Following their Week 3 win over the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs claimed that he was unaware of who Browns running back Peyton Hillis was.
In what must have been perceived as a sneak attack, Hillis ultimately became the first player to find the end zone against a stout Ravens defense in 2010, amassing a career-high 144 yards on the ground. Hillis has since broken said career-high thanks to a 184-yard rampage of the New England Patriots, but the point has been made that the Ravens – who will be coming to Cleveland this Sunday – will have to key in on the previously unknown running back.
“I hadn’t heard of him before, but he ran for [140 yards], so we know who he is [now],” said Suggs via conference call on Wednesday afternoon. “He had a great day, he broke a couple runs on us and he ran for [140 yards]. He had a great day against us.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh ackowledged that Hillis seemingly had a coming out party against his team. While he thinks that Suggs may have been overstating things a bit, there is no lack of respect for one of the AFC’s best running backs this season.
“It’s a statement of respect,” said Harbaugh. “We know who he is now. We knew who he was going in, but that was his first real big game.
[He's] very physical, and all the things he has done since showed up in that game. We had a tough time with him.”
Harbaugh credits the Browns’ offensive line which compliments Peyton Hills very well. With an emphasis on fundamentals and physical football, the downhill run game that was set up by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll on that day may have caught the Ravens by surprise.
On the season, Hillis has 252 carries for 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns. Through the air, the Browns running back – including seven catches for 36 yards in Week 3 – has 59 receptions for 469 yards and two touchdowns.
“[Hillis' style of running] is going to be tough for anyone to handle and we certainly didn’t handle it the last time we played,” said Harbaugh.
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(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
