An offensive mindset

With Billick calling the shots, Ravens try out their wings

Baltimore is hoping Brian Billick can bring the Vikings' offensive firepower to the previously lacking Ravens. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport

The Baltimore Ravens, still without a playoff appearance since moving to Baltimore after the 1995 season, opened their training camp July 28 in Westminster, Md. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Ravens this season. SI's season preview will be posted August 24.

Dr. Z wants to know : 1) Just how good an offensive guru is Brian Billick? Well, we'll see, won't we? The Ravens ranked 26th in total offense last year. Billick's Vikings averaged 34.8 points a game.

2) Operation Quarterback Replacement removed Jim Harbaugh and Eric Zeier, replacing them with Scott Mitchell and Tony Banks. Was it successful surgery, or is this simply a case of what Weeb Ewbank used to call "taking on someone else's problems?"

3) Can one dynamic cornerback, i.e., top draft pick Chris McAlister, revive a sluggish pass defense, as Charles Woodson did in Oakland last year?

The Ravens can make the playoffs if : Somehow, Billick does for Mitchell what he did for Randall Cunningham, and Brad Johnson before him, in Minnesota. This is a team banking on a running game led by Priest Homes. That's not good. Still, the Ravens have some good young talent on defense, which should at least keep them in some games. And they have a relatively easy schedule, too.

Ravens Facts 1998 record: 6-10 (fourth in AFC Central) Coach: Brian Billick (first season) Stadium: PSINet Stadium (68,400, natural grass) 1998 rankings: Offense -- 20th run, 25th pass, 26th overall. Defense -- 16th vs. run, 24th vs. pass, 22nd overall. Depth chart 1998 results 1998 player statistics 1999 schedule CNN/SI Projection: 6-10

Pivotal games : Oct. 3 at Atlanta, Nov. 28 vs. Jacksonville. The Falcons are the toughest non-conference foe the Ravens have, and they're out of the way early. The true test will come against the AFC Central's best, the Jaguars. The Ravens first meet them in Florida on Nov. 14. Two weeks later, they get them again, at home, in what should be a telling game.

On the hot seat :

Up-and-comer : Cornerback Duane Starks had five interceptions last season as a rookie -- matching that rookie phenom Charles Woodson out in Oakland. If Ravens rookie McAlister, on the other side, can keep up his end of the deal, this could work out well for everyone involved.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost Greg DeLong, TE, from Min. Charles Evans, RB, from Min. Fernando Smith, DE, from Jax. Harry Swayne, T, from Den. James Trapp, CB, from Oak. Corey Harris, DB, re-signed Jeff Kopp, LB, re-signed Errict Rhett, RB, re-signed Floyd Turner, WR, re-signed A.J. Ofodile, TE, re-signed James Roe, WR, re-signed Brian Kinchen, TE, Car. Orlando Brown, T, Cle. James Jones, DT, Det. Sale Isaia, G, Ind. Roosevelt Potts, RB, Mia. Wally Williams, G, N.O. Mike Frederick, DE, NYJ Eric Green, TE, NYJ

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 1 10 Chris Mcalister CB Arizona 4 105 Brandon Stokley WR SW Louisiana 4 129 Edwin Mulitalo OG Arizona 6 185 Talance Sawyer DT UNLV 7 216 Anthony Poindexter S Virginia