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Editor's note: Ravens questions for Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston can be submitted on game days from halftime until three hours after the game. Selected questions are published in a Q&A on baltimoresun.com later in the week. Listen to Mike Preston every Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. on Fox 1370 (AM) Sports.
Kurt, Atlanta: I understand that Todd Heap is being used more for pass protection purposes, but I don't think he had a single ball thrown to him against the Cleveland Browns. What can be done to balance our need for protection with receiving productivity at the tight end position?
Mike Preston: Kurt, nothing needs to be done. The Ravens had more than 400 yards of total offense against Cleveland and they scored 37 points. They also won. Why change anything? Do you make changes just to get Heap the ball? The Ravens are winning and they are productive. I'm not changing a thing. They are 5-3 at the midway point, and very much in contention. Heap isn't complaining publicly, so I say stay the course. Even if he was complaining, who cares?
Gavin: Why does it appear that coach John Harbaugh is hesitant to challenge key calls?
Mike Preston: I don't believe it's Harbaugh's fault. He has to be alerted by the assistants upstairs in the press box if he needs to challenge a call. Harbaugh's view is not always good from the field. I think there might be a communication problem, or they need to get a better pair of eyes upstairs. Apparently, some assistant is falling asleep at the wheel in the press box, and several times this season it has cost the Ravens points.
Harbaugh doesn't need to fix the situation with Heap, but he does need to make adjustments with the assistants as far as challenging plays. The Ravens have had ample time to work this problem out, but they haven't.
Elton: I think the job that Cam Cameron is doing with our offense is phenomenal. This is highlighted each week, but against Cleveland, the offensive stars were a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back. Please discuss the virtues of Cameron as an offensive coordinator. What does he do well or better than other offensive coordinators?
Mike Preston: I addressed this in . It talks about what Cameron and the other assistants have done as far as coaching this team. Briefly, what Cameron does that some other offensive coordinators don't is set up plays in advance. He gets defensive coordinators to react, yet he is already a step ahead of them. He keeps an opposing defense on its toes because he is very unpredictable. He is not one of those computer-geek coaches who has to achieve a run/pass ratio. He does whatever it takes to win games.
Matt, Dundalk: Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton combined for big yardage against the Browns. Can we expect to see more balls thrown to Clayton, especially with Demetrius Williams out for the season?
Mike Preston: I think we'll see whatever is available. The Browns had young cornerbacks, and the Ravens went after them. The Raiders had a strong front seven and two good cornerbacks who like to play in press coverage. The Ravens knew they had to manufacture points against Oakland, so they came up with trick plays and the "Suggs Package." Throwing the ball is not a primary option for this team, but if they find openings, the Ravens will take them. Again, the Ravens will do whatever it takes to win games.
Tarik: How do you think the Ravens and Kyle Boller would be doing if Boller had been the starting quarterback through the first eight games?
Mike Preston: I'm past the Kyle Boller stage. "My Man Kyle" is history. The Ravens have a new quarterback and a new coaching staff. Boller is a nice person, and I wish him well in finding a new team, or selling insurance, or cars, or whatever he plans to do next with his life. Both the team and Boller will move on.
Steve, Towson: Based on eight games, if you had to pick the Ravens who "should" make the Pro Bowl this season, who would it be?
Mike Preston: Haloti Ngata, Derrick Mason and Ray Lewis are my top three choices with Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs or Jarret Johnson as possibilities.
Stuart, Jacksonville: I really like what I'm seeing from the Ravens coaching staff, especially in the area of teaching. Where would you rank them compared to other NFL staffs?
Mike Preston: I don't know all the coaches on other staffs, but I've been impressed with the teaching that goes on with the Ravens. Before the Ravens completed the staff, I thought they might have one of the stronger groups in the league just from the collective backgrounds of the personnel. Overall, this team is fundamentally sound. I don't always agree with all their decisions, but at least there is logic behind them. With the previous staff, some of their decisions made absolutely no sense.
And that worried me.
Rob: Since the Ravens lack playmakers at wide receivers, have they considered using Troy Smith there for more repetitions?
Mike Preston: I think you'll see Smith at wide receiver periodically for the rest of the season, but you don't want to keep putting your No. 2 quarterback out there. You risk having him exposed to injury. Plus, Smith wants to become a starting quarterback. I think there would be some negative feedback from Smith if the Ravens moved him to being a receiver on or near a full-time basis.
Bill: The Browns' Joshua Cribbs is a beast, but what do the Ravens need to do to improve their coverage on kick and punt returns?
Mike Preston: The Ravens need to be smarter and put their egos aside. When a player like Cribbs is having that kind of day against you, kick the ball away from him. Heck, kick it in the stands if you have to. The Ravens have to be a better job of maintaining their lane responsibilities and improve their tackling. On one punt return, Cribbs broke five tackles. I've seen better punt coverage in high school games.
