Randy Hymes

PRIME TIME for the Ravens boiled down to a lot less than ABC slotted for Monday Night Football. We're talking 10 seconds. That's how much time the Ravens allotted last night to their most impressive bit of offensive work. That's not prime time. That's not even a 30-second ad. Even taking into consideration Jamal Lewis' capability for bursts of speed, 10 seconds still isn't enough time for the Ravens' battering ram to blow his way downfield. No, this was about trickery. That's what the Ravens had to rely on to score their first touchdown last night - one the Ravens needed to keep up with the suddenly sound again Kansas City Chiefs.

THE WORD came down 90 minutes before the Ravens lined up for last night's opening kickoff. No Deion. They might as well have told me to go home and watch Everybody Loves Raymond. I would have gotten a better parking space and my wife only charges me $3 for nachos, so it would have been a win-win, but I was already at M&T Bank Stadium and it was only the third Monday Night Football game the Ravens have played in Baltimore. Monday night is supposed to be special. Ex-Raven Tony Siragusa was telling me that before the game, right before the Ravens announced Deion Sanders had been declared inactive.

As the NFL free-agent market continues to take shape, the Ravens' offseason focus couldn't be clearer: They desperately need a veteran wide receiver. How the Ravens acquire a playmaker in the passing game is still up in the air. Coach Brian Billick indicated yesterday that the Ravens are keeping their options open as far as signing a free-agent receiver or trading for one. He said the team completed its most detailed analysis of free agency in his seven years here but acknowledged later that a trade is a "real" option.

SCOUTING REPORT Ravens run offense vs. Steelers run defense -- STEELERS Last season, the Ravens never really tried to challenge the Steelers' run defense, which ranked No. 1 in the league. Running back Jamal Lewis received a total of 27 carries in two games against Pittsburgh and had extreme results. He was held to a season-low 34 yards in the first meeting and then averaged 6.1 yards a carry in the season finale. Protecting the ball is especially important since two of Lewis' eight fumbles last season occurred against the Steelers.

Thumbs up: Second-round pick Tony Weaver for ending his holdout after one day. ... Receiver Randy Hymes made a nice grab during the afternoon practice. Thumbs down: Rainy weather, which forced the morning practice inside the school's gymnasium. Quotable: "That is something to get excited about; especially if you are going against Jonathan Ogden for 20 snaps, it is an advantage to me." Linebacker Adalius Thomas, about having to face a running back on a blitz. Injuries: Linebacker Peter Boulware (ankle)

Position: Defensive line. With ends Michael McCrary and Tony Weaver injured, the Ravens' starting front three is Kelly Gregg and Marques Douglas at ends and Maake Kemoeatu at nose tackle. In his cameo appearance, linebacker Ray Lewis will find out if this tandem can shield blockers from him, allowing him to roam free to make tackles. Veteran: Right tackle Edwin Mulitalo. After forming a dominant left side with Jonathan Ogden for three years, Mulitalo has shifted from left guard to right tackle.

OFFENSE FB 39 Alan Ricard 34 Ovie Mughelli QB 7 Kyle Boller 10 Kordell Stewart 5 Josh Harris RB 31 Jamal Lewis 29 Chester Taylor 32 Musa Smith WR 85 Kevin Johnson 80 Randy Hymes 89 Travis Taylor 81 Devard Darling 87 Clarence Moore LT 75 Jonathan Ogden 77 Ethan Brooks LG 64 Edwin Mulitalo 72 Damion Cook C 61 Casey Rabach 72 Damion Cook 62 Mike Flynn (injured) RG 66 Bennie Anderson 72 Damion Cook RT 78 Orlando Brown 77 Ethan Brooks TE 86 Todd Heap 82 Terry Jones 44 Daniel Wilcox DEFENSE CB 21 Chris McAlister 24 Corey Fuller 38 Raymond Walls SS 20 Ed Reed 49 Chad Williams ILB 56 Ed Hartwell 53 T.J. Slaughter ILB 52 Ray Lewis 57 Bart Scott FS 47 Will Demps 27 Gerome Sapp OLB 55 Terrell Suggs 90 Cornell Brown 54 Roderick Green LE 98 Tony Weaver 93 Dwan Edwards NT 97 Kelly Gregg 92 Maake Kemoeatu 91 Aubrayo Franklin RE 94 Marques Douglas 95 Jarret Johnson OLB 96 Adalius Thomas 90 Cornell Brown CB 28 Gary Baxter 37 Deion Sanders SPECIALISTS KR 36 B.J. Sams 32 Musa Smith 29 Chester Taylor PR 36 B.J. Sams 37 Deion Sanders LS 59 Joe Maese 62 Mike Flynn H 15 Dave Zastudil 7 Kyle Boller P 15 Dave Zastudil K 3 Matt Stover 9 Wade Richey

Offense WR...80 Brandon Stokley; 81 Kenyon Hambrick; 84 Javin Hunter LT...75 Jonathan Ogden; 76 Dawani Fladger LG...61 Casey Rabach; 65 Jason Thomas C...62 Mike Flynn; 65 Jason Thomas; 61 Casey Rabach RG...66 Bennie Anderson; 65 Jason Thomas RT...64 Edwin Mulitalo; 76 Dawani Fladger TE...86 Todd Heap; 88 John Jones; 82 Terry Jones; 85...Jonathan Burrough WR... 89 Travis Taylor; 83 Ron Johnson; 17 Randy Hymes; 13 D.J. Humphries QB...7 Chris Redman; 11 Jeff Blake; 12 Wes Pate; 9 Cleo Lemon FB...