NOTEBOOK: Starters Sit

With 13 starter sitting out of Friday's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, Ravens head coach Brian Billick was able to get five rookies and many other young contributors on the field for the most-extensive work of their short careers.

Some players were scratched due to injury concerns, while some were just given the night off. The Ravens sat wideout Mark Clayton, tight end Daniel Wilcox and cornerback Samari Rolle, all of whom are resting ankle injuries, safety Ed Reed (thigh contusion), and tackle Jonathan Ogden (toe).

Players without injuries that didn't take the field were cornerback Chris McAlister, linebackers Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scot, wideout Derrick Mason, tight end Todd Heap, quarterback Steve McNair, and defensive tackle Trevor Pryce.

It is common practice across the NFL to sit some of the more-established players for the final preseason contest, and the Ravens certainly have much to protect coming off a franchise-record 13-3 campaign in 2006.

Baltimore also sat rookie linebacker Antwan Barnes as a precautionary measure against an ankle injury suffered in training camp.

With so many of the veterans on the bench, the Ravens had the opportunity to see a glimpse into the future of the team.

In addition to new acquisition Willis McGahee at running back, the Ravens started last year's fourth-round draft pick, Demetrius Williams, and Devard Darling at wideout, with Kyle Boller under center. Le'Ron McClain manned the fullback position, with Quinn Sypniewski at tight end. Adam Terry moved from right to left tackle for Ogden, while Jason Brown, Chris Chester and rookie Ben Grubbs formed the interior offensive line. Third-round draft pick Marshal Yanda played right tackle.

Billick said after the game that he was impressed with the first-string offensive line, a unit that only logged one first-half penalty, a false start on Ben Grubbs in the second quarter. This came on the heels of two consecutive games when the regular starters seemed to be inviting flags.

"I was happy with what we could put together," said Yanda. "I had a few plays I'd like to have back, but overall I think we all did well, especially since it was pretty new for all of us.

"[Cutting down on penalties was] something that coach Billick tried to emphasize all week, and it definitely showed up out there."

On the defensive side of the ball, first-teamers Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata were joined by Dwan Edwards on the line, while starter Jarret Johnson played linebacker with Dennis Haley and rookies Edgar Jones and Prescott Burgess. Young talents Derrick Martin and David Pittman played cornerback, with Dawan Landry and Gerome Sapp rounding out the back end.

Many of the Ravens that watched from the sideline took the opportunity to break a sweat in pre-game warm-ups, running sprints and using the goal post as a makeshift blocking dummy. But once their teammates hit the field fully-dressed, they relegated themselves to spectator status.

While many of those players dressed in street clothes, McNair put on the pads in case of an emergency situation.

"That's what this night was about, giving the young guys a chance to play," said McAlister. "This could have been some of their last nights in a Ravens' uniform, so it's important the coaches and [general manager] Ozzie [Newsome] can see what they can do."

The Ravens now have to cut their roster down from its current state of 73 names down to 53 by Saturday evening.

Bannan Finds a Gift

Defensive tackle Justin Bannan, who stepped up to the first string when Ngata and Gregg left after two series, stopped Falcons momentum when he fell on a fumble from quarterback Chris Redman.

As Atlanta droved down to the Ravens' 35-yards line, Redman bobbled a snap as he dropped back to pass, and the sixth-year veteran was ready to pounce. Bannan insists that he didn't do anything special, though.

"I went to make a pass rush move, and it was just sitting right there," he said. "It was just one of those deals when I just came off the ball and if anything I was lucky. It was a natural reaction.

Bannan had just re-entered the game after receiving medical attention for a back contusion that kept him from the action for two plays.

"It's just like a deep bruise," Bannan said in the locker room. "It obviously wasn't that bad."

Bannan also logged two tackles and was key in holding the Falcons to only 42 rushing yards in the first half.

Smith Seeks Improvement

While he showed flashes of the playmaking ability that earned him the 2006 Heisman Trophy, Ravens quarterback Troy Smith wasn't happy about the way he played Friday night.

The fifth-round draft pick was under center for the entire second half, completing a respectable 11 of his 18 passes for 86 yards, but constant pressure in the pocket caused accuracy problems on some throws. He was also pressured into tossing a late interception to rookie cornerback Chris Houston that sealed the win for Atlanta.

"Anytime you get a substantial amount of playing time, you have to come through," said Smith, who was sacked four times. "I didn't come through. It wasn't a good look for the rest of my team. I've got to do nothing but get better.

"I take pride in winning. I take pride in being a team player in every portion of the game. Anytime you don't win, it's upsetting, preseason or not. That's what I take pride in."

Smith is one player that will be keeping a close eye on the Ravens' cuts. Smith beat out Drew Olson for Baltimore's third quarterback position, but Billick is considering consigning a third quarterback to the practice squad instead of the active roster.