Kurt, Atlanta: I understand that Todd Heap is being used more for pass protection purposes, but I don't think he had a single ball thrown to him against the Cleveland Browns. What can be done to balance our need for protection with receiving productivity at the tight end position?
Mike Preston: Kurt, nothing needs to be done. The Ravens had more than 400 yards of total offense against Cleveland and they scored 37 points. They also won. Why change anything? Do you make changes just to get Heap the ball? The Ravens are winning and they are productive. I'm not changing a thing. They are 5-3 at the midway point, and very much in contention. Heap isn't complaining publicly, so I say stay the course. Even if he was complaining, who cares?
Gavin: Why does it appear that coach John Harbaugh is hesitant to challenge key calls?
Mike Preston: I don't believe it's Harbaugh's fault. He has to be alerted by the assistants upstairs in the press box if he needs to challenge a call. Harbaugh's view is not always good from the field. I think there might be a communication problem, or they need to get a better pair of eyes upstairs. Apparently, some assistant is falling asleep at the wheel in the press box, and several times this season it has cost the Ravens points.
Harbaugh doesn't need to fix the situation with Heap, but he does need to make adjustments with the assistants as far as challenging plays. The Ravens have had ample time to work this problem out, but they haven't.
Elton: I think the job that Cam Cameron is doing with our offense is phenomenal. This is highlighted each week, but against Cleveland, the offensive stars were a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back. Please discuss the virtues of Cameron as an offensive coordinator. What does he do well or better than other offensive coordinators?
Mike Preston: I addressed this in . It talks about what Cameron and the other assistants have done as far as coaching this team. Briefly, what Cameron does that some other offensive coordinators don't is set up plays in advance. He gets defensive coordinators to react, yet he is already a step ahead of them. He keeps an opposing defense on its toes because he is very unpredictable. He is not one of those computer-geek coaches who has to achieve a run/pass ratio. He does whatever it takes to win games.
Matt, Dundalk: Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton combined for big yardage against the Browns. Can we expect to see more balls thrown to Clayton, especially with Demetrius Williams out for the season?
Mike Preston: I think we'll see whatever is available. The Browns had young cornerbacks, and the Ravens went after them. The Raiders had a strong front seven and two good cornerbacks who like to play in press coverage. The Ravens knew they had to manufacture points against Oakland, so they came up with trick plays and the "Suggs Package." Throwing the ball is not a primary option for this team, but if they find openings, the Ravens will take them. Again, the Ravens will do whatever it takes to win games.
Tarik: How do you think the Ravens and Kyle Boller would be doing if Boller had been the starting quarterback through the first eight games?
Mike Preston: I'm past the Kyle Boller stage. "My Man Kyle" is history. The Ravens have a new quarterback and a new coaching staff. Boller is a nice person, and I wish him well in finding a new team, or selling insurance, or cars, or whatever he plans to do next with his life. Both the team and Boller will move on.
Steve, Towson: Based on eight games, if you had to pick the Ravens who "should" make the Pro Bowl this season, who would it be?
Mike Preston: Haloti Ngata, Derrick Mason and Ray Lewis are my top three choices with Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs or Jarret Johnson as possibilities.
Stuart, Jacksonville: I really like what I'm seeing from the Ravens coaching staff, especially in the area of teaching. Where would you rank them compared to other NFL staffs?
Mike Preston: I don't know all the coaches on other staffs, but I've been impressed with the teaching that goes on with the Ravens. Before the Ravens completed the staff, I thought they might have one of the stronger groups in the league just from the collective backgrounds of the personnel. Overall, this team is fundamentally sound. I don't always agree with all their decisions, but at least there is logic behind them. With the previous staff, some of their decisions made absolutely no sense.
And that worried me.
Rob: Since the Ravens lack playmakers at wide receivers, have they considered using Troy Smith there for more repetitions?
Mike Preston: I think you'll see Smith at wide receiver periodically for the rest of the season, but you don't want to keep putting your No. 2 quarterback out there. You risk having him exposed to injury. Plus, Smith wants to become a starting quarterback. I think there would be some negative feedback from Smith if the Ravens moved him to being a receiver on or near a full-time basis.
Bill: The Browns' Joshua Cribbs is a beast, but what do the Ravens need to do to improve their coverage on kick and punt returns?
Mike Preston: The Ravens need to be smarter and put their egos aside. When a player like Cribbs is having that kind of day against you, kick the ball away from him. Heck, kick it in the stands if you have to. The Ravens have to be a better job of maintaining their lane responsibilities and improve their tackling. On one punt return, Cribbs broke five tackles. I've seen better punt coverage in high school games.
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