Inside The Afc Central

Sporting News, The, Nov 6, 2000

FIRST-HALF AWARDS

OFFENSIVE MVP

Eddie George, RB, Titans, How important is George to the Titans' success? They are 21-5 when he rushes for 100 or more yards and 18-0 when he carries the ball 27 times in a game. The Titans may win a few regular-season games without George, who was injured a week ago, but they won't win the Super Bowl without him.

DEFENSIVE MVP

Levon Kirkland, LB, Steelers. Despite being hampered by two bad ankles all season, he has played as well as he did in either of his Pro Bowl years (1996 and '97). At 31, Kirkland never misses a practice, and the Pittsburgh coaches contend his performance in the Week 6 upset of the Jets was his best game in three years.

TOP ROOKIE

Courtney Brown, DE, Browns. Just as important as his five sacks has been his improvement--he has gotten better every week. Brown even dropped into coverage in a game against the Steelers a week ago, going 20 yards downfield to help break up a pass.

TOP COACH

Bill Cowher, Steelers. When things looked awful early in the season, Cowher told his players--still reeling from their 1-7 finish in 1999--that they weren't as bad as their 0-3 start would suggest. They believed him--and have won five games in a row.

BIGGEST BUST

Tony Banks, QB, Ravens. He regressed so much from the promise he showed down the stretch last season that coach Brian Billick was forced to yank him for the uninspiring Trent Dilfer. The Ravens failed to score a touchdown in Banks' last 16 quarters at the helm.

BIG GAME OF THE SECOND HALF

Pittsburgh at Tennesee, November 5. In Week 4 at Three Rivers Stadium, the Titans edged the Steelers, 23-20, on a Steve McNair TD pass in the last two minutes. The Steelers haven't lost since, and they've supplanted the Ravens as the Titans' main threat.

5-4: 3rd

Baltimore

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED: The plan was for the defense to carry the team to the brink of a playoff spot and the offense to put it over the hump. The defense has been nothing short of superb, with the line and linebackers dominating and the secondary improving. But the offense is dragging the team down. The Ravens, who haven't found the end zone in the last 20 quarters, have two better-than-average backs in Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes. But coach Brian Billick wants to have a passing offense despite lacking a quality quarterback and a go-to receiver. QB Tony Banks was inconsistent the first half and was replaced by Trent Dilfer, who was ineffective in a 9-6 loss to Pittsburgh Sunday. Both starting receivers, Qadry Ismail and rookie Travis Taylor, started out strong, but they have struggled to hold onto the ball the last four games. And now Taylor is out four to six weeks with a broken clavicle. TE Shannon Sharpe has made plays but still is learning the offense. The most consistent wideout has been Jermaine Lewis, the third receiver.

NEWCOMER ANALYSIS: The team spent plenty on the offense, but it has yet to get its money's worth. Part of the problem is Billick has yet to find a good mix. Lewis punishes tacklers, and he should be used the same way Tennessee runs Eddie George, but Billick doesn't follow that philosophy. As expected, Sharpe has performed well in the short-to-intermediate passing game, but his run blocking has been poor. Fellow TE Ben Coates has blocked well, but the team hasn't found a way to get him the ball. T Sam Adams was the only big name brought in on defense. He had the reputation of taking plays off in Seattle but has played very well.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Despite all of the offensive problems, the Ravens still should make the playoffs. Only two of the remaining opponents have winning records. The key is for the offense to become more consistent, and that should happen soon. The line had injury problems in the first half, but it should be healthy for most of the second. Dilfer is not the answer at QB; his arm strength is not close to Banks'. But with the line intact, Billick should be able to fide the legs of Holmes and Lewis into the playoffs. Also, look for WR Patrick Johnson, a speedster who sustained a separated shoulder in camp, to energize the offense a little in place of Taylor. Veterans like DEs Michael McCrary and Rob Burnett and DT Tony Siragusa have a lot of pride and are holding this defense together, but even they can only take so much from the inept offense. --Mike Preston

MIDSEASON GRADES

QUARTERBACKS     C-
RUNNING BACKS    B 
RECEIVERS        C-
OFFENSIVE LINE   C-
DEFENSIVE LINE   A
LINEBACKERS      A
SECONDARY        B
SPECIAL TEAMS    C 
COACHING         C
OVERALL GRADE    C 
RAVENS

PASSING   Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long

Banks      271     148   54.6   1533    53t
Differ      37      18   48.6    210     40

PASSING   TD   Int.   Rate   Sacks

Banks      8      8   68.7      19
Differ     0      2   43.8       5

RUSHING     Att.   Yds.   Avg.  TD

Ja. Lewis    126    530    4.2   1
Holmes        88    399    4.5   0
Banks         16     58    3.6   0

RECEIVING    No.   Yds.   Avg.  TD

Sharpe        35    444   12.7   2
Ismail        29    371   12.8   1
Taylor        27    276   10.2   3

SCORING   XPM   XPA   FGM   FGA   Pts.

Stover      9     9    23    25     78

PUNTING        No.   Yds.   Avg.   Blk.

Richardson      47   1866   39.7      0

KO RETURNS     No.   Yds.   Avg.     TD

Harris          22    517   23.5      0

PUNT RETURNS   No.   Yds.   Avg.     TD

Je. Lewis       19    232   12.2      0