Wally Williams

1. Pressure quarterback Neil O'Donnell because their secondary can't cover the New York receivers.2. Run the ball inside behind Wally Williams and Jeff Blackshear so they can control the clock.3. Score early. If the Jets start stinking up the field, the fans will turn on the home team.Pub Date: 11/02/97

When team officials announced last week that Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs had torn his Achilles tendon, former Ravens offensive lineman Wally Williams understood what Suggs was experiencing. Nearly 15 years ago at almost the same time, Williams tore the Achilles tendon in his right, or plant foot, while backpedaling in off-season drills. He returned in six months to start the final 10 games of the 1997 season. Suggs, 29, is expected to have surgery Tuesday morning.

1 The Ravens' special teams played poorly again, particularly Harper Le Bel, who unleashed five bad snaps on punts.2 The Ravens' offense had no consistency and rushed just 18 times for 36 yards, the lowest total in the team's three-year history in Baltimore.3 The Ravens were 1-for-15 on third-down plays, failing to convert until their final drive of the game.They said itThe winners..."The other team has been the one that has come up with the one big play that's killed us, but we didn't let that happen."

While watching the Ravens throw the ball 53 times in last Sunday's loss to Seattle, former offensive linemen Wally Williams and Jonathan Ogden said that would have caused major problems on the sidelines. One of Ogden's trademarks was to throw down his helmet on the sidelines when frustrated by the play calling, and then immediately begin talking with coordinators Matt Cavanaugh and Jim Fassel or head coach Brian Billick. Ogden might have split his helmet in half Sunday. "If J.O. [Ogden]

A year ago, the question was, how good is the offensive line going to be? This year it is, is the offensive line going to be any good at all?The Ravens have lost three starters from a unit that was one of the NFL's most dominant last season. Center Steve Everitt signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Left tackle Tony Jones was traded to the Denver Broncos. And guard Wally Williams, who was moved to center, tore his Achilles' heel in late April and won't return until the middle of October at the earliest.

The Ravens are not expected to use the franchise tag on All-Pro linebacker Adalius Thomas, although the team will wait until today before making a final decision. The sides are talking about a long-term contract for Thomas, and the Ravens could be using the threat of the tag to get a deal done. The deadline to use the tag is today. By using the tag for 2007, the Ravens can keep Thomas from becoming a free agent by paying him $7.2 million, which is the average of the five highest-paid linebackers in the league.

To Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda, the 1997 season begins today.For three straight days beginning this afternoon, about 30 rookies, including the team's 12 draft picks, will learn about the pro game and the Ravens' system at the team's rookie minicamp in Owings Mills."

The Ravens have yet to re-sign center Wally Williams to a long-term contract, but at least they know they will not be competing with a potential list of bidders for Williams on the open, free-agent market.Special master Jack H. Friedenthal ended a dispute regarding Williams' status yesterday by upholding the Ravens' franchise player designation of him.The ruling virtually assures that Williams will remain a Raven, at least for the 1998 season. As a franchise player, Williams must be paid $3.052 million, the average salary of the NFL's five, highest-paid offensive linemen, in 1998.

The Ravens want to solidify their offensive line for the 1999 season, but that task got trickier yesterday when they elected not to slap a franchise tag on any player, thus allowing center/guard Wally Williams and right tackle Orlando Brown to test the free-agent market that opens today.The Ravens had thought strongly about designating Williams or Brown as their franchise player, an exercise that effectively removes a player from the open market. Had they taken the franchise tag route, the Ravens would have been forced to pay Williams or Brown the average salary of the NFL's top five offensive linemen -- or $3.369 million -- for the 1999 season.

PITTSBURGH -- Napoleon had Waterloo. The Ravens have Three Rivers.Custer had Little Big Horn. The Ravens have Three Rivers."When you are going to play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium, you know you are going into a war zone," Ravens assistant coach Earnest Byner said."

Each time quarterback Joe Flacco tumbled to the ground Sunday, the Ravens chances of going deep into the post season went with him. If the Ravens have a shot at a Super Bowl appearance, they have to elevate their pass protection and keep Flacco upright and healthy. In five games, few teams have stopped the Ravens from running, and that will be a major staple the rest of the way. But for the passing game to improve, Flacco can't get smacked around like a piñata. Houston sacked Flacco twice and hit him seven other times Sunday.

