How the running game would change without Rice

September 28, 2010 4:36 PM by Dan Kolko View Comments

Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant went out to dinner last night with his teammates, and got stuck with the bill as part of a little rookie hazing.

The final tab reportedly came to $54,896.

I took my MASNsports.com co-workers out for a Chipotle lunch a little while back. The bill was around $30 bucks, but it was Chipotle. I say the MASN crew got a pretty good deal.

If the Ravens are without Ray Rice for much or all of Sunday's game because of the running back's significant knee contusion, as head coach John Harbaugh put it, they'll be without one of their top offensive playmakers.

That will obviously change the way they gameplan for the tough Steelers defense, not only because of who isn't on the field, but also who would be on it.

If Rice cannot play or is limited, Willis McGahee will be thrust into more action, meaning the Ravens will have a more physical running attack than they would with the 5-8, 212 pound Rice in the game.

"Ray [Rice] is a physical runner, too, so I think we've got physical runners," Harbaugh said. "But Willis is 240 pounds, and he brings it. He's a load. I like the way Willis runs. And I like his personality, like the way he's practiced, the way he's prepared for the season. He'll be ready to go."

Assuming Rice doesn't see his normal workload, the Ravens will also rely more on fullback Le'Ron McClain, all 260 pounds of him, to carry the rock.

The Steelers are allowing under 60 rushing yards per game so far this season, and the Ravens know full well how tough it is to churn out yards on the ground against their division rivals.

You obviously want Rice healthy and on the field if you're the Ravens, but against this Pittsburgh defense, McGahee and McClain will bring that extra toughness to the ground game which could play a factor on Sunday.