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Ravens Balancing Receiver Trio

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PLEASE NOTE:The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed on BaltimoreRavens.com represent those of individual authors, and unless quoted or clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of the Baltimore Ravens' organization, front office staff, coaches and executives. Authors' views are formulated independently from any inside knowledge and/or conversations with Ravens officials, including the coaches and scouts, unless otherwise noted.

There was little doubt that Baltimore had more talent at wide receiver than ever entering this season.

But with that came another issue – one the Ravens' have never had to deal with.

How do you keep three Pro Bowl receivers happy?

"It's a good question," Offensive Coordinator **Cam Cameron** said. "It's really not something that you just address all of a sudden. It's a plan."

Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers provided one solution.
Derrick Mason recorded a team-high 80 receiving yards, **Anquan Boldin** notched a team-high seven receptions and **T.J. Houshmandzadeh** played the hero with the 18-yard game-winning touchdown.

But it's not always going to work out that way.

As **Joe Flacco** said, plays are called for certain players and he hits them if they're open. If not, he goes through his progressions until he finds somebody that is open. Sometimes that means certain receivers will get more opportunities.

As could be expected, Flacco said he "can't pay too much attention" to receivers' cries for more passes.

"I think sometimes guys are going to be unhappy, and you're going to have some weeks where everybody is happy," Flacco said. "When you have as many guys as we do that want the ball, it's going to be tough to get them all the ball every week. So, they're going to have to be patient and realize that they're going to have to be there for us next week."

Cameron, however, is the one dialing up the plays for certain players.

Cameron said he's never believed it would be impossible to keep three former Pro Bowl receivers happy. There's just a "little bit" of an art to it.

"We have an offense that we believe in," Cameron said. "Our philosophy is if you're out there, we want to do everything we can to get you involved."

Cameron hears from his receivers throughout the week, sometimes late at night as soon as the game plan is printed. He also hears from them during the game and often follows their suggestions, he said.

But at the end of the day, Cameron said the player has to trust what's being called and execute whatever chances they get.

Cameron pointed out that the number of receptions are as important as the situation they're made in. For example, Houshmandzadeh's one 4-yard catch versus the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 put the game away, just like his touchdown reception this past weekend.

"You can't be worrying about three or four or five or six plays, you've got to worry about that play that's called," Cameron said. "The ball may come to you, it may not. And you've got to be ready on each individual play.

"I think the pros in this league, which we've got a bunch of them, focus on that play. Trust Joe, trust what we're doing and, when your number's called, be ready."

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