After a hiatus of nearly a year and a half, veteran tight end Todd Heap might have a role again in the Ravens' offense.
Heap, in his ninth season, might not be the prime-time player he once was, but he doesn't have to be. He just needs to patrol the middle of the field on short and intermediate routes, and become a weapon in the red zone.
Heap had five receptions for 74 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, as the Ravens beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 38-24, in the season opener.
Heap had the crowd of 71,099 buzzing at M&T Bank Stadium with choruses of "Heap" after every reception. It was like old times again.
"I feel great. I mean this is the best I've felt in a while," Heap said. "And I think it showed up there on the field, but we'll just keep pounding. I think overall, with my health and how I played, I feel pretty good about it. It's a good start to the season."
Heap has been hampered by ankle, hamstring and back injuries the past two seasons. The injuries forced him to miss extensive practice time, and last year that irritated rookie head coach John Harbaugh. But Heap put in a great deal of time working with a specialist in the offseason and has missed only two practices so far.
He could become the big target the Ravens need inside the red zone.
"How about Todd Heap today?" Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. "He had a great game, made some big-time catches, and it's awesome to have a tight end who can make some plays for you like that."
Don't stray from strength
Flacco completed 26 of 43 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns, and the Ravens' aerial game might have caught the Chiefs off guard. But offensive coordinator Cam Cameron shouldn't stray from the team's strength,running the ball.
Flacco is not at the point of his career where his arm can carry a team. Despite throwing the ball on 25 of 38 plays in the first half, the Ravens had only a 10-7 lead. Flacco was hot in the first half, but erratic in the second.
Struggles on special teams
Why is it that head coaches often struggle in their former areas of expertise?
Brian Billick came to the Ravens as a great offensive coordinator and could never build a strong offense. Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis built a Super Bowl-winning defense in Baltimore, and the Bengals have never come close to duplicating that feat.
