NOTEBOOK: SUGGS, PART II; EX-TERP KEEPS BROWNS WORKING

By Joe Platania

OWINGS MILLS -- By its nature, football is a physical, frantic, chaotic sort of game.

That's why the no-huddle offense is usually so successful for teams that attempt to use it. The fast pace of a unit that knows where it's going while today's more specialized defenses struggle to get substitution packages on the field usually translates into the high-scoring, cliff-hanging donnybrooks so prevalent in the NFL these days.

But while the Ravens have excited their fans with their version of the no-huddle -- and the occasional "sugar huddle," by which the offense merely stands around the ball in a loose formation before going into action -- the team may be cutting off its nose to spite its face.

"It's important for us [to use the no-huddle] to get into a rhythm," quarterback Joe Flacco said Wednesday. "We have to keep the same mindset and put pressure on these guys.

"For us to throw that out would be kind of foolish of us. We're building something special here, and we have to make [the no-huddle] a big part of what we're doing."

The Ravens have used the no-huddle more often than not, given that four of their seven games have been at home. But although the offense has rocketed down the field, the defense has been given less time to rest.

That has resulted in some startling numbers when comparing this year's first seven games to those played in 2011.

For one thing, the team's pass-run ratio is even more out of balance this year than last, when the Ravens suffered some head-scratching losses because of the lack of touches for running back Ray Rice.

Last year, the Ravens had attempted to throw the ball 278 times and run it 182 through seven games, a minus-96 ratio. This year, the ratio is minus-118 (273 passes, 155 runs).

Not only that, the team has scored 174 points this year, a total that is actually down a bit from the 185 it tallied at this time last season. But the defense has allowed 161 points in 2012, as opposed to 110 through seven games last year.

That can be at least partially attributed to the fact that although the Ravens won the time-of-possession battle during four of the first seven games of 2011, they have done so just once this year. That was during the team's Week Four home win against Cleveland, the opponent this Sunday as Baltimore closes the season's first half.

Despite some newfound momentum after winning two of their last three games -- including one against San Diego, another team that was coming off a bye -- the Browns could prove to be the tonic that cures the Ravens' problem in this area.

Currently, Baltimore is averaging 26 minutes, six seconds of possession time per game. If the season ended now, it would be the lowest weekly average since the youthful 2002 squad -- primarily created after a salary-cap blowup -- held the ball for just 27:47 per contest.

Also, since the issue of Rice's touches often comes up when discussing the no-huddle and possession time, it bears noting that during the win against the Browns, Rice had his most catches of the year (eight) and his second-most carries (18).

But again, that game was at home, not on the road where running the no-huddle has proven to be problematic.

"It's harder on the road," Rice said. "But you have to factor in the other team's crowd. We all have to be on the same page."

Also, if the Ravens were to pull back on the no-huddle, it would put fullback Vonta Leach on the field more often. That would not necessarily telegraph the Ravens' intentions, because Leach often lines up wide and has caught several passes.

"He's the best fullback in the league," Rice said of Leach. "He's a pure, hard-nosed football player. Having that big guy in front of me is very good."

On the whole, Rice's touches are down, but not as much as the flow of the first seven games would have one think.

Through seven games last year, Rice had run the ball 115 times and caught it 33 more for 148 touches. The Ravens won the possession battle four times and sported a 5-2 record.

This season, Rice has 106 carries and 29 receptions for 135 touches. But despite having the same record, the Ravens have just that one possession win against Cleveland, when they held the ball for 33:03.

So, with the no-huddle giving the defense less time to rest -- not to mention the fact that three of the Ravens' next four games are on the road, where the scheme isn't used nearly as much -- could it be time to shelve the no-huddle, at least temporarily?

On one hand, such a move could likely destroy whatever offensive momentum the Ravens have built up this year.

But on the other, it could rest the defense and likely benefit the entire team, making the game less physical, frantic and chaotic.

***

JOEY P'S TRIVIA TIME: Today's question:

As most Ravens fans know, the team's current streak of nine straight wins against the Cleveland Browns is the franchise's longest run of domination against any team.

Against which team have the Ravens posted their second-longest streak: the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars or New York Jets?

The answer will be revealed at the bottom of this entry.

***

SIZZLE AFTERMATH: As linebacker Terrell Suggs stepped to the midday podium microphone for his Wednesday media session, the just-concluded Rice press conference ended with the running back saying, "You look phenomenal."

But after playing more than half the Ravens' snaps during the pre-bye loss at Houston, how did the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and the team's all-time sack leader feel just five months after Achilles tendon surgery?

"I feel like I'm getting back to my old self," a subdued Suggs said. "We're just going to have to take it week by week.

"I wasn't surprised [to come back so soon]. Everybody in the building knew I could do it. It was just a matter of when. I just really wanted to get back."

Considering how many snaps Suggs played in Houston (44), head coach John Harbaugh now sees him as a full-time member of the defense again.

