THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 22, 1996 TAG: 9607220126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WESTMINSTER, MD. LENGTH: 75 lines
Although he's been in training camp just a week, James Roe has been embraced by Baltimore Ravens' fans.
Well, by one fan, anyway.
Roe, a rookie receiver from Norfolk State, got a hug and a cake from a Westminster woman last Thursday. It was her way of thanking him for staying and signing autographs the day before, long after his teammates had left.
While a motherly hug is nice, the embrace Roe is really looking for can only come from Ravens' management, in the form of a spot on the roster.
Ravens coaches haven't wrapped their arms around Roe yet, but head coach Ted Marchibroda says they are warming to him.
``He catches your eye,'' Marchibroda said.
More importantly, Roe catches the football, maybe as well as any receiver in camp.
``He doesn't drop anything,'' Marchibroda said. ``If he continues to improve, he'll have a chance.''
The only thing Roe has dropped since arriving in camp is weight. After a couple of days of two-a-day sessions, Roe had lost about five pounds, and had to have an I.V. inserted to replenish his fluids.
``I was just beat down,'' Roe said.
The arrival of the team's veterans on Friday gave Roe and the other rookies a breather. By Saturday, the 6-foot-1 Roe was back at full strength, at 187 pounds.
Now, with 10 receivers in camp, his problem is getting enough opportunities to show what he can do.
On Saturday, most of the repetitions went to veterans Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander, who are expected to start.
``With the veterans in, opportunities diminish, and it becomes a matter of competing,'' receivers coach Mike Sheppard said. ``It's really a matter of taking advantage of the opportunities he has to be productive.''
Sheppard said Roe made a good impression by reporting in shape, and by showing improvement from the team's mini-camp, which was held after the draft in April.
``He needs to work on speed, just getting up the field and getting on top of people,'' Sheppard said.
Roe said his biggest problem has been against aggressive, bump-and-run coverage.
``I'm not saying I can't get off the line, I just need to make it much cleaner,'' he said. ``You've got some big guys here. You've got to learn to use your strength and your quickness at the same time.''
Roe used both at Division II Norfolk State, where he broke virtually every school and CIAA receiving record. He was drafted by Baltimore in the sixth round.
That certainly doesn't guarantee him a spot on the team, although it does give him an edge over the four free-agent receivers in camp. Baltimore's receiving corps was shaken up just before camp, when former All-Pro Andre Rison was released to clear room under the league's salary cap. But Roe still has several players ahead of him.
In addition to Jackson and Alexander, the Ravens have two other solid veterans in camp. Six-year vet Calvin Williams caught 63 passes for Philadelphia last year, but, like Rison, was released to clear salary cap room. Baltimore also signed Floyd Turner, an unrestricted free agent from Indianapolis.
The fifth receiver spot will likely go to rookie Jermaine Lewis, a fifth-round pick from Maryland who has dazzled coaches with his speed.
Roe could grab spot number six, if the team carries that many receivers. Or he could end up on the practice squad.
``James' disadvantage is that he played at a little lower level,'' Sheppard said. ``But he also caught more footballs than most anybody ever catches in college.
``He's got a great chance to make it.'' ILLUSTRATION: JOHN MAKELY
The Baltimore Sun
Baltimore Ravens training camp has not been a piece of cake for
James Roe, but he got a cake from an appreciative fan. by CNB