Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's expectations heading into the season for end Tony Weaver, the team's second-round choice, were based on former players drafted in a similar position.

The production has turned out to be that of a player drafted a round higher.

"Tony's played very well," Nolan said. "He's exceeded any expectations I may have had. I'll say that as much about him as I say that about [first-round pick] Ed Reed. Really more so for Weaver because Ed Reed is a defensive back and is our No. 1 pick. Weaver, although he is our second-round pick, is a lineman. It's hard to get a big man on the field. A guy in his role normally plays about 20 plays and every now and then doesn't even play."

Weaver's snaps range from 30 to 50 plays, and he has started every game. He is 11th on the team with 57 tackles, and his 3 1/2 sacks rank second behind Peter Boulware's five.

"Physically, I feel good," said Weaver, a three-year starter at Notre Dame. "I've always had high confidence in myself. Coming in, I wanted to start, and I wanted to play a lot. So this is kind of what I planned on."

Weaver was credited with a fourth-quarter sack and forced fumble of Houston Texans quarterback David Carr in the Ravens' 23-19 win Sunday. The play came with just over three minutes left in the game, forcing a third-and-12 from the Ravens' 23-yard line that Houston did not convert.

Earlier this season, Weaver likely would have been watching both of those plays from the sidelines.

"At the beginning, they wanted me to focus on the run and pulled me out in passing situations," Weaver said. "Now I'm doing it all, and I appreciate that because that means I'm maturing as a player."

Couch in form

In the last Ravens-Browns game, Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch was booed through much of the second half and eventually left early because of an injury - to an ovation.

Couch was disheartened by the reaction from the Cleveland fans and went on a profanity-laced tirade after the game, one in which he finished 16-for-26 for 216 yards and two interceptions in a 26-21 Ravens win.

"As the team has played well, certainly Tim has been a big part of that," coach Butch Davis said. "He's had some very good ballgames throwing the ball. The most frustrating thing was that he had such an outstanding preseason, then he got hurt in the preseason game against Green Bay, so he didn't get the opportunity to start the season. I would say he was at 75 to 85 percent when he did initially come back against Tennessee.

"For about the first month, there were some struggles that he went through not only getting back physically ready to play but the timing."

From the old sod

The Ravens Stadium turf looked like a battlefield after the previous home game against New Orleans. The team resodded the field a week before the Saints game. The field began to come apart early and often, but Billick does not expect to have the same problem.

"That sod had just recently been put down," Billick said. "It's only going to be in so good a shape this time of year. But our guys do a good job and it should be fine."

End zone

Mike Flynn (knee, questionable), Chris Redman (back, questionable), Bennie Anderson (neck, probable), Ron Johnson (hip, probable) and Adalius Thomas (thigh, probable) all practiced yesterday. Cornerback Tom Knight, rehabilitating an injured hamstring, is not expected to play. ... Browns receiver Dennis Northcutt (knee), who caught two touchdown passes in the first game, is questionable.