"He seems good," the coach said. "I expect for him to take on a full share. [In Houston], he was in that neighborhood, but obviously, this is only his second game back."

But the game will be a more formidable task than most may think.

Cleveland quarterback Brandon Weeden -- one of only two quarterbacks the Ravens will face all year that has never been to a Pro Bowl or Super Bowl -- threw for more than 300 yards during the Browns' narrow Week Four loss at Baltimore.

Not only that, rookie running back Trent Richardson brings a Rice-like frame and toughness to the table against Suggs and the rest of the Ravens' edge-setters.

"It's going to be a team effort," Suggs said.

***

CLEVELAND CHATTER: There are three rookies and one second-year player among the six Browns linebackers. That puts Maryland graduate and seven-year veteran D'Qwell Jackson in a unique leadership position.

Jackson is already the team's leading tackler with 60, but he also has three sacks, two interceptions (one for a touchdown), four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

But Jackson, third on the team in seniority behind returner/receiver Josh Cribbs and kicker Phil Dawson, can also affect off-the-field policy as well. He did so earlier this week in a way that would make many players' eyebrows rise.

After a win, most head coaches like to give their players off until Wednesday, exempting them from the Monday film study, team meeting and light practice.

The Browns got their second victory in three games last week with a rain-soaked 7-6 win against San Diego, a team coming off its bye. Jackson was one of the players who stepped in and talked head coach Pat Shurmur out of giving the team the extra day's worth of free time.

Apparently, Jackson feels he and his teammates haven't earned such a luxury as they languish in the AFC North Division cellar at 2-6.

"We're not there yet," Jackson said. "It's simple. We've got a lot of work to do. [Monday] is one day that we can put in time, one day we can put in some work to, obviously, get the same outcome [as the San Diego game].

"The win was good. Don't get me wrong. But I think we can string together [another] next week [against the Ravens], and then we think about the week after that. ... But right now, we've got too much work to do."

***

TRIPLETTE TO REF: Many referee-watching Web sites had speculated that well-known, well-conditioned referee Ed Hochuli would be working this weekend's Ravens game in Cleveland.

But 17th-year official Jeff Triplette will be at Cleveland Browns Stadium instead to work his first game involving Baltimore this season (1 p.m., Sunday; WJZ-TV; WIYY-FM).

It was in Cleveland that Triplette had an infamous moment about a decade ago, the randomly thrown penalty flag that accidentally struck then-Browns tackle Orlando "Zeus" Brown in the eye.

Brown was infuriated, because he had a family history of eye problems, so he shoved Triplette to the ground and incurred a hefty fine and a suspension.

Triplette worked two Ravens games last year, the high-scoring preseason home win against the Washington Redskins and the game that featured the biggest comeback in team history.

During Week Seven, the Ravens fell behind the visiting Arizona Cardinals, 24-3, during the second quarter before rallying for a 30-27 victory.

Triplette's crew called 23 penalties during that game, 12 against the Cardinals and 11 on the Ravens.

***

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Harbaugh likes to give credit to those members of the organization who work hard behind the scenes.

He did so when discussing executive assistant/football administration manager Jessica Markison's role at the trading deadline, which was moved back 48 hours to Thursday because of Hurricane Sandy:

"As Jess -- who does a lot of the paperwork and a lot of the electronic work -- said to me, she won't have to be dodging any power lines, if we decide to make a move, to get the move in."

***

JOEY P'S TRIVIA TIME ANSWER: Here's what we asked you earlier in this entry:

As most Ravens fans know, the team's current streak of nine straight wins against the Cleveland Browns is the franchise's longest run of domination against any team.

Against which team have the Ravens posted their second-longest streak: the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars or New York Jets?

ANSWER:

It would be understandable if you guessed the Bengals, if only for the fact that as an AFC North Division rival, the Ravens get two chances per season to play them.

You could also hardly be blamed for guessing Jacksonville, for fans recall how the Jags beat the Ravens eight consecutive times at the start of the lifetime series, only to have Baltimore recoup nearly all of those losses.

But while the Ravens have six-game winning streaks against both the Bengals (1998-2000) and Jaguars (2000-03), the answer is the New York Jets, against which the Ravens have posted a seven-game run that is still active and dates back to 1998.

The Ravens and Jets first played each other on a bizarre weather afternoon at old Giants Stadium in 1997. In a game that involved heavy rains, sunshine and a late-game rainbow, the Jets won the overtime coin toss and drove for a winning field goal, 19-16.

But the Ravens have not lost to "Gang Green" since, taking two games at Giants Stadium -- including another overtime clash -- four at M&T Bank Stadium and the first-ever game at the new MetLife Stadium facility.

The Ravens' season-opening 10-9 Monday-night win at MetLife in 2010 marks the fifth time in team history they have been the first visitors to win at a new stadium.

Posted Oct. 31, 2012