6B - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
Grbac shows all gun, no run
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens won a Super Bowl last season with relentless defense and a flawed offense.
Not much has changed.
TUESDAY,SEPT.11,2001
The Ravens gained only 54 yards on 30 running plays against the Chicago Bears in a 17-6 victory Sunday.
Although Elvis Grbac enjoyed a sensational debut as Baltimore's quarterback, coach Brian Billick isn't about to accept a ground attack that produces 1.8 yards and a cloud of dust.
"The running game clearly has to get cranked up," Billick said yesterday.
In the first half against Chicago, Baltimore had 14 yards rushing on seven carries, including 2 yards on five attempts by Terry Allen. Allen finished with 37 vards on 20 tries.
"Only so much of it can be attributed to Terry. Terry ran hard," Billick said. "The offensive line did a magnificent job on pass protection but really didn't get off the ball the way we need
to on the running game."
To fortify the line, the Ravens yesterday resigned center/guard Orlando Bobo and waived defensive back Delvin Hughley.
Billick also plans to use rookie running back Jason Brookins more on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
Brookins, the team's leading rusher during the preseason, gained 8 yards on his only carry Sunday.
Allen and Brookins are being asked to fill the void left by Jamal Lewis, who ran for 1,364 yards last season. Lewis is out for this season after tearing a knee ligament in training camp.
Because Lewis was so effective last year, quarterback Trent Dilfer didn't have to do much more than avoid throwing interceptions. The result was a one-dimensional, albeit adequate, offensive attack.
Which is pretty much what the Ravens displayed Sunday.
"The key for us is total offensive production," Billick said. "If it comes by different means, then so be it."
"You're not going to lose Jamal
Lewis and just think you're going to go out and do the same thing in the running game. If you are, then you're paying that man too much."
There really is no underestimating Lewis' value to the Ravens.
"The Titans aren't going to lose Eddie George and just think they can plug anybody in and do the same thing." Billick said.
"Jacksonville had to deal with Fred Taylor being in and out. They key is, can we manufacture the same offensive productivity? We showed some of that yesterday." he said.
Billick and the Ravens might have more concern about the state of the running game if Grbae and the defense didn't play so well.
Grbae, signed during the offseason to replace a grritty but mediocre Dilfer, set a team record by completing 80 percent of his passes (24-of-30) and throwing for 262 yards and a touchdown.
"I can't imagine Elvis having a better day." Billick said.
Grbac was at his best at the end of the first half, when he moved the Ravens from their 10 to the Chicago 18
in a 66- second span. That drive set up Matt Stover's goal and a 3- 12 tide.
"The running game had problems because we were trying to stretch it out and make their defensive line run a little bit in the first half," Grbac said.
"We were getting situations second-and-long, third-and-long, and it was really hard to convert," he said. "But we kept on grinding, and we made some plays and the defense made some plays."
The defense kept the Bears to one field goal after their opening drive and limited Chicago to a mere 36 net yards in the second half.
"It seemed like we were still getting the kinks out in the first half," said safety Rod Woodson. "Once the kinks were out, it seemed like we were back in the old days.
"We were flying to the football, making guys not want to catch the football. That's the way good defenses play."
A good defense could get better. The Ravens agreed on a contract with five-time Pro Bowl safety Carnell Lake, who will sign today if he passes a physical.
Despite woes, Michigan State gears up for Missouri
The Associated Press
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State Spartans will be picking on someone their own size Saturday when they face Missouri, said coach Bobby Williams yesterday.
Williams said Missouri's bulk and speed would make the team a tougher opponent than Central Michigan, the MAC team the Spartans beat Saturday. Missouri (1-1) defeated Southwest Texas 40-6 last week but lost a close game to Bowling Green on Sept. 1.
"We're getting, from a personnel standpoint, some athletes who are very similar to ours," Williams said. "I think this team is going to challenge us."
It should be a very different game than last Saturday's season opener against Central Michigan, which the
Spartans won at home 35-21 despite numerous errors. The Spartans collected 11 penalties and were flagged for delay of game four times.
Williams downplayed the team's problems, blaming them on nerves and inexperience.
Hey, guys, it was our first game and we played like it was our first game," he said. "If this happens three, four, five weeks down the road, then I'm really going to be concerned."
This week, Williams said he would concentrate on Michigan State's lackluster kicking game. On Saturday, Central Michigan's James King tied a Division I-A individual and team record, blocking four of the Spartans' punts.
