Ravens QB Joe Flacco (illness, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 3. Flacco got a day off due to a cold, that’s all.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco (illness) returned to full practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday. Flacco got a day off due to a cold, that’s all. He's a low-end QB2 against the Browns this week.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco (illness) did not practice Wednesday. Flacco got a day off due to a cold, that’s all.

The matchup against the Washington Redskins Saturday night may have just been the preseason, but somebody forgot to tell Ravens wide receiver Steve L Smith Sr.

The veteran wideout looked more like a rookie trying to earn his spot rather than of a 14-year veteran with a standout resume. Smith put his intensity on display for his best performance of the preseason in the Ravens' 23-17 victory over Washington.

"That's kind of vintage Steve Smith," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "It was great to see that."

Smith was arguably the best player on the field. He caught a game-high six passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown grab was a 24-yard diving catch in the back of the end zone near the end of the first half, which gave the Ravens a lead they would build on for the victory.

"I think this was a big step with him," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "There's a reason he's been in the league as long as he has and it's because he goes out there and fights every day."

The Ravens first-team line hasn’t allowed a sack in six possessions over two games. The zone stretch running game is booming, leading the NFL in yards per game. Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak has QB Joe Flacco throwing to his fullback, tight ends, receivers.

A year ago, Flacco was sacked almost 50 times, constantly under duress. His favorite wideout was gone from the huddle, traded during the offseason. His favorite tight end was injured. His passing game was predictable. His running game was missing in action.

Not only is the offense rebuilt around him with a better line, more playmakers and a topnotch coordinator, but Flacco is 29 years old, in the prime of his career, his seventh season as a starter.

The writer predicted Flacco would have his best season ever this year. Keep in mind, this is from the Ravens web site, but there are some good points, especially about the offensive line. Perhaps even more important, Flacco has some targets to work with and gets TE Dennis Pitta back. Flacco is rarely mentioned as a fantasy QB1, and is currently ranked 24th on our list. He could end up with QB2 value or give you some committee starts this season, though.

Only a scaled-down version of new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak's playbook was revealed Thursday night, but the Ravens' overhauled offense got positive reviews.

Based on the limited sample of 10 plays during the Ravens' opening drive against the San Francisco 49ers, quarterback Joe Flacco is upbeat about the potential of the offense.
Flacco orchestrated an 80-yard drive that lasted nearly five minutes and was capped by running back Bernard Pierce's pounding 2-yard touchdown run behind blocks from right guard Marshal Yanda and right tackle Bill Wagner.

"We ran the ball really well and protected really well," Flacco said Saturday before a joint practice with the 49ers at the Ravens' training complex. "There is a lot to build on. I think we built a good foundation there. I think each week from here on out, we have to keep showing that improvement and building off what we did.”

During that drive, Flacco completed 4 of 5 passes for 52 yards. He had a long completion of 17 yards to versatile fullback Kyle Juszczyk and connected with tight end Dennis Pitta on a 14-yard screen. Flacco also had a 12-yard throw to wide receiver Jacoby Jones and a 9-yard pass to new wide receiver Steve Smith.