The Baltimore Ravens kick off their 14th training camp at McDaniel College with two practices (8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, July 28, and break camp on Saturday, Aug. 22. Ravens rookies, quarterbacks and select players will report to the Best Western Hotel (451 WMC Drive) on Monday, July 27, and then take part in four practices – all open to fans and media – before all veterans arrive Wednesday, July 29.
On Thursday, July 30, the Ravens will hold an administrative day that is closed to the media and public. The first full-squad practices open to the public and media are scheduled for Friday, July 31, at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
The Ravens have scheduled 41 practices over their 26-day camp. Sessions are open to the media and public, except on July 30 (administrative day), Aug. 12 (pre-game walk-through), afternoon on Aug. 21 and Aug. 23 (pre-game walk-through/camp breaks). Plus, on Monday, Aug. 10, the Ravens will hold their annual Suite Holders and Sponsors Day during the morning session. This practice is closed to the general public, but remains open to media.
Baltimore opens the preseason hosting two games at M&T Bank Stadium, the first against Washington on Thursday, Aug. 13, and the second against former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and the New York Jets on Monday, Aug. 24. The Ravens then travel to Carolina for a Saturday matchup against the Panthers (Aug. 29), before wrapping up the preseason at Atlanta on Thursday, Sept. 3, against the Falcons.
All four of the Ravens preseason games will be telecast on WBAL-TV, including a simulcast with ESPN for the Monday Night Football game against the Jets on Aug. 24. All Ravens games can be heard on WBAL-AM and 98 Rock.
After completing an 11-5 regular season, the Ravens won a Wild Card battle at Miami and a Division contest at Tennessee before falling to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Steelers in the AFC Championship. Over the final 11 games of the season, the Ravens posted a 9-2 mark after starting 2-3. Baltimore set an NFL record for most wins by a team with both a rookie head coach (John Harbaugh) and rookie QB (Joe Flacco). The Ravens finished one game behind Pittsburgh (12-4) in the division, with impressive victories coming at Miami (27-13), at Houston (41-13), over the Eagles (36-7) and at Dallas (33-24) in the last game played at Texas Stadium. The Ravens, who played 18 consecutive weeks because of the loss of their bye (rescheduled due to Hurricane Ike), won at Miami (27-9) in the Wild Card game and beat the Titans in the Divisional contest at Nashville (13-10). Baltimore then fell at Pittsburgh in the AFC title game (23-14).
Following the departure of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who was hired as the Jets' head coach this past January, the Ravens named Greg Mattison their new defensive coordinator. Mattison served as Baltimore's linebackers coach in 2008 and became the fourth "D" coordinator in franchise history: Ryan – 2005-08; Mike Nolan – 2002-04; Marvin Lewis – 1996-2001. Harbaugh also announced that Vic Fangio, who was Baltimore's assistant to the head coach/defense the past three seasons, was promoted to LBs coach. Also, special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg earned the title of assistant head coach.
"Our players have worked hard this offseason and will be ready for training camp," Harbaugh said. "Our time at McDaniel College is very important to our development as a team. We'll work hard up there, and the fans will be right there to see it. The crowds are impressive, and it's as close as we can get with Ravens fans. We're looking forward to getting back there."
The 2009 Baltimore Ravens regular season schedule includes three nationally-televised, prime-time games, including a Sunday night special against the Super Bowl champion Steelers. The Ravens/Steelers matchup will be played at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 29 at 8:20 p.m. Baltimore will also play Monday night contests at the Cleveland Browns (Nov. 16) and at the Green Bay Packers (Dec. 7).
The Ravens return five Pro Bowlers from last season: LB Ray Lewis (10 Pro Bowls), S Ed Reed (5), ST Brendon Ayanbadejo (3), OLB Terrell Suggs (3) and FB Le'Ron McClain (1). DT Haloti Ngata, who earned a first-alternate Pro Bowl distinction, also returns, as does the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the year, Flacco, who became the first rookie QB ever to win two playoff games. Complementing this core of 2008 standouts are TE Todd Heap, NT Kelly Gregg, WR Derrick Mason, DT Trevor Pryce, RB Ray Rice, CB Samari Rolle, S Dawan Landry and OLB Jarret Johnson. The Ravens also added a productive group of veterans through free agency: Six-time Pro Bowler C Matt Birk, CB Domonique Foxworth and TE L.J. Smith. Baltimore also bolstered its offensive line by selecting T Michael Oher with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL Draft.
View Ravens 2009 Training Camp Schedule