"It's definitely a concern of mine. But it's fixable," Williams said, adding that he would be trying out various
"I think this team is going to challenge
us."
Bobby Williams Michigan State football coach
kickers in practice this week.
He said the Spartans showed a lot of positives that the team could build on this season, including some strong offensive plays. Williams also praised his defensive line, saying it skillfully handled everything Central Michigan's fast, no-huddle offense could throw at it.
Williams said he was considering moving freshman Eric Knott from tight end to defensive end, where he could get more playing time.
He defended Knott and sophomore Damon Dowdell against the protesters who stood outside Spartan Stadium on Saturday, questioning the players' admission to Michigan State.
In June, Knott pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a misdemeanor, for a 1999 incident involving a 13-year-old girl. He served 30 days in jail and was placed on one year's probation.
Last year, Dowdell joined the team after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery in the same July 1999 incident. He did not serve time in jail.
"I respect their feelings, but I wish they would take some time out and get to know these two young men," Williams said of the protesters. "I think there are some people that don't understand the situation."
Replacement referees have tough time in KC
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. When an official walked up to Jerry Rice before the game and said, "It's an honor to referee a game with you," Tim Brown thought there might be problems with the replacement refs.
While nobody is saying bad officiating helped Oakland beat Kansas City 27-24 Sunday, everyone does agree the
game was full of bad calls, no calls and confusion.
Brown, who caught eight catches for 133 yards for the Raiders, said he was shocked that the replacement officials appeared to be star-struck.
Brown was in the center of a questionable reversal that would have blown up into a full-fledged controversy if the Raiders had lost.
Late in the first half, Charlie Garner made a great catch of a Rich Gannon pass and was blasted out of bounds by safetv Ierome Woods.
First ruled a 27-yard gain, the play was reversed upon review when the referee decided the tackle did not cause both of Garner's legs to go out of bounds.
Brown drew a 15-yard penalty in the ensuing argument, so instead of having a
first down on the Chiefs 12, the Raiders were pushed all the way back into their own end of the field.
Looking at game film yesterday confirmed what he had suspected during the game, Edwards added.
"There were some serious officiating problems. Rich Gannon got away with some pretty obvious grounding penalties," he said.
But he disagrees with players calling for a quick solution to the officials' salary impasse with the NFL.
"These replacement officials are trying hard," he said.
"As they get more games under their belt, they're going to get better."
"As players and coaches, we've got to understand that."
NHL champions head to Sweden for preseason match-ups
The Associated Press
The Avalanche will stay in Sweden until Sept. 19, then return to Colorado. Its season starts Oct. 3 at Pittsburgh.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche is opening training camp a long way from the Rockies.
For Peter Forsberg, it's a homecoming of sorts. The center joined the team in Stockholm, Sweden, from his hometown in northern Sweden with the Stanley Cup trophy to prepare for the Avalanche's weekend games against two Swedish club teams.
Yesterday, the team trained for the first time on the larger European ice, an hour-long workout just four hours after 20 of the 25 players on the roster had arrived from Denver.
Five of the European players met the team in Stockholm.
Forsberg recently returned to the ice in Sweden for the first time since his spleen was removed May 10. He missed most of Colorado's playoff games leading to its NHL title.
"I'm ready to go," Forsberg, the only Swede on the team, said at Globe Arena in Stockholm. "I took it easy during the first couple of weeks. I've been skating for two weeks but need another week to get in shape."
Coach Bob Hartley said the team's medical staff was "very positive" Forsberg had fully recovered.
"We're going to see how he performs on a daily basis, and we're going to make sure that we don't only make the best decisions for Peter." Hartlev said.
"But we also make the best for the organization because Peter is such a big part of this club. Losing Peter was a huge loss for the team," he said.
the Stanley Cup will be on display at Globe Arena, where Colorado will face Swedish champion Djurgarden on Saturday. The Avalanche will play Brynas, another Swedish Elite League team, on Sunday.
Forsberg expects a hectic week with his teammates. After all, this is a player who was immortalized on a postage stamp after his overtime shootout goal against Canada gave Sweden the 1994 Olympic gold medal in Norway.
"I'm going to miss my naps," he said. "I'm the only Swede on the team. There will be sightseeing in the afternoons after practice. But I won't take charge until after 7 p.m."
Joe Sakic, Colorado's other All-Star center, did not practice yesterday but will be on the ice today and is expected to play both weekend games.
