The Ravens have invested nearly $9 million in salaries for their offensive line this season, but the payoff so far has only been average at best.
After six games, the Ravens (2-4) are averaging 104.7 rushing yards a game, ranked No. 19, and have the worst red-zone efficiency in the NFL, with two touchdowns out of 12 trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line. The Ravens have recorded 22 sacks, but allowed 16, seven of them against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday in a 16-6 loss. And maybe worst of all, this team hasn't scored a touchdown in 10 quarters.
There are numerous problems, from inconsistent schemes to injured and inexperienced running backs and quarterbacks, as well as conservative play-calling in the red zone. But most of the public finger-pointing is at an offensive line that was supposed to the strongest point of the offense.
Here's the bottom line: Only two members of the group have played consistently well enough for the Ravens to win this season -- left tackle Jonathan Ogden and right guard Jeff Blackshear. Left guard Wally Williams has come on strong in the past three games after a slow start because of a contract dispute that forced him to miss a month of training camp. Center Jeff Mitchell is still learning, and right tackle Orlando Brown is in a funk.
"When you go out and don't score touchdowns, it goes with the territory, whether it's from your teammates, media, fans or coaches," said Williams of the criticism. "We understand the challenges that are in front of us right now. We're working together to get it going and eventually get this team rolling and the breaks going our way.
"I don't critique other players, but I do know we go out and try to do the best that we can," he said. "Obviously, there are things we need to do to get better. Maybe the biggest thing is to pay more attention to detail, maintain our pass protection longer and do a better job at backside blocking."
Rock steady or shaky?
The Ravens should be further along. With the exception of second-year center Mitchell, they have been together for nearly three years. Though the team was starting an entirely new backfield in the beginning of the year in quarterback Jim Harbaugh, running back Errict Rhett and fullback Roosevelt Potts, the offensive line was supposed to be rock steady while the rest of the offense caught up.
Three years ago, former Ravens center Steve Everitt said the Ravens' offensive line was as good as the Dallas Cowboys', with tackles Mark Tuinei and Erik Williams, guards Nate Newton and Larry Allen and center Ray Donaldson.
Those Cowboys have Super Bowl rings. The Ravens, with one of the biggest offensive lines in the league, couldn't gain a yard on three straight plays against the Oilers two weeks ago.
Rock steady has turned into shaky ground.
"They have been a little up and down, but I can't say our inability to score lately is the total fault of the offensive line," said Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda. "Their best game was against Cincinnati, and we want more consistent efforts like that one.
"I think we expected more from everybody going into the season," said Marchibroda in reference to the entire offense. Then he adds: "But I think us starting a rookie center and Wally missing all of training camp has to be worked into the equation."
Up-and-down season
Mitchell's season has been full of ups and downs, and that's to be expected, because he was forced into the starting lineup during Williams' holdout. This is his first season as a starter, and Mitchell, because of injuries, hasn't played a full season since his junior year at Florida. But the long-range prognosis is that Mitchell will develop into a quality center.
Williams said he played poorly in the first three games. Several times, he drew illegal procedure penalties that were extremely costly. But Marchibroda agrees that Williams has played well lately and reached a level of stability.
"I started out slow. I didn't play at the level I wanted to play at in the first two or three games," said Williams. "In those first three games, I had about four penalties, mostly mental errors. As the franchise player, you can't go out and make mistakes like a rookie."
The fallout from Williams' holdout might be felt through right tackle Brown, one of the team's hardest workers during the off-season. A year ago, he was considered one of the most underrated tackles in the league. He has struggled this season with an ankle injury, but there is speculation that the front office's decision not to extend Williams a long-term contract has bothered him, too.
Off-field distractions
Williams and Brown are close friends. They came into the league as free-agent long shots from predominantly black Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schools, and neither has had the big signing bonus or long-term contract of an established player.
Ravens owner Art Modell said Williams was a top off-season priority after last season, and then the team backed out of the negotiations close to training camp. Brown, a free agent after this season, has been around long enough to see a number of former offensive linemen, such as center Jay Hilgenberg, guard Bob Dahl, center Everitt and now Williams become disgruntled with the Browns/Ravens front office.
Brown denied future negotiations interfered with his play on the field.
"Forget the money. This is about the game and being a team," said Brown, who has struggled with his pass blocking. "It's everybody. We're all in this together from Day One of training camp. I've always tried to go out, play hard and be physical.
"I know, everyone is looking at me now because my contract is up," said Brown. "When I first got here, I was just some offensive lineman named Orlando Brown. Now, I got people screaming 'Zeus' when I run out of the tunnel. Nobody knew me before, but I haven't changed. We all get beat once in a while, or we'll miss a block. It happens. But I won't accept that. I'll work harder to have the perfect game."
Pulling their weight
While Brown, Williams and Mitchell play catch-up, Blackshear and Ogden have been models of consistency. There is nothing pretty about Blackshear's game. He is a brute, a mauler, who has provided a lot of short-yardage room at right guard.
Ogden is still playing at a Pro Bowl level. He is a combination of strength and finesse who still has the ability to take his game to another level.
"I've played adequate football, but there is always room to improve. You never want to stay at the same level," said Ogden. "If you ask me, the offensive line is where the offense starts. I think we're really close to turning this around right now, and it might happen Sunday if we go out and play like we're capable of playing. It's not the offensive line's fault, but we definitely play a part."
The offensive line has been hurt by some predictable play calling, especially in the first three games, when the Ravens ran on almost every first down. The Ravens also need a greater assortment of running plays, like traps and counters. Facing a young quarterback in Eric Zeier, a lot of teams have blitzed often. Several of the sacks against Pittsburgh were because the running backs failed to pick up blitzes.
On Sunday, Green Bay won't blitz as much as the Bengals, Oilers or Steelers, but the Packers have one of the better defensive lines in the league in ends Reggie White and Vonnie Holliday and tackles Santana Dotson and Gilbert Brown.
"I feel right now that the chemistry is not there," said Blackshear. "As a group, we've played OK and hard, but we still have to get better. We're not getting it done, because we're 2-4."
"I still have confidence in the group," said Zeier. "There's not a better group I would like to play behind in this league."
Next for Ravens
Opponent: Green Bay Packers
Site: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis.
When: Sunday, 1: 01 p.m.
TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WLIF (101.9 FM)
Line: Packers by 10 1/2
A look at the offensive line
Johnathan Ogden
Position: Left tackle
Height: 6-8
Weight: 318
Salary: $2.2 million
Wally Williams
Position: Left guard
Height: 6-2
Weight: 315
Salary: $3.1 million
Jeff Mitchell
Position: Center
Height: 6-4
Weight: 300
Salary: $177,000
Jeff Blackshear
Position: Right guard
Height: 6-6
Weight: 323
Salary: $1.45
Orlando Brown
Position: Right tackle
Height: 6-7
Weight: 350
Salary: $2 million
Pub Date: 10/23/98