McAlister must regain elite form

“Last year is last year,” he said. “I’m moving on to another year. I really don’t have anything to say about it.”

That’s because there were very few positives for McAlister to discuss. The 10-year veteran who had missed just seven games during his career was sidelined with an injured right knee for eight games last season, when he made just 23 tackles and an interception. The year before, the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder had one of the finest seasons in his career, as he had 47 tackles, a league-high 22 passes defensed, six interceptions and two touchdowns en route to making his third Pro Bowl.

But McAlister has shown very little to indicate he’ll be better this year.

He missed the first two days of training camp because he didn’t pass his physical. When McAlister, 31, took the field on Monday, he tried to blend with a secondary filled with inexperienced players instead of leading it.

“I just feel like one of the young guys still,” he said. “They look up to me in a way that at times catches me off guard. To that aspect, it kind of makes me appreciate being able to play as long as I have that I can help someone else to try to give them the knowledge that I have.”

McAlister, who is in the middle of a seven-year, $55 million deal he signed in 2004, is at a crossroads. He’s being paid like a top-tier cornerback, but he must prove he can thrive under a new coaching staff after spending his entire career with Brian Billick as head coach.

“You learn more as a veteran,” McAlister said. “You can practice at the same pace as everyone else, but have an advantage by knowing what you see from your offense. Or from the other side, knowing what the offense sees from the defense and knowing where you have to get to. Those things put you in position to make plays.”

Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who has been with the Ravens as long as McAlister, is confident the cornerback can return from his first major injury since picking up the game as an 8 year old in Pasadena, Calif.

“Chris is fine,” Ryan said. “I love it because he’s working through [the injury] and he’s doing an outstanding job. It’s good to see a smile on his face, and when he runs out there, I feel pretty confident.”

McAlister’s presence is integral to a secondary that was shredded last season. The unit, which also lost starting cornerback Samari Rolle for 10 games because of epilepsy, allowed a league-worst 15 passing plays of at least 40 yards, were third-worst by yielding 53 plays of at least 20 yards, and ranked 20th out of 32 teams in passing defense, surrendering 222.3 yards per game. Rolle, who has been grieving the recent death of his father, Harry, has yet to arrive in training camp, and starting safety Ed Reed has been sidelined with an injured shoulder.

“There’s competition from starting corner all the way down,” Ryan said. “So right now, this is an opportunity for someone to step up.”

rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com