As fullback 
Juszczyk, who grew up about 45 minutes outside of Cleveland, will have about 30 to 40 friends and family in the stands. They may get to see a show.
In his third season, the former fourth-round pick out of Harvard has developed into the versatile, dangerous weapon the Ravens imagined when they drafted him. And he’s had some of his best days of his career against the Browns.
“I love going back and playing in Cleveland,” Juszczyk said. “For whatever reason, I’ve had better games against Cleveland, so I hope we can keep it going.”
Juszczyk scored his first career touchdown in Cleveland last season as part of a three-catch, 54-yard performance. Against the Browns in Week 5 this year, he hauled in three passes for 31 yards and another touchdown. That was his second career touchdown.
The 6-foot-1, 248-pound fullback is having his best season yet.
Juszczyk has become a favorite, and trusted, target to jumpstart the offense. In the Ravens’ 10 games, Juszczyk has gotten the ball five times to open the game and four times to start a half. That’s nine times out of 20 first plays, nearly half the time.
He’s hauled in a career-high 26 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns after posting 19 catches for 182 yards and one score last year.
Last week, he even recorded his first career carry -- in the NFL or college -- with two carries for a whopping 3 yards.
“He has been telling me he can run the ball, so you all saw it,” Head Coach John Harbaugh joked. “He has been great in pass protection. Obviously, he can run routes and catch the ball. For him to be able to get us out of a game like that – in a four-minute situation – and carry the football was really valuable for us in that game.”
After former Ravens fullback Le’Ron McClain ran for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008, he started a “Le’Ron 4 RB Movement” that didn’t work out too well. He still carried the ball, but returned to more of a traditional fullback role and went to two Pro Bowls.
Juszczyk doesn’t have any plans of launching his own campaign.
“I’m a little more aware of my talents, and I think that’s more in the receiving and blocking department,” he said with a laugh.
What’s enabled Juszczyk to see more action in the passing game is his development in another key area of pass protection. Offensive Coordinator Marc Trestman pointed out that opponents have been running a lot of complicated blitzes that Juszczyk does a good job picking up. That keeps him on the field more in running and throwing situations.
And when he’s assigned to pass block, sometimes when a blitz doesn’t come, Juszczyk can leak out into a route to catch a pass. That has led to a bump in targets.
That may increase more through the rest of the season. With
“I joked with Matt,” Juszczyk said. “His past two fullbacks, Vonta Leach, went on to get a three-year, $11 million contract, and James Casey got a three-year, $12 million contract. We can just keep that trend going and keep feeding the fullback.”
The Ravens have fed him a good amount already, especially compared to other fullbacks. Juszczyk leads all NFL fullbacks in receptions and receiving yards. Oakland’s Marcel Reece is second with 21 catches for 203 yards.
Juszczyk, Reece and Carolina’s Mike Tolbert are the only fullbacks in the NFL used frequently in the rushing or receiving game.
“I think it’s a shame,” Juszczyk said. “A lot of teams employ basically another guard in the backfield as opposed to somebody athletic. I like to think I’m more on the athletic side.”
Still, Juszczyk currently ranks fourth in fan Pro Bowl voting behind Reece, Tolbert and Green Bay’s John Kuhn, who doesn’t put up nearly as much offensive production. Perhaps a big performance on Monday Night Football could help Juszczyk’s cause.
“I think anyone would be lying if they said they don’t want to go to the Pro Bowl,” Juszczyk said with a grin.
