OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Marc Trestman is known for his pass-happy playbook, and the Baltimore Ravens are defined by a rugged running game under coach John Harbaugh.
So, what will the Ravens' offense look like in 2015? Three days into training camp, Trestman insists there will be no change in the offense's personality even though there is a change at play-caller.
"Ravens football starts with the running game, and that doesn't mean you're not going to throw the ball," Trestman said Sunday. "But the emphasis here is we want to be a great running football team and we have the players to do that. So that's where we start."
This would differ from Trestman's track record. He's known as the "quarterback whisperer" who turned Josh McCown into an effective passer in Chicago. His offenses feature quick, efficient passes and lots of throws to running backs. Playing power football hasn't been his reputation.
In Trestman's 12 years as a head coach or offensive coordinator in the NFL, his offenses have ranked in the top half of rushing attempts per game only twice. He's only had one season where his running game has finished higher than 16th.
Trestman said it's "an overblown perception" that he wants to throw the ball all the time.
"When you have the players to do the things that you do best, you do them," Trestman said. "I've had some very good running backs, but they weren't the type of running back or did we have the line that the Ravens have. So, you try to utilize your personnel the best you can to achieve the things that you need to achieve."
Trestman makes a valid point about personnel. He had Larry Centers in Arizona, Charlie Garner in Oakland and Matt Forte in Chicago. Those backs are better suited for getting out in space instead of running in between the tackles, although Forte said this week that he wants more rushes and fewer catches in 2015.
In Trestman's two seasons in Chicago, the Bears threw the ball 65 percent of the time, which was the fifth-highest rate in the NFL over that time.
Under Harbaugh, the Ravens have been one of the most committed teams to a physical running game. They've pounded the ball with Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain and Justin Forsett.
Since 2008, Harbaugh's first season with the Ravens, Baltimore has averaged 29.6 rushing attempts per game. Only the New York Jets have run it more (31.2 attempts per game).
When Harbaugh hired Trestman to replace Kubiak in January, he made it clear there that the Ravens would still keep the ball on the ground.
"I don't know what he's known as, or who knows him as what, but we have a way we want to play and we have a system in place," Harbaugh said six months ago. "We've been running the ball here for a long time. That has been our philosophy and our belief, and Marc understands that."
Other than Trestman, nothing else has changed with a Ravens' ground game that ranked No. 8 in the NFL. The Ravens re-signed Forsett, the only NFL running back last season to gain at least 1,200 yards rushing and average over five yards per carry, as well as the entire starting offensive line.
"You try to go to your strengths," Trestman said. "But there is no doubt that the strength of this football team, or one of them offensively, is the offensive line and the back that runs the ball."