Sakic, already named to the Canadian Olympic team, didn't skate at the recent camp in Calgary, Alberta, because of a groin injury.
Ray Bourque, the All-Star defenseman who retired after finally getting his Stanley Cup ring, is the only big-name player who won't be back this season.
The Avalanche reached contract agreements totaling $121 million with Sakic, defenseman Rob Blake and goalie Patrick Roy in June before they became unrestricted free agents.
Weekly Specials
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ASTROS
TONIGHT!
FRIDAY
$2 wells
SATURDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
SUNDAY
CADILLAC RANCH
$2.50 imports
$2.50 16oz. dom. bottles
$3.75 pitchers
$1 Anything
No cover for ladies
$1.50 Bud/Bud Lt pints
CADILLAC RANCH
COCO LOCO
EMERSON BIGGINS
HARBOUR LIGHTS
HIRD LIQUOR
JACK FLANIGANS
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OLD CHICAGO
RAOUL'S VELVET ROOM
$2.50 pitchers, $2 wells,
$1 anything, retro night
$1 big beers & double wells, no cover
$2.50 16oz. dom. bottles
$1 anything
$2.00 Mexican beers
$2 bloody marys/screwdrivers
All flavors of Pete's Wicked Ale 6 pk $4.99
World class dance party great specials
$2.00 Dos Equis pints
$3 Biggin's size Bud Light
2 for 1 margaritas dance party
$2 domestic bottles
$3 premium draft,
$3.50 frozen Margaritas
$7.75 draws, $1.50 dom litters,
$2.25 almost anything.
$3.00 Coronas
2 for 1 on most drinks
$3 premium bottles, $2.25 call drinks, $4 double calls
$4.75 Biggin's size
margaritas on the rocks
$1.50 Miller High Life bottles,
$3.00 22oz. Rolling Rocks
Red Stripe 6 pk $5.99
$5 pitchers Bud & Bud Lt
THE OCTOBERFESTS ARE IN:
Sam Adams Octoberfest
6pk $5.99
$1.75 dom bottles, $3.25 micro beer liters, $3.75 premium liters
$2.00 Rolling Rock longnecks
$4 32oz Bud & Bud Lt, Buo
Racing simulator promo
$2.25 Rolling Rock and
Captain Morgan drinks
RAOUL'S VELVET ROOM Import night $2.00 import micro beers
$2 big beers
$.25 wings
2 for 1 margaritas
$1.50 u-call-it, DJ & dancing; 1/2 price burger
Pete's Octoberfest
6 pk $4.99
$3 Biggin's size Labatta draws
$2.00 pints domestic and micros
$1 Capt. Morgans, Retro Dance, $2.50 big beers
$2.00 pint draws of Bud & Bud Lt
$2.00 Boulevards
$3 Stoli drinks, 105.9
Lazer Dance Party
$1 Busch & Miller Hi Life cans; $1.50
wells, $2.75 doubles, live music
Wine Specials!
$2.00 well drinks
$3.00 Biggin's size
Shiner Bock
$1 dom draw, $1.50 micro draw
$1.75 premium draws
$2.00 double calls,
DJ Jerett
$2.00 domestic bottles,
$3.00 wings
$2.99 big beers
$1.50 Bud / Lt bottles,
$2.00 180 & Bacardi
Ride the bus to all KU home games
Home football games
£2.00 Boulevard draft pint
SET EM UP JACK'S $2.00 Boulevard pints
$2.00 Red Bull & Vodka Simplexity
10% off all cases of wine and liquor
$5 pitchers, choose winning team = free dinner buffet
NASCAR party during $2.50 16oz Bud & Bud Lt
race. $2.16 oz buds/DulLt
$2.75 Long Island Ice Tea, free pool
$2 Smirnoff Ice / Twisters $ DJ Bobby Keys
Karaoke!
$1.50 import drafts
$2.50 20 oz. Miller Lt
$2.50 20 oz. Coors Lt
2.00 house wines, wells,
domestic beers
2 Margaritas & Coronas,
wine beers
$2.50 Jackartas, $3.50 S. $10 $2 Margaritas & Coronas, 2 for 1 burgers and $2.00 Huracanes, DJ/Dancing $1.50 25 oz, big beers domestic big beers
$3.00 Martinis /
Cosmopolitans
or 1 burgers and $2.00
dormant beer beans
JET LAG LOUNGE
HIRD RETAIL LIQUOR
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