The Ravens are not expected to use the franchise tag on All-Pro linebacker Adalius Thomas, although the team will wait until today before making a final decision. The sides are talking about a long-term contract for Thomas, and the Ravens could be using the threat of the tag to get a deal done. The deadline to use the tag is today. By using the tag for 2007, the Ravens can keep Thomas from becoming a free agent by paying him $7.2 million, which is the average of the five highest-paid linebackers in the league.

If the Ravens had given Wally Williams the same landmark deal he received from the New Orleans Saints, owner Art Modell would have been laughed out of town.Williams' five-year, $18.5 million contract includes a $7 million signing bonus, the largest ever given to an offensive lineman. His $3.7 million average salary will be the highest in the league for an offensive guard or center.Happy Valentine's Day, Wally.And don't forget to send the Ravens a thank-you note.The team again could have slapped Williams with a transition tag, and he would have been "stuck" with another one-year deal, earning the average of the five highest salaries at his position.

The Ravens want to solidify their offensive line for the 1999 season, but that task got trickier yesterday when they elected not to slap a franchise tag on any player, thus allowing center/guard Wally Williams and right tackle Orlando Brown to test the free-agent market that opens today.The Ravens had thought strongly about designating Williams or Brown as their franchise player, an exercise that effectively removes a player from the open market. Had they taken the franchise tag route, the Ravens would have been forced to pay Williams or Brown the average salary of the NFL's top five offensive linemen -- or $3.369 million -- for the 1999 season.

Three days before the season finale against the Detroit Lions, Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda was still trying to juggle a starting lineup because of a rash of injuries that have hit the team.The team's top five offensive linemen have been slowed by injuries, and the Ravens could be without three starters for the third straight game. Both center Wally Williams (torn muscle in his neck) and left tackle Jonathan Ogden (ankle) had limited workouts yesterday, but neither is expected to start Sunday against the Lions (5-10)

We'll give the Ravens the benefit of the doubt, and assume they quit Sunday in Chicago. Because if they actually were trying as they fell behind 24-0 to the hapless Bears, their problems are even bigger than any of us imagined.Coach Ted Marchibroda deserves much of the blame for the team's sorry 5-10 record, but not all of it. There are still too many losers on this team, too many has-beens, too many never-weres.Indeed, the list of Ravens who must go is longer than a spoiled little rich kid's Christmas list, longer than the Republicans' list of grievances with President Clinton.

Three days before the season finale against the Detroit Lions, Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda was still trying to juggle a starting lineup because of a rash of injuries that have hit the team.The team's top five offensive linemen have been slowed by injuries, and the Ravens could be without three starters for the third straight game. Both center Wally Williams (torn muscle in his neck) and left tackle Jonathan Ogden (ankle) had limited workouts yesterday, but neither is expected to start Sunday against the Lions (5-10)

The Ravens signed rookie cornerback Dante Dowers to the developmental squad yesterday, the first player named to the team this season.Because of salary-cap concerns, the Ravens did not have a practice squad, but the money for Dowers' $49,500 contract became available Sept. 4 when the team waived and reached an injury settlement contract with reserve offensive tackle Jed DeVries for $61,000.DeVries was scheduled to make $172,000 this season, but the salary was lowered to $92,000 when he was put on injured reserve with shoulder and neck injuries.

Despite the Ravens' 5-9 record, coach Ted Marchibroda said there is nothing he could have done differently for his team in the 1998 season.The Ravens have the NFL's 23rd-ranked offense, the No. 22 defense and have lost two of their last three games. Marchibroda is 15-30-1 in the three years the team has been in Baltimore and is expected to be fired by owner Art Modell shortly after the season.Modell said he will not make an official decision until he meets with members of his front office and coaching staff at season's end. If a new coach is named, the announcement will come by late January, the owner said.

Baltimore fans who have dreamed about watching a Super Bowl contender finally get their wish today, when the Minnesota Vikings come to town.Sporting the league's premier offense, the 12-1 Vikings combine the league's most rejuvenated player in quarterback Randall Cunningham with the league's most celebrated rookie in wide receiver Randy Moss. Throw in receiver Cris Carter and left guard Randall McDaniel, each a future Hall of Famer, and left tackle Todd Steussie, a probable Pro Bowl player, and you have fireworks on tap.How good are the Vikings?