Justin Forsett attracted to Ravens sense of urgency to win

The sense of urgency the Ravens have had this offseason is something that attracted Justin Forsett to sign with them.

Sure, Forsett is a complimentary piece and a backup at best. There's also the chance the Ravens don't keep him on the 53-man roster by the time training camp comes around, especially if the organization is able to take a coveted back in the third or fourth round of the upcoming draft.

But the chance to be a part of a team that's been building up its roster this offseason was enticing for the six-year veteran.

"You can see that by adding guys like Steve Smith to the mix, Owen Daniels — one of my former teammates in Houston," Forsett told reporters on Friday. "You know they're trying to win now. This is an organization that wants to get back to the championship, and it motivated me. I was like, ‘Man, I know I want to be a part of this.'"

The Ravens went through an 8-8 season in 2013 and missed out on the postseason for the first time in John Harbaugh's first six years as head coach. Addressing the offensive side of the ball has definitely been a concern, evidenced by bringing back guys like Eugene Monroe and Dennis Pitta, and signing players such as Smith and Daniels.

Forsett is familiar with the zone blocking scheme that Gary Kubiak will install, and he could be counted on to take some carries early on, assuming Ray Rice will open the year suspended due to his ongoing legal matter.

Forsett was a Houston backup in 2012, so he understands the concepts. And he's a believer that this style of offense can win a lot of games.

"It puts pressure on the defense — you're stretching them," Forsett said. "You're stretching the defense horizontally, and when you do that you're leaving gaps, you're leaving lanes in, and the running back has his choice of where he wants to go. As long as you're getting four-or-more yards, you're looking at successful plays."