Inside The Afc Central

Sporting News, The, Sept 11, 2000

GAME OF THE WEEK

Jacksonville at Baltimore. Neither team proved much with Week 1 wins against AFC patsies Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but if the Ravens are as improved as some people think, they can begin proving it by winning this game. The Ravens have never beaten the Jaguars (0-8).

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Bengals WR Peter Warrick vs. the Browns' CBs. One of the knocks on Warrick coming out of college was that he isn't very tall. Luckily for him, the 5-11 receiver gets to make his NFL debut against cornerbacks--Corey Fuller (5-10) or Daylon McCutcheon (5-8)--who are even shorter.

ON THE SPOT

Jaguars RB Stacey Mack, who was given an opportunity to start after Fred Taylor was sidelined by an injury, followed a strong preseason with 74 yards against Cleveland. But he needs to do it against a good defense.

KEEP AN EYE ON

The Pittsburgh QB situation. Kent Graham was so bad against Baltimore that Bill Cowher inserted Kordell Stewart on first-and-goal at the 1. They didn't score. Could untested second-year man Anthony Wright be any worse?

ROOKIE REPORT

Jaguars rookie RG Brad Meester is a smart player who quickly picked up the offense, but he's also tough. He fights every play, and it will be interesting to see how well he does against some of the bigger tackles in the league.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Cleveland rookie DE Courtney Brown will get the first two sacks of his career against Cincinnati RT Willie Anderson, but the Browns' defense will not have enough answers for QB Akili Smith, RB Corey Dillon and Warrick.

FANTASY SOURCE

It's not a marquee matchup, but the Bengals' opener against Cleveland gives Akili Smith a chance to gain some early-season confidence with his youthful receivers. If Smith, Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans turn in solid games, it could give them a boost for the next several weeks.

For more fantasy football go to fantasy.sportingnews.com

Baltimore

1-0: T 1st

Ismail quickly provides proof that 1999 was not a fluke

WR Qadry Ismail wants to prove that last season, when he produced 1,105 receiving yards and a 16.3 average per catch, was no fluke. He took a good first step last Sunday, producing seven catches, 102 receiving yards and a 53-yard touchdown reception. Ismail, who has emerged as a team leader, has solid hands and a strong work ethic. He has outstanding instincts and runs excellent slant-in patterns. But he still can't get much separation on other patterns without pushing off, and there are concerns about him wearing down late in the season. His production may drop off some with TE Shannon Sharpe and rookie WR Travis Taylor in the lineup, but he still will have a chance to duplicate last season's success.... WR Patrick Johnson and FB Sam Gash weren't factors Sunday but soon will get a chance to make an impact. Johnson, who broke his collarbone the first week of camp, practiced with the team in full pads for the first time last week. But the team thought it best not to play him on the artificial turf at Three Rivers Stadium. Gash, a late signee, didn't start because he doesn't yet know the entire offense. But team officials consider Gash to be one of the league's best lead blockers. He'll get more playing time as he becomes more familiar with the system.... QB Tony Banks played reasonably well Sunday, but he missed a couple of wide-open receivers. The Ravens have quite a few new faces on offense, so it might take a while before they get the timing down.... Taylor played well in his pro debut-four catches for 50 yards--but he still needs to be more consistent catching the ball. It's clear he has more natural skills than any receiver on the roster.

SCOUTING REPORT: Having been beaten out of a starting receiving role by Taylor, it appears that WR/PR Jermaine Lewis needs a strong year returning punts if he wants to come back in 2001. Lewis had a strong camp, but his play became inconsistent as the season neared. His numbers were way down in 1999, and he can't afford two bad years in a row-not at 5-7, 180. At that size, you have to be gifted at something.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: This defense owns Steelers RB Jerome Bettis because it plays the inside gaps hard and forces Bettis to run outside. The team figures that if Bettis can't turn his shoulders at the line of scrimmage, he won't be effective. The team also used several run blitzes with their safeties, daring the Steelers to beat them with the pass. --Mike Preston

GRADING OUR vs. Pittsburgh

OFFENSE C

Ground game was strong, but the timing was off between Banks and his TEs.

DEFENSE A

The front seven may be one of the NFL's best. The team keeps stopping "The Bus."

SPECIAL TEAMS B

All facets played well, but the units have to put a halt to the penalties.

COACHING A

The offense was conservative; Billick let his defense win it for him.

RAVENS

PASSING     Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long

Banks        32     18     56.3   199     53t

PASSING     TD   Int.   Rate   Sacks

Banks        1    0     85.3     1

RUSHING     Att.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Holmes        27    119    4.4    0
Ja. Lewis      5     16    3.2    0
Banks          2      5    2.5    0

RECEIVING    No.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Ismail         7    102   14.6    1
Taylor         4     50   12.5    0
Holmes         4     32    8.0    0

SCORING   XPM   XPA   FGM   FGA   Pts.

Stover     1     1     3     3     10

PUNTING        No.   Yds.   Avg.   Blk.

Richardson      7    281    40.1     0

KO RETURNS     No.   Yds.   Avg.    TD

Ismail          1     38    38.0     0

PUNT RETURNS   No.   Yds.   Avg.    TD

J. Lewis        5     50    10.0     0