Ravens enjoying top of the Heap

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, November 01, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Baltimore Ravens
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Todd Heap is starting to feel healthy again. For opponents, that's a scary thought.

In 2004, an ankle injury cramped the Baltimore Raven tight end's style considerably. Last season, he grabbed 75 passes for 855 yards and seven touchdowns -- with a bum shoulder. Both problems have since been surgically repaired.

This summer, he showed up at training camp carrying an extra 15 pounds while still maintaining his quickness.

"He is a defense's worst nightmare inside the 20," explains Ravens beat writer Mike Preston, "because its hard to match up with him. At 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds, he's too big and strong for most defensive backs. Linebackers? Forget about it. He's too fast."

As Shawne Merriman of the Chargers found out on the play where Heap caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Steve McNair earlier this year.

"I tried to take his head off," Merriman said, "and he ducked under. I looked up, and he was falling forward."

Into the end zone. In fact, of the Ravens' first five touchdowns this season, Heap had four and fellow tight end Daniel Wilcox one.

"The guy that jumps out at you on the Ravens is Todd Heap," says veteran Denver DB John Lynch.

Or jumps over you. Heap played a little hoops at Arizona State, was an all-state forward at his Mesa, Ariz. high school, and can achieve some altitude in the red zone if necessary.

Brian Billick, Baltimore's head coach and mad offensive scientist, has tried a little of everything with Heap this season, putting him in tight, in the slot, in motion, as an outside receiver. For his career, more than 63 percent of Heap's receptions have gone for touchdowns or first downs. He hasn't caught less than three balls all season.

Of course, Steve McNair is known to throw a lot to his tight ends. In Tennessee, the favorite target was Frank Wycheck.

Heap started out at ASU as a 219-pounder, which accounted for some of the damage he absorbed early on. When he left after his junior year, however, he took with him the school's career pass receiving mark for receptions by a tight end -- 115. (Zach Miller broke it this season). With his blonde hair and pass-catching abilities, Sun Devils coach Bruce Snyder dubbed him "the Golden Retriever."

Yet when he hosted the annual team benefit Halloween party earlier this week, Heap didn't dress as a canine, or a superhero. He was Napoleon Dynamite - the little guy still inside the big guy.

Baltimore Ravens commentary, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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