WESTMINSTER — The football looked as if it was going to land far out of the grasp of Clarence Moore, so he found an extra gear and launched himself into the air.
The Baltimore Ravens’ 6-foot-6, 220-pound wide receiver extended his hands with his body parallel to the ground Wednesday morning at McDaniel College before gathering in a 40-yard bomb from quarterback Kyle Boller.
It was easily the top catch registered so far at training camp, drawing heavy applause. Moore needs big plays like that one as he competes for the fourth receiver job against Devard Darling and Yamon Figurs.
"Always good to make a good impression," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.
"Clarence has been around. He knows he has to show up this year."
Moore regressed last season, catching just two passes for one yard and a touchdown. He signed a one-year, $850,000 tender during the offseason.
This was his third practice back following a hamstring injury that kept him out of a scrimmage against the Washington Redskins.
"I’m just trying to make something happen," Moore said. "I want to always show them what I can do.
As a rookie in 2004, Moore led Baltimore with four touchdown catches, with 24 receptions for 293 yards in six starts. However, he only started four more games over the past two seasons.
"It’s time for him to get back on the field and show what he can do,†receivers coach Mike Johnson said. “There’s still upside there."
INJURY UPDATE: The Ravens were missing half of their secondary as cornerback Samari Rolle and safety Ed Reed were held out of practice. Reed tweaked his ankle. Rolle is still recovering from being plowed over by running back Mike Anderson during a Tuesday red-zone drill. Billick said that Rolle got a "ding," adding that: "He thinks his name is Sammy and not Samari right now." Neither injury is considered serious…Tight end Daniel Wilcox appeared to injure his left ankle during a pile-up at the line of scrimmage and didn’t return. He walked off under his own power. "I’m not sure what Dan’s situation was," Billick said.
Nose guard Kelly Gregg (right thigh bruise, knee) still isn’t practicing, but increased his activity to include agility drills…Rookie linebacker Antwan Barnes’ sprained right ankle is improving, as he participated in some team drills…Linebacker Jamar Enzor (undisclosed) didn’t practice again…Offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (turf toe), linebackers Dan Cody (knee surgery) and Mike Smith (shoulder surgery) remain on the physically unable to perform list. Cody, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks before camp, was spotted getting around on crutches. He has been contemplating the possibility of microfracture knee surgery.
FIGHTING IRISH: Former Notre Dame tight end Marcus Freeman definitely lived up to his alma mater’s nickname: The Fighting Irish. The undrafted rookie got into his second altercation, engaging in a shoving match with linebacker Gary Stills. They were quickly separated before blows could be exchanged. Freeman squared off last week with linebacker Jarret Johnson in the first fight of camp. "There’s a lot of testosterone going around," Freeman said. "We’re all grown men out here. Some older vets try to intimidate you.
“Stills is a talker. I like to talk back. It’s a good time out there."
MOVING FORWARD: Billick said that the team will have less live drills and concentrate mainly on preparing for the preseason opener Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"Training camp is done basically," Billick said. "This is a very clear line of demarcation. The temperament changes.
"When I came into the league as a player, it was literally how severely can we beat you up and whoever is left standing makes the team. It’s changed a lot."
In a nod to the heat advisory in effect, Billick canceled a Wednesday afternoon practice and the team has today off before returning to work Friday at 9:30 a.m.
“We have a plan,†Billick said. “We are healthier now, notwithstanding a few bruises, than when we began camp.â€
QUICK HITS: Reliable veteran kicker Matt Stover missed two field goals. His last attempt was wide right and several yards off the mark. .. Boller had a rough morning, sailing an end-zone toss high over tight end Quinn Sypniewski’s head. He also fumbled a snap … Boller hit wide receiver Demetrius Williams in stride on a post pattern. … The Ravens are experimenting with reserve cornerback Ronnie Prude at safety, where the team is trying to identify a fourth reserve behind Reed, Dawan Landry and primary backup Gerome Sapp. … Ravens right tackle Adam Terry, who moved over from the left side, has been his own harshest critic. "Adam is very tough on himself,†Billick said. “ What he has to do is be self-analytical and critical, but relax.†… Former Ravens offensive tackle Orlando "Zeus" Brown visited practice. Brown, who’s 6-7, 365 pounds, was sporting a Spud Webb throwback jersey. Webb was a 5-6 slam-dunk champion. … Billick conducted a brief speech to the team. Earlier, he exclaimed: "We don’t know what we’re doing!"
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
