OWINGS MILLS - An effective inside swim move to beat the right tackle and Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton was on a clear path to St. Louis Rams quarterback Kellen Clemens, eventually delivering a crushing hit to Clemens' midsection that jarred the ball loose from his hand and led to him being helped off the field by the St. Louis training staff.
The sack of Clemens was one of many flashes of Hamilton's potential during training camp and the preseason with Dallas, but the undrafted rookie from Prairie View A&M reportedly had trouble transitioning from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker while also struggling on special teams and was waived by Dallas during its final roster cutdown.
He joined the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad shortly thereafter.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh praised Hamilton at the time. And Monday, Harbaugh left open the possibility of Hamilton being promoted to Baltimore's active roster at some point this season.
"Like anybody, part of it is opportunity," Harbaugh said. "Part of it is going to be how it shakes out personnel-wise in the next week. He's doing everything he can do. He's learning the defense - that's a big part of it - and he's learning special teams - that's a big part of it. In order for a guy to become active - as you know - there has to be role for him on Sunday.
"He's displayed a lot of talent," Harbaugh added. "He's displayed some ability both pass rushing and run defense-wise, and he's learning our special teams. He's a guy that I've talked to and tried to put a little bug in his ear about getting as much done as he can every day and putting himself in position where we can consider [putting him on the active roster]."
The Ravens have nine sacks through their first four games, but have struggled to create a consistent pass rush without blitzing.
Outside linebackers Paul Kruger, Courtney Upshaw and Albert McClellan have combined for a total of only two sacks.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Hamilton had a SWAC conference record 20.5 sacks as a senior at Prairie View A&M.
He's not an overwhelming athlete - he was timed at just 4.84 in the 40-yard dash at Prairie View A&M's Pro Day - and has been described as possessing just average football instincts, but has shown a knack for generating pressure on the quarterback.
He began his college career at Texas Tech before transferring to Prairie View A&M in 2010.
Asked what he brings to the table as an outside linebacker, Hamilton responded, "Pass rush ability."
When Baltimore signed Hamilton in early September, Harbaugh described Hamilton as a player that one of the Ravens' scouts, Jack Glowik, had really liked coming out college, noting that Glowik had a "really high grade" on him.
"That was probably the first thing that I looked at that really meant a lot," Harbaugh said at the time. "And then we watched the preseason tape ... and he's a guy that we felt like, like Sergio [Kindle], has edge-setting ability and also flashes as a pass rusher, not only in college but also in the preseason.
"He's going to have to pick it up on special teams," Harbaugh added. "That's something that was new to him [and he] didn't do a great job with that in the preseason, and he knows that. And that's something ... we'll be working with him in all those areas, but he's a guy we think has potential to be a real contributor for us."
