Inside The Afc Central

Sporting News, The, Oct 16, 2000

GAME OF THE WEEK

Jacksonville at Tennessee. The one-sidedness of this series has been welt-documented so what must the Jaguars do to reverse the trend? Their injury-racked offensive line must somehow neutralize the Titans' D-line. In the final two meetings last season (including a playoff game), four Titans linemen combined for six sacks.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Ravens RT Harry Swayne vs. Redskins LE Marco Coleman. Opponents' preoccupation with his more-celebrated linemates undoubtedly has helped Coleman, who has a career-high nine sacks already. Nevertheless. Swayne, who has been battling ankle problems. will have his hands full with his ex-teammate (Chargers, '96).

ON THE SPOT

The Ravens handed a starting job to inexperienced third-year RG Mike Flynn before the season, and, thus far, the move has not worked out. Flynn hasn't played well and probably should be benched. Only injuries along the line have kept that from happening.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Titans WR Derrick Mason. Besides being his team's top kick returner, Mason now is a starting receiver, thanks to numerous injuries. He had his first 100-yard receiving game against the Giants two weeks ago and has caught TD passes of 29 and 19 yards.

ROOKIE REPORT

Browns RB Travis Prentice is more of an outside threat than the man he has replaced, the injured Errict Rhett, and a decent receiver. Prentice, who had been spelling Rhett every third series early in the season, scored three touchdowns in his first start last Sunday.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Look for a good, old-fashioned slugfest when the Bengals visit the Steelers. Rookie WRs Peter Warrick and Plaxico Burress will take a back seat to veteran RBs Corey Dillon and Jerome Bettis. Both teams will finish with more yards rushing than passing.

FANTASY SOURCE

One of the big games of the week looks like it could be another huge struggle for the Jaguars' offense, which hasn't played well against anybody but the Ravens in Week 2. With both Fred Taylor and Mark Brunell (assuming he starts) off stride, watch for the Titans' defense to jump all over Jacksonville.

For more fantasy football go to fantasy.sportingnews.com

Baltimore

5-1: 1st

Outstanding play up front has led the way on defense

The defensive line has been exceptional. LE Rob Burnett is playing at a Pro Bowl level, having perhaps his best season since the franchise left Cleveland. RE Michael McCrary doesn't have the sack numbers, but he is pursuing extremely well and disrupting running plays with his penetration. DTs Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa are the main reasons the defense is ranked No. 1 against the run. Adams has to be one of the fastest linemen in the league off the ball and is also a pass rushing threat Siragusa is a run stopper who keeps blockers off MLB Ray Lewis. The Ravens also have great depth outside with Es Keith Washington and Adalius Thomas.... LG Edwin Mulitalo has become an adequate complement to LT Jonathan Ogden, who will return Sunday against the Redskins after sitting out last week's game with an ankle injury. While Ogden is more of a pass-blocking technician, Mulitalo is more of a smash-mouth hitter on runs. Mulitalo, a fourth-round pick in 1999, was rushed onto the scene as a rookie, moving into the starting lineup when Harry Swayne was lost for the season. He held his own to win a spot in this year's lineup. He needs to improve his footwork but could be a productive lineman for several years.

SCOUTING REPORT: RB Jamal Lewis has all the intangibles, plus size and speed. He can run hard and punish the opposition inside the tackles, and with 4.4 speed he is just as imposing running around end or catching a pass in the flat. He is hungry and ready to prove that he can handle the workload in the NFL. But he may also want to make a few adjustments to his style for longevity's sake. Lewis runs too high, just like Titans RB Eddie George when he came into the league. Lewis also needs to learn that absorbing unnecessary punishment shortens the career.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: QB Tony Banks has the reputation of being one of the best long passers in the league but hasn't completed many bombs this season. Part of the reason is that in the West Coast offense, short- to mid-range passes make up the bulk of the offense. Banks has matured as far as going through his progressions and hitting the right targets. He is no longer throwing into coverage. But he has underestimated the speed of his receivers on long passes. He plays better when he finds his rhythm and is able to release the ball quickly instead of having to wait for his receivers to break open. --Mike Preston

GRADING OUT vs. Jacksonville

OFFENSE D

Unit is having an identity crisis. Banks was erratic, and Lewis and Taylor looked like rookies.

DEFENSE B

The line was terrific, the linebackers stuffed the run, the secondary prevented big plays.

SPECIAL TEAMS B

These units are providing more offensive muscle than the offense is.

COACHING C

Great on defense but lacking on offense. Isn't Billick an offensive coach?

RAVENS

PASSING        Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long   TD   Int.   Rate
Banks           212     115   54.2   1169    53t    8      4   75.0
Redman            3       2   66.7     19     12    0      0   84.0

PASSING        Sacks
Banks             13
Redman             0

RUSHING        Att.   Yds.   Avg.   TD
Ja.Lewis         73    344    4.7    1
Holmes           73    325    4.5    0
Ayanbadejo       11     31    2.8    1

RECEIVING      No.    Yds.   Avg.   TD
Ayanbadejo       22    165    7.5    1
Sharpe           20    255   12.8    2
Taylor           20    218   10.9    3
Ismail           20    216   10.8    1

SCORING        XPM   XPA   FGM   FGA   Pts.
Stover           9     9    18    20     63

PUNTING        No.    Yds.   Avg.   Blk.
Richardson      31    1271   41.0      0

KO RETURNS     No.    Yds.   Avg.   TD
Harris          14     320   22.9    0

PUNT RETURNS   No.    Yds.   Avg.   TD
J. Lewis        12     180   15.0    0

SACKS: Burnett 4.5, Boulware 3.5,
McCrary 1.5.
INTERCEPTIONS: Woodson 3, Herring
3, Starks 2.