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They've got little history to go on with Flacco
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Sep 19, 2008
CLEVELAND: In NFL terms, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco possesses a very thin resume, but it does include a victory.
Flacco, a rookie, got his first regular-season start against the Cincinnati Bengals two weeks ago, completing 15-of-29 passes for 129 yards, and he scrambled 38 yards for a touchdown run.
That's about all that is known, other than his vitals. He is 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, a first-round draft choice out of Delaware and a quarterback who is viewed as a pocket passer.
That means the Browns' defense will spend a significant portion of time Sunday trying to confuse the rookie.
Flacco can expect a mix of different coverages, blitzes and other things to try to get into his head, Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Thursday.
The Browns' defensive line also is doing its homework to learn more about Flacco.
''He hasn't really shown too many tendencies, but offensive linemen always give tips, so we've been picking up on stuff like that,'' defensive lineman Shaun Smith said.
The best way for the Browns to deal with him initially would be to try to rattle his cage, Smith said.
''With a young guy, hopefully you try to attack him . . . put pressure in his face and see what he does. That's with any young quarterback,'' Smith said.
Crennel said Flacco showed some flashes of talent during the Ravens' 17-10 victory over the Bengals.
''It looked like he commanded their offense pretty good with what they were asking him to do,'' Crennel said. ''They didn't get into a situation where they had to have him put a lot on his shoulders.''
Crennel emphasized the Browns should not underestimate Flacco, especially given his performance against the Bengals.
In two crucial instances in a close game, the rookie delivered.
In the third quarter with the Ravens ahead seven points, Flacco completed a six-play, 64-yard drive, culminating with his 38-yard touchdown run.
Later in the fourth quarter, with 7:15 left and the Ravens ahead 17-10, the Ravens needed to hold the ball as long as possible. Flacco and his offense ably ran the clock out on the Bengals.
''He managed the offense very well, so it looks like he's got some poise and composure,'' Crennel said.
That won't stop the Browns from unleashing the hounds, however.
''I think that most defensive coordinators want to bring pressure on a young guy to see how he's going to react and respond because he's young and hasn't seen as much,'' Crennel said.
Smith's bad day
Defensive lineman Shaun Smith was fined $5,000 Thursday by the NFL for a face-mask penalty Sunday on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
''That's the nature of the league. You've got to protect the quarterback,'' Smith said. ''I know it was an accident. I didn't do it intentionally.''
Adding insult to injury, Smith had a sack taken away from him, too, when the Elias Sports Bureau ruled that a play that resulted in a Steelers loss of yardage was actually a pass that Roethlisberger completed to himself for the loss.
Injury update
Linebackers Kris Griffin and Willie McGinest, safety Sean Jones, tight end Martin Rucker, wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and guard Eric Steinbach didn't practice Thursday. . . . Running back Jamal Lewis is nursing an ankle injury and practiced on a limited basis.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/.
CLEVELAND: In NFL terms, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco possesses a very thin resume, but it does include a victory.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 07:08 AM, 09/19/2008
A rookie QB, the Browns do have a chance this week! But who knows, maybe that strong thin big rookie doesn't know how tough the NFL is, and will throw 50 passes thru the Browns week zone and beat the Browns bad, and send them packing for the remainder of the 2008 season.....
Bethesda, MD
Posted 07:10 AM, 09/19/2008
Pressure the QB? The Browns defense is so transparent I'm sure we will be out-coached again.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 08:16 AM, 09/19/2008
Hey its the Cleveland Browns vs. the Baltimore Browns, so either way the Browns win, lol. -SteelCurtain74
Posted 10:52 AM, 09/19/2008
SteelCurtain74 - I thought teenage girls were the only ones who used the phrase "lol". Why do you bother reading the ABJ and commenting on Cleveland Sports. No job? No life? Definitely a Steelers fan.
Posted 01:11 PM, 09/19/2008
The Ravens are going to hurt the browns feelings. I cant belive you actually feel there is a chance. The brown turds coach is about as smart as a pencil. your running back and qb are Ravens rejects. Who cares what they did last year , what have they done this year. On a side note , The city of cleveland is a poor mans Baltimore. Always will be. Good luck 0-3 losers.
Posted 01:14 PM, 09/19/2008
What is with the dog pound? The rest of the football comunity is laughing at you, not with you. A joke ,well the citys a joke so the people must be a joke your football team is definatly a joke.
Posted 01:15 PM, 09/19/2008
Browns suck ravens win .
Posted 01:16 PM, 09/19/2008
brown turds.
Posted 01:17 PM, 09/19/2008
can you say 0 and 3eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Posted 01:18 PM, 09/19/2008
can you say 0 and 3eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Posted 01:20 PM, 09/19/2008
Loooooooosers
akron, oh
Posted 05:20 PM, 09/19/2008
No job? No life huh Ryan-must be a Browns player.LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 08:14 PM, 09/19/2008
They need to rattle a tin can first and make their way up from there.
