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Week 3 Preview: Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens: Offensive Breakdown
July 30, 2010 By Jeff Chase
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QUARTERBACKS
Joe Flacco followed up his magnificent rookie season with another impressive year. In 2009, the Ravens fell to the Colts in the Divisional round of the playoffs after missing the Super Bowl by one game the year before. Flacco has been great but has yet to show up in the playoffs, totaling only one touchdown and six interceptions in five career post-season games. Fortunately for the Ravens, this is only the regular season and Flacco is a perfect 4-0 against the Browns. He never has put up big numbers against the Browns but has always had one of the league's best defenses to back him up. With major additions in the passing game, Flacco should have no problem finding receivers against the re-vamped, but young, Browns secondary.
Edge: Baltimore
RUNNING BACKS
Baltimore made draft magic in 2008 with Flacco in the first round and then selecting Ray Rice out of Rutgers in the second. Rice had a respectable rookie season, but did not put up any threatening numbers in the running game. However, last season Rice made himself one of the league's most dangerous backs. In 2009, he rushed for over 1300 yards and tallied seven touchdowns rushing, including one receiving. Many scouts were concerned about Rice's size (5'8", 210lbs) but he silenced them by using it to his advantage. Rice is a hard runner who is able to hit even the smallest of holes and turn a dead play into a major gain. His speed is also dangerous because he is a dual threat as a receiver out of the backfield. Rice has only one receiving touchdown in two years but last year accumulated just over 700 yards and average 9 yards per catch. The Browns hope that they can see such success from Montario Hardesty this year, but Rice is too much of a dual threat and expect the Ravens to use this against the Browns
Edge: Baltimore
WIDE RECIEVERS
The receiver position has been a major hole for the Ravens for years. However, with Flacco emerging as a franchise quarterback and Ray Rice looking to be the future of the backfield, Ozzie Newsome and the rest of Baltimore's front office made the position their top priority this off-season. They received a big surprise when Derrick Mason chose to un-retire and return for one more tour of duty. Mason is not a major threat, as his age is a factor, but will be a consistent player in their passing game. In addition to Mason and their other mainstay, Mark Clayton, Baltimore made two major additions during the off-season. They acquired Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals and also signed former Browns wide-receiver, Donte Stallworth. Boldin is coming off major knee surgery and a lot of his success will depend on whether or not he can bounce back. If the Ravens can get Boldin to perform as he did in Arizona, then this could turn into a very dangerous passing attack. Everyone knows Stallworth's legal problems but if he comes back motivated and ready to play, he could turn into a very solid slot receiver for Flacoo. Cleveland chose to stand pat with what they had in their receiving corps, adding only veteran Bobby Engram to last years rookie receivers. Experience is the major factor in this matchup
Edge: Baltimore
TIGHT ENDS
Much like Derrick Mason, Todd Heap has also been one of Baltimore's consistent receiving threats. Heap has had two seasons shortened by injury but has managed to bounce back very well in the following years. He has averaged around 600 yards and 4 touchdowns in his nine seasons with Baltimore. However, Heap is more physical than finesse and has taken a lot of abuse. Entering his tenth season, the wear and tear on a tight end like him is going to start adding up. This is probably the motivation for Baltimore drafting Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta in last year's draft. Dickson has speed to be a downfield threat and Pitta is also a versatile player. With these two waiting in the wings, it isn't too much of a stretch to think that Baltimore might see Heap as expendable and could possibly lose his starting position if either of the two really steps up
Edge: Baltimore
OFFENSIVE LINE
Baltimore has two very young, solid tackles. Jared Gaither and Michael Oher both have great size and physical ability that fit Baltimore's power running game perfectly. Gaither is a real punisher who finishes strong. He still has areas that need improvement but as he develops he could turn into one of the better left tackles in the league. Michael Oher has already become a household name thanks to a movie based on his life but don't let the Hollywood lights take away from the great talent that he possess. Oher is an absolute beast and has great success on the right side of the line. Combo these two with great veteran leadership by Matt Birk and the Baltimore should have plenty of success in the running game and in pass protection. All that being said, the youth movement on the Browns line looks very promising with Joe Thomas already the best tackle in the league and Alex Mack developing into a solid center. Its going to be tough to find many lines that will hold the edge of Cleveland.
Edge: Cleveland
