGahee. The Ravens are hoping tonight will mark the first steps toward revitalizing a once-proud running attack. EAGLES @RAVENS Preseason game, tonight, 7, M&T Bank Stadium, Ch. 45, MASN2, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM What to watch for POSITION -- Offensive line. This unit will feature a more athletic look and three new starters: left tackle Jared Gaither (who is filling in for Jonathan Ogden)

Paul Kruger's on-again, off-again flirtation with outside linebacker is back on. Initially drafted as a linebacker before switching to defensive end last season, Kruger has returned to the position that he said is his personal preference. "I've been doing 100 percent linebacker stuff up until this point," Kruger said last week. "In the pass rush, I do defensive end, and then in our base packages, I do linebacker. So I'm just kind of back to ground zero, which was where I was in my first year.

According to most NFL draft experts, the Ravens should be able to address one of two major needs Thursday by selecting Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith or Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward in the first round. With Smith, there are some serious issues surrounding him like there were with outside linebacker Sergio Kindle, the Ravens' second-round pick out of Texas in 2010. But with defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano and his background as a defensive backs coach, the tension isn't as great.

QUARTERBACK DERBY Troy Smith and rookie Joe Flacco split most of the repetitions during full-team drills yesterday, and both faltered badly. Smith was intercepted three times (by linebacker Ray Lewis, free safety Ed Reed and strong safety Dawan Landry) in his first eight pass attempts, and cornerback Samari Rolle nearly squeezed in one more. The defense sniffed out a flea-flicker by Flacco, and he would have been sacked by linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and defensive tackle Salomon Solano.

The Ravens' rash of penalties in their last preseason game can be called an aberration. Their struggles in the running game cannot. RAVENS@REDSKINS Preseason game, tonight, 8 o'clock, FedEx Field, Landover TV, radio: Chs. 45, 9, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM, 730 AM, 97.9 FM, 92.7 FM What to watch for POSITION -- Receiver. With Mark Clayton out with an ankle injury, Demetrius Williams will make his second straight start. But this is the time when Devard Darling and Clarence Moore need to step up. Darling and Moore, both of whom are battling for the No. 4 receiver spot, have combined for five catches for 53 yards this preseason.

Jason Brown is back in a familiar place. Brown, the starting left guard for the Ravens, has been playing center, the position he played as a three-year starter at North Carolina. And with backup center Chris Chester nursing a sprained right foot, Brown became the No. 2 center behind Mike Flynn for last night's preseason game against the New York Giants at M&T Bank Stadium. "The thing is, you just never know," Brown said last week. "Anything can happen during any part of the season, and I can be called to play either center or right guard.