Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Write "Hey, Jamison" in the subject field and provide your name, the city you live in and phone number so we can verify the e-mail.

HEY, JAMISON: : How unlucky can a team be that keeps winning the coin toss and doesn't take the ball first? Do the Ravens lead the league in that stat? (You would think you want to score first and send the message to the other team, catch us if you can!?) Do you think with Jalen Parmele getting 35 yards on a kickoff return, you would have a better chance to score or at least start dictating field position? Do you think that if the Ravens were forced into overtime and won the coin toss, they would give the other team the ball first? If not, then why do it unless there is a compelling reason to do it (like weather-related)?

Adam Panarese PasadenaHEY, ADAM: : The rationale is that the Ravens believe their defense will stop the opposing offense and receive solid field position when the Ravens' offense first takes the field. It's hard to argue with the logic. The Ravens have kicked off first in 14 of the 16 games this season. The results: seven punts, three touchdowns allowed, two interceptions, one field goal and one missed field-goal attempt.

The Ravens won that scenario 10 of 14 times. Plus, the Ravens get the ball back first in the third quarter. It just so happens that the Ravens have scored more points in the third quarter (123) than any other quarter this season.

And it's a different situation in overtime. It's sudden death. So, you want the ball to score first and end the game.

HEY, JAMISON: : Is Jalen Parmele the real deal at kick returner? Will he return next year?

Mikael Rassat Villeparisis, FranceHEY, MIKAEL: : I don't want to say Parmele is the "real deal" after two games. But he has been a real find. The Ravens are the best kickoff return team in the NFL, and much of that success goes to rookie Lardarius Webb. When Webb was lost for the season with a knee injury, it was assumed the Ravens would lack the same punch. Parmele, however, has surpassed expectations and surpassed Webb statistically.

Parmele has averaged 31.4 yards on nine returns, and Webb averaged 26.2 yards on 35 returns. It's safe to assume the Ravens will bring back Parmele, who was the Miami Dolphins' sixth-round pick in 2008 (when Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was the head coach there). There is no timetable on Webb's return. He could come back by training camp, or he could miss the first couple of months of the 2010 season. That means Parmele has a great shot at being the Ravens' kickoff returner at the start of next season.

HEY, JAMISON: : Lately Joe Flacco has seemed very gun-shy in the pocket. Before his ankle injury, Joe Cool had poise and a pocket presence somewhat like Johnny U. with the way he held the ball until the last second and fired in the face of a defensive lineman. In recent weeks, he has been taking his hits, but he hasn't been stepping into the ball the way he used to ... and he's been running away from pressure instead of throwing to the open man (I can name at least three times this happened against the Steelers when Todd Heap or a running back was open). Is this one of those fundamental issues - growing pains - that will be ironed out, or are we seeing collateral damage from his ankle injury?

Michael Karper TowsonHEY, MICHAEL: : It's apparent that Flacco hasn't looked comfortable in the pocket. What has made him uncomfortable is the amount of pressure that has been crashing around him. Flacco has been sacked four times in each of his past two games. It's not unusual to see those hits affect the performance of a young quarterback.

The positive sign is that Flacco hasn't been making the costly mistake. He has thrown only one interception in his past four games. Once the pass protection gets back on track, Flacco will be back to his old self.