Team news: New York Giants | Page 46

Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't declare Steve Hauschka the winner of the kicking battle Thursday night, but the second-year player did his best to make the decision easier.

Hauschka converted both of his field goals in the Ravens' preseason finale, including an impressive 46-yarder late in the fourth quarter.

"I knew my job was probably riding on it," Hauschka said of the 46-yard field goal. "So I felt some pressure on that one."

After coming under scrutiny for missing a 27-yard field goal Saturday, Hauschka bounced back to finish six of seven on field goals for the preseason (85.7 percent). Hauschka's competitor, rookie Graham Gano, didn't attempt a field goal Thursday.

Harbaugh declined to name Hauschka his kicker after the game but said, "Coming out there and making that last kick was good."

Ravens Kicker Steve Hauschka might seal up the job with another solid performance. He has outplayed rookie Graham Gano, making three field goals this preseason. Gano has missed his past two attempts (from 28 yards and 46 yards).

It appears the Ravens kicker will be Steve Hauschka.

Barring an unforeseen collapse, the second-year player has all but locked up Baltimore's kicking job by performing well through training camp and the first two preseason games. Hauschka created more distance between himself and rookie Graham Gano with a 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference Monday in the Ravens' 24-23 victory over the New York Jets.

There is also the "Matt Stover factor." Perhaps as a ploy to motivate its kickers, Baltimore's coaching staff has not been shy to let the media know that the longtime Ravens kicker is always on call. Hauschka, so far, has handled the pressure well.

Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano are competing to replace 41-year-old Matt Stover, the only starting kicker the Ravens have had. Stover came to Baltimore in 1996 with the Cleveland Browns and handled every important field goal attempt over the past 13 years.

But after Stover began losing distance on his kickoffs and long field goal tries, Baltimore signed Hauschka last year to take care of that aspect of the job. During the offseason, Baltimore decided not to renew Stover's contract.

So now it's Hauschka vs. Gano for the right to succeed the leading scorer in Ravens history. Hauschka has NFL experience, but Gano, a rookie out of Florida State, was 24 for 26 on field goal tries last year for the Seminoles and won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker.

This will be the most-watched competition of Ravens camp, with Steve Hauschka, who kicked off last year and attempted long field goals for the Ravens, and undrafted rookie free agent Graham Gano of Florida State teeing it up. Their performance in camp and exhibition games could keep the team from calling on the only kicker the franchise has ever known, Matt Stover, who has become a "lacrosse dad" as retirement looms.

Q: Is Steve Hauschka settling in or is Matt Stover still on Ozzie Newsome’s speed dial..

A: It’s going to be a close battle between Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano with Hauschka holding a slight edge heading into camp. I expect one of those two candidates to win the job. If they falter, then they can always call Matt Stover up to save the day.

The Ravens signed punter fullback Jason Cook, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, kicker Graham Gano, cornerbacks Kevin Gerard and David Jones, defensive lineman Will Johnson, wide receivers Eron Riley and Isaiah Williams, center Greg Ryan, linebacker/defensive ends William VanDeSteeg and Luis Vasquez and quarterback Drew Willy.