Flacco mentioned that it took him a little time to get back into the rhythm of calling plays in the huddle and finding his comfort zone. Fortunately, it was clear all week that he would be the starting quarterback.
“You have to get used to hearing the plays and then actually seeing them on the field, not just picturing them on a screen,” Flacco explained. “It’s really valuable to get some reps like that in case you do end up playing, because it’s easy to take for granted. My years of experience definitely help me out a little bit.”
Practice seemed to go well for Flacco, with one source describing it as “seamless.” His experience with multiple teams, including the Broncos, Jets, and Eagles, after leaving Baltimore, as well as his time under Gary Kubiak and Mike LaFleur, should help him acclimate to the Browns’ offense.
Cleveland has a top-five defense and a top-five rushing attack, which is the same formula that previous Ravens teams used to reach the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Reed also noticed the similarities.
“If they can get on a run and Joe protects the ball the way he knows how, the coach will put him in a position to be successful,” Reed said. “We’ll see how far they can go.”