Sammy Williams

Sammy WilliamsPosition: Offensive tackleHeight: 6-5Weight: 318Age: 23College: OklahomaYear: RookieHighlights: Selected by Ravens with their second pick in the sixth round of April's draft. Will add depth to the offensive line and see time at tackle. He started 17 of 23 games at Oklahoma in 1996-97, including all 12 games his senior year. Came to Oklahoma after starring for two seasons at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College.Favorite food: PizzaFavorite TV show: "Sanford and Son"Favorite movie: "Scarface"Memorable college moment: When he was drafted, he was outside washing his truck.

While doing my homework on the Ravens and their history in the NFL draft, I spent a little time exploring our Ravens draft database (sorry for the shameless plug, but it's pretty neat feature if you haven't checked it out ). In no particular order, here are some trends and random factoids from the 126 picks they've made in 16 years. ••• Much is made about G.M. Ozzie Newsome's preference for players from Alabama, his alma mater, and how the Ravens have hit big on prospects from The U (of Miami)

Thumbs up: Jason Brookins made a statement in yesterday's scrimmage with some hard-nosed running through the heart of the defense. Brookins finished with close to 40 yards rushing. Thumbs down: Elvis Grbac was 1-for-4 with an interception. Trainer's room: Defensive back Gary Baxter (hamstring), cornerback James Trapp (shoulder), offensive tackle Sammy Williams (sprained ankle) and linebacker Ed Hartwell (strained hamstring) did not play in last night's scrimmage. Quotable: "I like distractions.

Former Raven Orlando "Zeus" Brown was remembered Friday as a force on the football field, a jovial character who liked to have a good time and a devoted father who would do anything for his five kids. Memories of the 6-foot-7, 370-pound offensive tackle were shared at his funeral at Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton. Hundreds of family members, friends and former teammates gathered to say goodbye to Brown, who died last month of complications from diabetes at age 40. Former Ravens players Ed Hartwell, Michael McCrary, Jonathan Ogden, Wally Williams, Brad Jackson and Sammy Williams sat side by side in pews toward the front.

The Ravens could announce contractual agreements in principle today with linebacker Ron Rogers and offensive lineman Sammy Williams, both sixth-round draft picks."

Martin Chase, DTRound: 5th, 1st pick, 124th overallSize: 6 feet 1, 293 poundsSchool: OklahomaHometown: Lawton, Okla.Career stats: 60 tackles as senior, with 14 sacks.Quote: "We want Larry Webster and Goose [Tony Siragusa] to look over their shoulders a little bit, and we've got a young, athletic guy [in Chase] who can answer the bell every day." -- Ozzie Newsome, Ravens vice president of player personnel.Ryan Sutter, SRound: 5th, 10th pick, 133rd overallSize: 6 feet 1, 203 poundsSchool: ColoradoHometown: Fort Collins, Colo.

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher was being as diplomatic as he could discussing end Kevin Carter's play this year when he finally took one ever-so-subtle jab at his most high-profile free agent acquisition."

Former Raven Orlando "Zeus" Brown was remembered Friday as a force on the football field, a jovial character who liked to have a good time and a devoted father who would do anything for his five kids. Memories of the 6-foot-7, 370-pound offensive tackle were shared at his funeral at Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton. Hundreds of family members, friends and former teammates gathered to say goodbye to Brown, who died last month of complications from diabetes at age 40. Former Ravens players Ed Hartwell, Michael McCrary, Jonathan Ogden, Wally Williams, Brad Jackson and Sammy Williams sat side by side in pews toward the front.

In trying to rebound from a loss for the first time in close to 11 months, the Ravens find themselves short-handed. They have a season-high seven players on the injury report for Sunday's game in Denver, one of the hottest teams in the league. Tight end Todd Heap (ankle) is doubtful, while receiver Jermaine Lewis (leg), end Michael McCrary (knee), receiver Brandon Stokley (knee) and tackle Sammy Williams (knee) are all questionable. If Heap is unable to play, that will limit what the Ravens can do out of their two-tight-end set. "We're hoping he can come along," coach Brian Billick said.

