Offensive Tackle

North CarrollPanthersCoach: Randy Clark, fourth yearAssistant coaches: Jim Boesler, Craig Walker, Greg Knill, Phil Bonnell, Carroll SeilerLast year's record: 1-9, 0-5 in the Central Maryland ConferenceTop returnees: Seniors, running back/defensive back Ronnie Miller, fullback/linebacker Jason Small, split end/defensive back Wade Zufall, tight end/defensive end Dave PolischeckTop newcomers: Seniors, offensive tackle/defensive back Geoff Baughn, offensive tackle/defensive...

GettysburgBulletsCoach: Barry Streeter, 13th yearAssistant coaches: John Campo, Joe Reich, Jeff Little, Ted Sawchuck, Phil Bassi, John SchmidLast year's record: 4-5-1, 4-3 in the Centennial Football ConferenceTop returnees: Seniors, running back Chuck Borromeo, defensive tackle Don DeLisi, defensive back Brian Latz, defensive back Mark Sadlero;juniors, fullback Greg Sommer, halfback Darren Smith, split end MikeSimons, offensive tackle Bill Koras, offensive tackle...

DickinsonRed DevilsCoach: Ed Sweeney, seventh yearAssistant coaches: Darwin Breaux, Ben Miller, Joel Quattrone, Scott Shank, Leon Fritts, Richard Heffernan Jr., Matthew KucikLast year's record: 8-1-1 overall, 5-1-1and first in Centennial Football ConferenceTop returnees: Seniors, fullback Geoffrey "Bub" O'Donnell, defensive back/punt returner Shaughn White, defensive tackle Steve Miller; juniors, quarterback Stuart James, offensive tackle Jeffrey Gercak, defensive...

Ravens safety Anthony Poindexter, who overcame a devastating knee injury in college to play for the Ravens this season, heads the list of 31 NFL players announced yesterday to be honored at the 23rd annual Ed Block Courage Awards event March 6 at Martin's West. One player is selected from each NFL team who, in the eyes of his teammates, exemplifies a commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. The award is named after the late Ed Block, longtime trainer for the Baltimore Colts and a respected humanitarian whose most passionate cause was abused children.

The Ravens and free-agent offensive tackle Roman Oben have reached a stalemate in contract negotiations. Oben visited the team's Owings Mills complex early last week in the wake of offensive tackle Marcus Spears' surprise decision to back out of his agreement with the Ravens and re-sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. Oben, a six-year veteran and starter the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns before losing his job late last year, appeared to be the Ravens' choice to fill the hole at right tackle, but a deal no longer appears certain.

BreakdownThe play: Steelers' outside stretchThe formation: This is an I-formation, pro right, slot left. The tight end lines up to the right, next to the offensive tackle, and two wide receivers, sometimes referred to as twins, line up split left. The fullback and halfback line up behind the quarterback, with the halfback 8 yards deep.The action: At the snap, the two wide receivers release and block. The left offensive tackle seals the right defensive end, then heads downfield to cut off any backside pursuit.

Logic dictates that the Ravens need to select a wide receiver in the first round of Saturday's NFL draft, but if the team took an offensive tackle with that pick, it might be a better choice. One of the team's priorities, if not the top one, is to improve a passing offense that lacked big plays and was ranked No. 28 in the NFL. It's no secret that Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, the Ravens' two top receivers a year ago, are possession types and unable to stretch defenses. Most Ravens fans believe a receiver like Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey, Florida's Percy Harvin or North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks would significantly improve the team.

Early last week, Virginia coach Al Groh invented the word "mammothness" to describe Jared Gaither - Maryland's 6-foot-9, 350-pound offensive tackle - to the local media in Charlottesville. Last year, Gaither took the majority of his snaps at left tackle and was matched up against Virginia defensive end Chris Long. He manhandled Long and helped pave the way for the Terps' 570 yards of total offense in their 45-33 win over the Cavaliers. Because Gaither was moved to right tackle this season, senior Stephon Heyer was going head-to-head with Long on Saturday - until Terps coach Ralph Friedgen replaced him with Gaither and put Dane Randolph in at right tackle.

Sign of progress: Remember how Ravens coach Brian Billick laid into his offense for lapses in concentration 11 days ago and made it practice for an extra 25 minutes? Yesterday marked a crisp, up-tempo workout that ended 25 minutes early.More progress: The butterfingers are disappearing steadily, as the dropped passes so common in camp's early days are fading. Yesterday's practice featured a superb, sliding grab on the sideline by Webster Slaughter and a great end-zone catch in a red-zone drill by Justin Armour, who is catching everything.

The greeting on the answering machine at the home of the Zolaks in Monongahela, Pa., was a novel one: "Scott was taken as the first pick in the fourth round. If you want to leave a message . . ."Scott Zolak, Maryland's starting quarterback last season, was indeed the first player chosen in the fourth round of the NFL draft yesterday. He was tapped by the New England Patriots as the 84th pick overall.The only other Maryland player drafted in the first four rounds yesterday was offensive tackle Clarence Jones, by the New York Giants.