Tight end Ed Dickson is off to a quiet start through the first quarter of the 2012 season.
He has five catches for 50 yards, and was held without a catch last week against the Browns for the first time in 19 games. Despite the slow start, Dickson is confident that it's just a matter of time before he gets an opportunity to make a big impact.
"You just have to be patient in this offense and your time will come," Dickson said Wednesday. "I don't want to sound cocky, but you can't stop a player like myself from being involved."
Quarterback Joe Flacco has spread the wealth during the first four games, as Torrey Smith (28 targets, 16 catches), Anquan Boldin (28, 19), Dennis Pitta (32, 18) and Jacoby Jones (16, 9) have all had opportunities to make big plays.
Smith was quiet through the first two weeks, and then erupted for 127 receiving yards and two touchdowns in an emotional Week 3 win over the Patriots. Anquan Boldin had 10 receptions on the year before his nine-catch, 131-yard performance against the Browns.
"If you look at it, Anquan didn't see the ball much, then he blew up for nine catches," Dickson said. "Torrey didn't see the ball much the first couple of games, then he blew up for numerous catches. I'm waiting for my time and I'll just be prepared."
Dickson was the top tight end last year, as he started every game and finished the year with 54 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns.
His playing time has somewhat waned this season as Pitta has emerged as one of Flacco's top targets. Pitta is second on the team with 18 receptions, and was targeted 15 times in a Week 2 loss in Philadelphia.
Overall, Pitta has played 200 snaps, including 131 at receiver, while Dickson had taken 160 snaps and blocked on 93 of those plays, according to Pro Football Focus.
Dickson is known as a strong blocker in the run game and says that he's willing to play whatever the role the coaches want.
"Whatever they ask of me, that's what you're going to see me doing," Dickson said. "If they need me to block a little more, that's what I'm going to do."
And in terms of getting the ball in his hands, Dickson is confident that it's only a matter for time.
"Me being playmaker-wise, I would want more catches, I would want more looks, but I know that's coming in the offense and I'm just going to continue to grind and the do the things I need to do," Dickson said. "I know they'll find me and they'll get me involved."
