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.
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.
