Chris Canty was open and candid when discussing his first year in Baltimore.
The veteran defensive lineman didn't have the kind of season he had hoped for, and the Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.
"I was disappointed with my first season from an individual standpoint to a team standpoint," Canty said after Thursday's minicamp practice.
Canty, a 10-year veteran, signed with the Ravens last offseason after spending the previous four years with the New York Giants. He came to Baltimore with the reputation as a run stuffer who can also flash chasing down quarterbacks.
He was the team's starting defensive end all year and finished the season with 30 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. The numbers are in line with his production in previous seasons, but Canty stressed that the overall performance of the team was a letdown for him.
"[Finishing] 8-8 is the worst record that I've had as a professional in the National Football League in 10 years," he said. "I want our team to improve, and anything that I can do to help our team improve – that's what I'm about."
Canty has been accustomed to success throughout his career, and he started every game in 2011 when the New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI.
To make strides this year, Canty said he focused his attention on his training habits. He worked out on his own throughout the offseason, and reported to minicamp feeling better than he has in previous years.
"I made a commitment this offseason to make sure that I came back in better shape than I was this time last year," Canty said. "I tried to make sure that my body was healthy so I can do all I can do to help this football team improve."
The Ravens are likely counting on Canty to play a big role on the defense and in the locker room this year. The 31-year-old defender is a respected voice among his teammates and quickly took on a leadership position last year.
Canty will have even more players looking up to his this season, as the Ravens have infused their defensive line with several young players. Rookies Timmy Jernigan and Brent Urban will both compete for playing time. Second-year lineman Kapron Lewis-Moore has also impressed the coaches during recent practices after sitting out last year to recover from a torn ACL.
Canty knows he will have those young defenders pushing him for playing time, but he still praised them for how they performed throughout the week of minicamp.
"The young guys are doing a tremendous job," Canty said. "They're just going to continue to progress and improve. I'm excited to see what they're going to be able to do."
