McGahee / Ray Rice

[scottyjets]

With an extra week to rehab his knee, does McGahee immediately boot Ray Rice off the pedestal this week? Anyone hear any news out of Baltimore?

[Ziachild007]

Everything I have seen indicates a RBBC with McGahee, Rice, and McClain all getting touches.

[justin]

Updated news confirms that RBBC seems most likely. McGahee will not start but will be "eased" back into the game:

 

www.baltimoreravens.com

 

Notes: Willis' Role to Increase

Willis McGahee is not likely to start this Sunday as the Ravens will ease the Pro Bowler back onto the field. by Mike Duffy

Sep 19, 2008, 10:36AM

 

Now that Willis McGahee feels his right knee is healthy, the Ravens expect him to join a talented committee of running backs when the Cleveland Browns come to M&T Bank Stadium Sunday.

But, the Pro Bowler is not likely to start.

With Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain leading the way to 229 rushing yards in a Week 1 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore’s coaches are comfortable easing McGahee back into the lineup as he knocks the rust off his surgically-cleaned knee.

“He’ll complement Le’Ron,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said of McGahee. “Ray [Rice], you saw him in the game the other day, he’s just getting better and better and better and better.

“Those are the two backs that we’re going with, and Willis’ role will increase.”

Coming off a season where he rushed for 1,207 yards and ran for a touchdown in seven consecutive games, McGahee was absent for most of the offseason minicamps and had his training camp cut short when he needed arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

With McGahee sitting out all four preseason games and the Ravens’ season opener, Rice and McClain – running behind veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal – showed that they have the ability to carry the load.

The postponement of Baltimore’s Week 2 matchup with the Houston Texans (to Week 10) gave McGahee a few extra days to rest his knee.

And now that he is off the injury report, head coach John Harbaugh is happy to have another playmaker on the field.

“We’re going to use all of our good players and put them in positions where they do what they do well,” Harbaugh said. “So, we’re going to put our running backs out there and let them play.”

McGahee thinks his knee is fine to take a full day of work, but he’ll be content with however many snaps coaches give him in his 2008 debut.

“This Sunday, I envision myself playing a regular game, trying to make as many plays that I can,” McGahee said. “Whatever it is, I’m going to go out there and play regardless, if I’m sharing or not. The knee is good. It’s just me going out to play on the football field, knocking the rust off.”

Edited September 19, 2008 by justin