What's happened to Heap?
Three games, three catches.
This isn't the Todd Heap we know.
Heap, a two-time Pro Bowler, averaged nearly five catches a game two years ago, but missed most of last season with a hamstring injury. He then sat out all preseason with an injured calf, and hasn't yet regained the form that had him considered one of the top tight ends in the NFL.
Heap said a couple of weeks ago that he's feeling fine physically, but he might have been shaking off a little rust from not having played in about a year.
So far this year, Heap has struggled to get involved in the Ravens' offense, going without a catch last week and only having a couple passes come his way. He also lost a fumble in Baltimore's Week 1 win over the Bengals, and dropped a few passes he would normally bring in.
Offenses like the Ravens that don't have a deep threat in the passing game usually rely heavily on the tight end because they can work over the middle of the field and create matchup problems with their size.
Also, with rookie Joe Flacco under center, many expected Heap to fill the role of the veteran that Flacco could look to when he needed a clutch play.
Head coach John Harbaugh said he still sees Heap as a big part of the offense, and has seen his impact in areas that might go unnoticed to the casual observer.
"He's going to continue to work to be involved in the passing game," Harbaugh said. "He's done the things we've asked him to do in terms of blocking, run blocking and pass blocking.
"Sure, we want him catching more balls, and we're going to keep working on it to make sure that happens. It's really important for us to do that."
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