Willis Not Making Excuses

Willis McGahee knows he need to run better

Ravens running back Willis McGahee knows he hasn’t consistently shown what he’s capable of as a dynamic running back this season.

After rushing for only 32 yards on 11 carries and losing a fumble last week against the Washington Redskins, McGahee still has a sour taste in his mouth.

But the Pro Bowler is not letting his recent performances keep him down. If anything, McGahee is taking ownership of his situation and is as determined as ever.

“I played like doo-doo,” he said Thursday. “It’s nothing to be happy about. I just have to try to do better this game.”

As the Ravens head into a critical AFC North matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, McGahee hasn’t come close to 100 yards since rushing 112 against the Houston Texans on Nov. 9.

Since then, he had games of 18 yards and 8 yards, and then did not receive a carry in Week 13 despite being active for the game in Cincinnati.

Even though he rushed for 1,207 yards last year in his first season as a Raven, McGahee isn’t hoping for just a few big carries to break out of his rut. He wants to finish his season on a high note.

“I’m looking for a complete season, that’s all,” he said. “Not just one carry, because I had a couple of big carries in the Houston game. I’m looking for a whole season.”

McGahee has dealt with a litany of injuries this year. He had arthroscopic knee surgery in the preseason, followed by eye, ribs and ankle injuries throughout the regular season.

Has his sixth year in the league been frustrating?

“In a way it has, but I’m glad I can still go out there and play,” he explained. “Even though I’ve had the surgeries and all that, I’m not making excuses, but I’ve made the decision to go out there and play, and I haven’t been performing the way I can.”

As McGahee works back towards the playmaking running back teammates, coaches, analysts and fans have come to expect, the Ravens are leaning on fullback Le’Ron McClain and rookie Ray Rice to tote the load.

When asked if he thought Baltimore’s coaches still have confidence in him, McGahee was noncommittal.

“To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t,” McGahee said. “It’s not like I’ve had my best season. I’m not out there making plays, so right now Le’Ron and Ray are the guys. You stick with your guns.”

But, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron affirms that the Ravens will continue to utilize their three-headed rushing attack throughout the season.

“It’s still going to be running back by committee,” Cameron said. “We like that. I think it’s good for us from a game-plan standpoint. People can’t really zero in on, ‘Is it going to be Ray Rice? Is it going to be Le’Ron [McClain], is it going to be Lorenzo Neal? Is it going to be Willis [McGahee]?’ We’ll continue with that approach.

“I know that it becomes a lot of analysis, but this has been our approach from Day One. We’re not going to overreact if a guy plays really well, and give this guy the stamp as the starter, or a guy doesn’t play well and he’s not going to play. Every guy has a rough game every now and then, and we’re going to need every one of these guys down the stretch.”