Rice ready to step in if needed
Willis McGahee is looking more and more like a game-time decision for Sunday's season opener against the Bengals, and if he cannot play, rookie Ray Rice will have to fill the void.
McGahee, who missed the entire preseason as he recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery, returned to practice earlier this week, but his status for Sunday is still uncertain. He said that he hopes to play in the opener, but it all depends on how his knee feels on Saturday.
Rice got the vast majority of the Ravens' carries in the preseason and impressed coaches with his durability and toughness. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and showed great patience on his runs, often reading the defense and making adjustments on the fly.
It's in that aspect that the rookie has noticed the biggest changes in his play from his time in college.
"I can feel it. It's not just like I'm out there running plays anymore," Rice said. "I know the schemes of plays. I know where certain plays are supposed to go and it's not just out there with X's and O's. I know how to read defenses and everything now. But through more time, I'll get better at all that stuff."
If Rice gets the start, the Ravens will have rookies at both quarterback and running back, as Joe Flacco will get the nod under center. Flacco and Rice, the Ravens' first and second-round picks respectively, will get a great opportunity to get thrown into the fire and learn on the fly.
"As rookies, we just have to embrace every opportunity," Rice said. "Joe's played in a few preseason games now, I've played in a few, and if we're out there this week, we just look forward to getting going."
McGahee estimated his odds of being able play on Sunday at about 50-50, and if the Pro Bowler feels well enough to go, Rice will be bumped into a backup role. Regardless of who gets the first carry, Rice says he'll be ready for his first NFL action.
"If Willis is ready to go, he's ready to go. That's one thing I can't control. If he's back and healthy, I think our offense will be a lot better because of what he can contribute. So when he's back, he's back. But if not, when I'm in there, I'm the starter whether I started the game or when I come in the game. I have to take that approach every rep I get."
scarletfever,
You nailed it. After the Ravens released Ronnie Prude, Ray changed his number from 39, (which he wore during the preseason), to the 27 that he wore during his dominating years at Rutgers.
Let's hope the digits bring him back to his 2000-yard form from a year ago.
Now to the important stuff...
With #27 (his name escapes me) being cut, will we see Ray switching numbers to the number he thrived with as a scarlet knight???