Ravens: Is Joe Flacco audibling out of running plays for Ray Rice?

Baltimore's offense was criticized for limiting Ray Rice to a paltry nine carries against Houston two weeks ago. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron might have further opened a can of worms with a comment alluding to QB Joe Flacco signaling out of run plays to pass the ball.

By Jason Butt

Nov 1, 2012 at 4:47 pm ET • 2 min read

There is a sense in Baltimore that Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been audibling out of running plays for RB Ray Rice. At least that’s what Ravens’ offensive coordinator Cam Cameron hinted at Thursday. (US Presswire)

Baltimore's offense was criticized for limiting Ray Rice to a paltry nine carries against Houston two weeks ago.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron might have further opened a can of worms with a comment alluding to QB Joe Flacco signaling out of run plays and passing the ball.

"We’ve had some situations where the score dictated that the bottom line is we’re going to have to throw it to (Rice) more than we hand it to him," Cameron said. "No. 1, let’s not be in that situation anymore, and let’s make sure that we don’t let our audible system take the ball out his hands.”

This season, Rice has 106 carries in seven games, which puts him on pace for 242 carries for the season. If Rice continues with his current average of 15 carries per game, then he'll tote the ball for his lowest output since his rookie season in 2008.

With Baltimore opting for a hurry-up, no-huddle offense this season, Flacco has assumed more responsibility at the line of scrimmage when it comes to checking out of plays based on what he reads. Against Houston, Flacco only had a 3.4-yard average per completion. This, after the Ravens veered from utilizing Rice, who ran for 27 yards on three carries on Baltimore's first possession of the game. After that initial possession, Rice didn't touch the ball until three series later, after six consecutive passes and two three-and-outs.

Could Flacco be changing plays to benefit him more as a passer? Until Cameron's comments Thursday, that question hadn't been posed. With the no-huddle having issues on the road, this might be another thing to be concerned about in Baltimore.

"I think it’s common knowledge all the leeway that Joe has at the line of scrimmage now," Cameron said. "Everybody knows the options that he has. The one thing that we’re not as good at on the road as we are at home is being on the same page. It might be any combination -- it could be in the passing game, it could be in protection, it could be in the run game.

"So we’re looking at everything from a communication standpoint," Cameron continued. "How we can make sure, on the road, that we’re on the same page. Does that mean we aren’t going to audible? Not at all. That’s a huge part of what we do. But I think getting on the same page is the first thing we have to do."

Injury report: After being a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, DT Haloti Ngata (knee/shoulder) was absent on Thursday. WR Jacoby Jones (foot) and CB Jimmy Smith (abs) were limited participants.

CB Chykie Brown (ankle), TE Ed Dickson (hand), LB Dannell Ellerbe (hand), S James Ihedigbo (hand), DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu (knee), OT Bryant McKinnie (thigh), RT Kelechi Osemele (ankle), LT Michael Oher (ankle), S Bernard Pollard (chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder/chest), LB Terrell Suggs (ankle) and RG Marshal Yanda (shoulder) were full participants in practice.