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Could he complete the hat trick against Masoli this weekend? Or, is it possible Baltimore won’t have a chance, that he’s now in the head of the East’s Most Outstanding Player nominee?

“Nah, he’s probably going to throw right back at me,” Baltimore said to the suggestion of the latter. “I expect him to. I don’t expect him to respect me. He don’t know me.”

But Baltimore, who’s from Maine, is quite familiar with Masoli, who is four years his elder, grew up in California and went to school at Oregon and Mississippi.

“Masoli’s a great quarterback, man,” he said. “I love Masoli. I grew up watching Masoli. I was in high school and he was in college. I was watching him. He can run, he can throw … ”

He can give a DB anxiety.

Is he taking off? Do I leave my assignment and attack, get to him before he gets to the first down marker? Down in front, linebackers and linemen, I’ve got to see what the man’s doing!

“You’ve got to lock on to your receiver and make it tougher, because he can extend plays with his feet, and just make the drive a little longer, so you’ve got to cover longer,” said Baltimore. “We’re going to have to bring our best, man. Cover our best this week. Especially now in the playoffs. Everybody amps their game up.”

Of benefit to Baltimore is his upbringing. Other than his days as a receiver during his 12th grade year at high school, he grew up playing the quarterback position.

He knows how a pivot thinks.

“For sure, it helps my whole mindset,” said Baltimore. “Me watching the film, the way I take coaching.. a lot of things. I feel like any quarterback that wants to play any position you should accept him. He’s going to be the smartest. He’s going to be good, athletic. Brad Sinopoli played quarterback too. Same thing.”