AFC Central

Sporting News, The, Nov 29, 1999

Scouting report Earl Holmes Steelers LB, 6-2/250, 4th year

Because he plays on the same defense as Levon Kirkland and Jason Gildon, the dirty work Earl Holmes does goes largely unnoticed by most fans outside the Steel City. Despite his public obscurity, Holmes has the respect of offensive coordinators around the league. Some scouts believe he is as valuable--if not more so--to the Steelers' defense than Kirkland. He is one of the most underrated players, at any position, in the NFL.

Here is how Holmes grades out using an NFL scout's grading scale: 8-Rare; 7-Outstanding; 6-Good; 5-Adequate; 4-Marginal; 3 Poor.

Vs. inside run: Extremely physical. Plays with a natural base. Attacks the hole and does a good job of staying square. Keeps blockers off with strong upper body. Grade: 7.0

Vs. outside run: Has quickness to adjust in space. Aggressiveness causes him to overpursue at times. Will make key plays on wide run. Grade: 6.0

Blitz/pass rush: Uses hands extremely well to fend off blocks. Better run blitzer than pass. Has big-play flair and makes tons of plays behind line of scrimmage. Power-type rusher; little finesse here. Grade: 5.5

Key and diagnose: Fairly instinctive. Complex offensive schemes have given him some trouble. Makes up for occasional poor diagnosis with high motor. Grade: 6.5

Lateral pursuit: Quicker than he is fast. Moves well for his size. Gets through trash better than Kirkland, but still better in straight line. Grade: 6.0

Tackling: Sound technically. Rarely goes for knockout blow, but still packs a punch when he wraps. Reliable in space. Grade: 7.0

Pass coverage: Rarely asked to cover running backs, but he can. Nice feel for zone; gets good depth. Grade: 6.0

--Jim Nagy, managing editor of The War Room

Baltimore 4-6: 4th

Career reserve tight end will finally get to prove his worth

TE A.J. Ofodile can expect more playing time. Coach Brian Billick appears unimpressed by starter Aaron Pierce. Billick benched Pierce in the first half of the Jacksonville game two weeks ago after he fumbled on a short catch that would have given the team a first down on a fourth-down play inside the red zone. Billick is as curious as anyone about Ofodile, who has spent six years in the NFL as a reserve, benched because of the talent ahead of him or a knee injury. Ofodile (6-6, 260) has the perfect body for the position and the speed to run deep across the middle. He has three catches for 22 yards this season, but now the team will see if he will be part of its plans.... WR Justin Armour is expected to return to the lineup Sunday against Jacksonville. Armour missed the last six quarters with a deep calf bruise that affected his running. The team has missed Armour, especially on third-down situations because he has been the offense's most consistent performer on short and intermediate patterns.... Keep an eye on rookie LG Edwin Mulitalo. He made his second straight start against the Bengals last Sunday, and the Ravens like his size and foot speed.

SCOUTING REPORT: DE Larry Webster gets almost no attention on a top defense that has two Pro Bowl-caliber defensive ends in Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary, and the loud but effective DT Tony Siragusa. Webster (6-5, 290), who has the prototype body for his position, is expected to penetrate gaps and hold blockers off MLB Ray Lewis. Webster has done that job well, and when he gets single-blocked, he has been able to make tackles. He is not known for his foot speed or quickness, but he works down the line of scrimmage and has a nose for the ball. Webster's hand speed had been in question, but he hired a personal trainer during the offseason and worked on ways to improve it. This was the first year Webster came into training camp as the starter; he hasn't let anyone down.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Jermaine Lewis has not been able to spring loose for a touchdown on a punt return because of his blockers. The return team puts no pressure on the punter, and opposing teams have noticed. Instead of holding ground and waiting, opposing teams are releasing when the ball is snapped, leaving Lewis little room. The Ravens' cornerbacks, lined up on the outside, haven't been able to slow the other teams' gunners. The special teams have rendered one of its top weapons useless.

--Mike Preston

GRADING OUT vs. Cincinnati

OFFENSE C

For the first time all season, the offense was paced by passing attack.

DEFENSE C

Got lazy after big lead, the sign of an immature, not elite defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS C-

Gave up several big kickoff returns, but Stover and Richardson kicked well.

COACHING C

Billick gets credit for having his team ready after three straight road games.

RAVENS

PASSING   Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long

Case       153      69   45.1    900    54t
Banks      134      69   51.5    674     73

PASSING   TD   Int.   Rate   Sacks

Case       3      6   54.4      13
Banks      4      2   69.7      16

RUSHING     Att.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Rhett        194    744    3.8    5
Case          31    141    4.5    3
Holmes        23     94    4.1    0

RECEIVING    No.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Ismail        35    441   12.6    2
Armour        26    411   15.8    2
Evans         20    178    8.9    0

SCORING   XPM   XPA   FGM   FGA   Pts.

Stover     16    16    15    20     61

PUNTING        No.   Yds.   Avg.   Blk.

Richardson      69   2987   43.3      1

KO RETURNS     No.   Yds.   Avg.     TD

Harris          26    561   21.6      0

PUNT RETURNS   No.   Yds.   Avg.     TD

J. Lewis        37    267    7.2      0