As Willis McGahee laid on the field following a violent hit from Steelers cornerback Ryan Clark late in the AFC Championship game, it was the culmination of a bitterly disappointing season for the Ravens running back. McGahee would prove to be okay, but his future with the Ravens beyond this season is up in the air.
After rushing for 1,207 yards and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2007โhis first season with the RavensโMcGahee reported to training camp out of shape and was slow to learn Cam Cameronโs offensive system last season. It was quite apparent that McGahee was in John Harbaughโs doghouse and remained there for much of the season, as LeโRon McClain became the primary option in the running game with Ray Rice getting a large number of carries as well.
It didnโt help that McGahee dealt with several nagging injuries throughout the season, including knee, eye, and ankle problems, as he finished with a career-low 671 yards. In fact, McGahee had virtually disappeared from the offensive game plan before rushing for a 77-yard touchdown against Dallas in Week 16 and later scoring two touchdowns in the conference championship game before the violent collision.
Conventional wisdom would tell you he would come back determined to regain his No. 1 status in the Ravensโ offense after a disappointing season and the violent hit that landed him in the hospital, right?
After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, McGahee had been present at OTAs but skipped last weekโs โvoluntaryโ workouts. When he resurfaced at this weekโs minicamp, Rice was working with the first team while McGahee ran with the second unit.
So, where does McGahee stand in the Ravensโ plans less than two months from the start of training camp? Itโs anyoneโs guess, but the only thing heโs regained at this point is his familiar spot in the doghouse.
โI donโt know,โ Harbaugh told reporters earlier this week. โI have no idea where heโs at. Itโs the first day heโs been here in a week and a half. I canโt gauge it.โ
Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
The only thing to expect from McGahee is unreliability. Despite the Ravens making him one of the NFLโs highest-paid backs after signing him to a seven-year contract (the last two being option years) worth up to $40.2 million in 2007, the running back continues to show a lack of commitment in the offseason, one of the biggest knocks against him in Buffalo.
Itโs not that McGahee doesnโt work hard during the season or is a bad teammate, but itโs clear he lacks the same dedication of his fellow Hurricanes Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, workout warriors throughout the calendar year. Even in his Pro Bowl season with the Ravens in 2007, his conditioning was a huge question mark, especially in the early stages of the season.
Those hoping to see a revitalized McGahee in 2009 are only going to be disappointed. If he didnโt learn his lesson after last seasonโnot to mention the horrific knee injury he suffered at the University of Miami in January 2003โhe never will.
McGahee has the tools to be one of the best backs in the league and is still only 27 years old, but he doesnโt seem willing to put forth the work needed to be an elite runner.
Take him for what he is and nothing more: a goodโbut could be greatโrunning back with loads of talentโand not worth the generous contract the Ravens gave him. In fact, if not for the $11.25 million hit that would have been charged against the salary cap, the Ravens could have explored trading McGahee to Arizonaโwho needed a running backโfor receiver Anquan Boldin.
McGahee would easily be the primary option in the running game if he were in optimum condition, but instead, the Ravens are left with plenty of options in the backfield and no clear picture.
The Ravens appear committed to moving McClain back to fullback fulltime, especially after choosing not to re-sign veteran Lorenzo Neal (now with the Raiders). Rice would be the next in line, but given his small stature, durability is the biggest concern with the second-year tailback.
Sixth-round pick Cedric Peerman is a promising back, but he will most likely be little more than a special teams contributor initially.
At this point, the โthree-headed monsterโ appears to be a good bet to resurface in Baltimore this season, and itโs hard to argue with last seasonโs performance. The combination of McClain, McGahee, and Rice provided quarterback Joe Flacco with the run-heavy offense needed in his first season. It kept the pressure off the rookie and allowed him to grow into the offense.
The Ravens hope Flacco can open up the passing game in his second year, but thereโs little doubt the offense will continue to be focused around the running game, as it should.
However, it would be nice to see where a fully-dedicated McGahee could take the running gameโand the entire offense. But then again, itโs the same statement uttered about McGahee numerous times since he entered the NFL.
Loads of talent, but much of it left untapped.
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Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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