The Ravens welcomed one veteran right tackle and parted ways with another. The defending Super Bowl champions signed four-time Pro Bowl performer Erik Williams yesterday, leading to the expected release of 15-year veteran Harry Swayne. One of the cornerstones on the Dallas Cowboys' past three Super Bowl champion teams, Williams agreed to a one-year contract worth $500,000. The addition of Williams is the Ravens' third and best attempt to plug the void left by Leon Searcy, who is out until the sixth week of the regular season with a torn tendon in his left arm. Williams carries more punch than Swayne and more experience than Sammy Williams.

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher was being as diplomatic as he could discussing end Kevin Carter's play this year when he finally took one ever-so-subtle jab at his most high-profile free agent acquisition."

Although it looks as if Ravens coach Brian Billick has settled on Kipp Vickers at right guard and Sammy Williams at right tackle, a form of the right-side offensive rotation will likely continue. Previously, guard Bennie Anderson and tackle Erik Williams had been rotating with Vickers and Williams. But Erik Williams was inactive for Sunday's 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Anderson was in for just a handful of plays, leaving the vast majority of playing time to Vickers and Sammy Williams.

Ravens safety Corey Harris was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team's 20-13 victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday. Harris had seven solo tackles, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and an interception that sealed the win late in the fourth quarter. He is the first Raven this season to win a Player of the Week award, and it is the first of his 10-year career. "I felt like it was one of those games where [defensive coordinator] Marvin Lewis put me in position to make plays, and I made them," Harris said.

Bill Romanowski and Shannon Sharpe have limited their trash-talking this week, but Keith Washington has picked up the slack. While the Denver Broncos' linebacker and the Ravens' tight end have long been two of the fastest mouths in the NFL, Washington spent most of his first six seasons in the league - the past four in Baltimore - in obscurity. He was the unlikely star in last January's divisional playoff win at Tennessee when he blocked two Al Del Greco field goals. Anthony Mitchell returned the second 90 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in a 24-10 victory over the Titans.

In trying to rebound from a loss for the first time in close to 11 months, the Ravens find themselves short-handed. They have a season-high seven players on the injury report for Sunday's game in Denver, one of the hottest teams in the league. Tight end Todd Heap (ankle) is doubtful, while receiver Jermaine Lewis (leg), end Michael McCrary (knee), receiver Brandon Stokley (knee) and tackle Sammy Williams (knee) are all questionable. If Heap is unable to play, that will limit what the Ravens can do out of their two-tight-end set. "We're hoping he can come along," coach Brian Billick said.

CINCINNATI - With a little more than six minutes left in the Ravens' 21-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday, quarterback Elvis Grbac took the snap, immediately rolled to his right and tossed a hurried incompletion in the direction of Qadry Ismail. There was no five-step drop. No hanging in the pocket. Just an all-out bail by Grbac before his offensive linemen had a chance to get in their pass-protecting stances. For the Ravens, that instance was not unique. Grbac spent much of the second half scrambling to his right away from pressure and either throwing the ball away or trying to force a completion with only half the field to work with.

Bill Romanowski and Shannon Sharpe have limited their trash-talking this week, but Keith Washington has picked up the slack. While the Denver Broncos' linebacker and the Ravens' tight end have long been two of the fastest mouths in the NFL, Washington spent most of his first six seasons in the league - the past four in Baltimore - in obscurity. He was the unlikely star in last January's divisional playoff win at Tennessee when he blocked two Al Del Greco field goals. Anthony Mitchell returned the second 90 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in a 24-10 victory over the Titans.

AFTER 60-SOMETHING PRACTICES, three preseason games, several HBO documentaries, 15 new, four-syllable Brian Billick words and enough injuries to apply for a Red Cross relief package, the Ravens' 2001 season has come down to this: If the team can develop a competent offensive line, it has a shot at winning a second consecutive Super Bowl title. That's it in a nutshell. The defense is dominating enough to keep the Ravens in most games and put them in the playoffs. They have enough talent at quarterback and receiver to take some of the load off the running game without Jamal Lewis.

The Ravens welcomed one veteran right tackle and parted ways with another. The defending Super Bowl champions signed four-time Pro Bowl performer Erik Williams yesterday, leading to the expected release of 15-year veteran Harry Swayne. One of the cornerstones on the Dallas Cowboys' past three Super Bowl champion teams, Williams agreed to a one-year contract worth $500,000. The addition of Williams is the Ravens' third and best attempt to plug the void left by Leon Searcy, who is out until the sixth week of the regular season with a torn tendon in his left arm. Williams carries more punch than Swayne and more experience than Sammy Williams.