Boulware ray of light on another dark night

It was pretty and it was ugly.

The pretty part was watching Peter Boulware's debut as a Raven.

The ugly part was watching the Ravens blow a 25-point lead in the last 22 minutes of a 31-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills last night at Memorial Stadium.

Yes, it was just a preseason game, and yes, reserves were on the field when the Bills rallied, but the Ravens should be ashamed.

They needed a win, any win, after a disastrous preseason that has inspired widespread predictions of another poor season.

Instead, they lost in a manner that summoned memories of last season, when they perfected the art of blowing late leads and finding a way to lose.

If you saw last season, you know exactly what happened last night; the game was a replay of the Ravens' losses to Jacksonville and Cincinnati a year ago.

A big lead disappeared as the Ravens failed to make the few plays needed to protect their lead.

Their starters were on the bench this time, some in street clothes, so let's not make too much of it.

Still, another loss such as this only enhances the impression that the Ravens don't know how to win.

They certainly still have to prove they do.

Not that the fans went home disappointed last night after watching Boulware's first game.

The Ravens used him at left end, right linebacker and even middle linebacker in a show of versatility and athleticism, not to mention pure football skill.

If first impressions are any indication, Boulware was worth every bit of the aggravation that he put the Ravens through during his 35-day holdout.

Now we know why defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis couldn't stop smiling when the Ravens chose Boulware with the fourth pick in the first round last spring.

Talk about a new toy.

Boulware delivered immediate dividends in the form of six tackles, one assist, two sacks and a forced fumble.

No, you can't judge any player, especially a rookie, off one meaningless game, but it seems clear that Boulware has the tools necessary to become the impact player the Ravens envisioned.

He was stunningly quick off the snap, relentless rushing the passer and sure in his tackling.

"It was an outstanding performance," coach Ted Marchibroda said. "His presence was felt."

He did tire on a cool night and had little impact late in the game as the Bills rallied, but that's hardly a surprise given the time he missed.

What mattered last night were the plays he made -- plays that the Ravens simply didn't get from their outside linebackers a year ago.

He can't cure the Ravens' defensive weakness by himself, but he's part of the solution, that's for sure.

After missing all of training camp, the Ravens' first three preseason games and the defense's first play last night, Boulware entered quietly early in the first quarter, without introduction, and immediately made his presence known.

On the third play of his first series as a pro, he put a hard rush on Bills quarterback Todd Collins and pressured a quick throw.

Minutes later, on the fourth play of his second series, he again pressured Collins from the left side, extended his right hand and forced a fumble.

Not bad for a rookie who had completed only three days of practice, one involving contact, before the opening kickoff last night.

And just when it seemed that he was slowing down early in the second half, he made several memorable plays.

First, he sprinted all the way across the line from left end, chased down a Bills runner sweeping away from him and delivered a tackle for a loss.

Mike Croel didn't make that play a year ago, folks.

Then, on a delayed blitz, he came charging inside the Bills' left tackle and slammed quarterback Billy Joe Hobert to the ground.

The crowd cheered loudly when the sack was announced with his name on it, pretty much ending the speculation that he might get booed by the home folks for having held out so long.

The fans aren't going to boo him.

He made all the plays for the Ravens on one series early in the fourth quarter.

On first down, he played left end and put down a runner sweeping toward him for no gain.

On second down, he brushed past the tackle's attempt to block him, bore down on Hobert and nailed him just as Hobert threw an incompletion.

On third down, he lined up at middle linebacker, dropped back into pass coverage and rushed up to make the tackle on a receiver who had caught a short pass.

When you see a player knock down the quarterback and drop 15 yards deep into pass coverage on successive plays, you're probably looking at the real deal.

"It was pretty good," Boulware said of his performance, "but I made a lot of the plays because I was just in the right place. I was going on instinct tonight. I guess I'm excited because I did what they want me to do [pressure the passer], but I can do better."

Indeed, he can make the plays to save the game, which is what the Ravens want him to do.

He didn't do that last night as the Ravens found a way to lose again, but that's about all Boulware didn't do on his first night in the NFL.

Pub Date: 8/23/97