[Blogs] Ravens On Hand For Smith’s Pro Day

[BR News]

Receiver Torrey Smith might not have run the 40-yard dash, done his vertical leap, or bench pressed 225 pounds during the University of Maryland’s pro day, but he was certainly a hot commodity.

At least 19 teams came to College Park on Wednesday to see Smith and his fellow Terrapins, including representatives from the Ravens.

The potential first-round prospect didn’t disappoint.

During receiver drills, Smith looked fast getting off the line, ran sharp routes and didn’t drop a pass.

“No one questions my athletic ability, so for me, [today] was more to show that I was polished as a receiver, and I feel like I did that today,” Smith said after the event.

Smith rested on his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran an impressive 4.43-second time in the 40-yard dash, which was fourth among receivers.

For the Ravens, Smith’s pro day wasn’t about statistics. They wanted to see where Smith’s continued conditioning was.

“What you look for here is if they’re maintaining their workout regimen, if they’re still in good shape, how their cardio is,” said Ravens Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz.  “Those things are glaring when you show up to a pro day, if a guy took some time off after the combine. I don’t think he’s done that.

“He looked fresh through routes, and I think he had a good tempo.”

Smith has been linked to the Ravens through several mock drafts.

After catching 67 balls for 1,055 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has made a solid argument for the draft’s third-best receiving prospect (behind Georgia’s A.J. Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones).

Could Smith return to his local roots when the Ravens pick 26th overall?

“I have no idea,” Smith said.  “The only thing I hear is from people tweeting it, so I have to try to stay away from that stuff, because at the end of the day, nobody but the teams have control over that.”

The Ravens have shown further interest in Smith.  They were one of the 18 teams to interview him at the combine, and when asked if Baltimore was on his list of post-combine individual workouts, Smith said that was “top-secret information.”

Still, Smith might be a good fit on a team that has indicated a desire to get faster and younger at the receiver position.

“We came out here to see how he catches the ball, how he runs his routes and how he competes in the drills,” said Hortiz.  “He was attacking everything full-speed, and I think he did a good job with that.”

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/03/16/ravens-on-hand-for-smiths-pro-day/]View the full article[/url]

[DOWNSOUTHRAVENFAN]

I wouldn't mind taking him in the second round but definitely not in the first round

[BleedingPurple52]

Smith to me, will be another Donte Stallworth.. Speed guy who drops a lot of catches come game day, and will be shipped from team to team, never finding a "home" in the NFL.. great to pick up in the 2nd round for a few years, but not a 1st rounder

[RedRave855220]

I think a ILB in the first followed by torrey smith then a De either a rb or fb and possibly a qb then a safety and then a cb

[whitecurrency20]

He isn't the bonafied stud that AJ Green is. Id have no qualms with Ozzie taking AJ Green if we had a higher pick and by some miracle he fell to us, maybe even Julio Jones. But no, im hoping he takes the best CB, pass rusher, or OL on the board.

[BmoreRavens201044]

@RedRave

There are no ilb's in this draft that warrant a first round selection

[caminooo]

we need a CB in the first round without a doubt!!! there will be plenty of good WR's LB's and OL in the later rounds

[BillicksEGO]

The only way we get Smith is if we trade down for a higher #2 pick which is not at all out of the question. We probably don't use 26th in the first on him, and he'd be gone by our current 2nd. It's all a guess anyway cause depending on how many mistakes teams before us make, that will change our picks. BPA is the way if there is a need. There is no doubt that a pure pass rusher would go a long way into helping our D, and unless Calvin Johnson is available the rookie wideout is always a gamble.

[The Greek]

baldwin or hankerson

[zgenco]

I do like him but we should trade out of the first round and get a top 5 second round pick. Then trade for a mid second round pick that would be awesome to have 3 second round picks to get a WR,DE and CB.............But it is not going to happen but one can dream.

[klownxxx82]

i like smith take him

[ellicottraven]

Please stop with this already! We have much bigger needs Ravens. Wake up and smell the Ravens roster!!!!!!

[Rage-N-Raven]

i would like to pair baldwin wit flacco. Dat would be nice but mite not happen

[410]

one of the other recievers will fall to us in the second round so im not so sure we should take him. if watt, houston or costanzo (and maybe jimmy smith) are still there id take one of them instead.

[Rice Rice Baby]

Torrey Smith to the Ravens is a "sham"

[Romo Ravens]

Ehh, he's coo

[DOWNSOUTHRAVENFAN]

I honestly believe that either Hankerson or Young will be there in the second round when we pick and I wouldn't mind having either one of them

[DirtyBirds]

WR = FIRST ROUND = STATISTICAL BUST

Go OL or DL. The game of football is won in the trenches. It looks sexy outside the hash marks but it doesn't produce the W's.

[phil3197]

Everyone looks good during their pro days. It means nothing. Put some pads on him, give him a play book, line him up against press coverage and then see how he does.

[thewrongREED]

Too much depth on the DL this year to draft him. He won't be the best player available. Hope we get a speedy receiver in the 2nd or 3rd round though.

[jravens13]

This kid glides down the field, and looks so smooth doing it. I saw him in person when Maryland came to WVU this year. He could be our Mike Wallace. I'd still rather draft Hankerson because he is a bigger target with a more physical style but I would be very happy with Smith.

[ravensfan1021]

John Baldwin, Leonard Hankerson, or Titus Young Might be available when we pick in the second round. I would say that's when we should take a wr. There's no point on spending the first round pick that we could use to get a talented passrusher such as JJ Watt if one of them slips cus there are many defensive ends with top 20 talent in this draft. Since many teams are already set when it comes to pass rushers other than a few exceptions, one of these talented players will have to slip to where we can take them. The Jets, Patriots, and Packers are teams with a need at defensive end, but they pick after us, so we should be able to get someone that has elite abilities. I think offensive line can be addressed through free agency when the time comes or resign Gaither. Corner is obviously a huge need, but all the really good corners will be taken before 26 (Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukara, and Jimmy Smith) and a big play reciever is a bigger need. A better pass rush will make the secondary less vulnerable. The reason the third and nineteen play happened and we blew that 14 point lead in Pittsburgh was partly because the only one getting to Big Ben was Suggs. Anyways, we need a shutdown corner and at 26, that is just not gonna happen. Getting a shutdown corner would be trading for one or by signing Nnamdi Asomugha to a big contract. The second round corners will probably be gone before the we pick in the second round. I think resigning wilson and then getting a big name corner would be a great idea. A big play reciever will make it a lot easier for Boldin and Mason to get open because he will attract attention from a corner and a safety pretty much every play. Flacco's life would be a lot easier if we get a big play reciever.

[EpicRavenTime]

Last year we were 20th in Passing yards and 21st in pass yards allowed. I think this means that we should just see who the best cornerback or wide receiver is by Pick 26 and take him.

[52De92Fence55-95]

i dont think we should go WR in the 1st round unless one of the 2 top guys are there and they wont be. Go defense this draft is deep in defensive players

[coolbilly]

We fix the protection issues we go a long way to fixing the passing game issues. We need a Tackle.

[RaVenBloOd]

first round MUST be a Protection o lineman or a pass rusher. This seems like such an attractive pic, but lts be real...Wrs def are a bust 9 xs out of ten and that just stinks but is a fact. I would rather take my chanced on a anchor trench position that adds value to the existing wrs we have or like wise the same tht will add value to our 2ndry. I know these positions sometimes seem lack luster, but their ultimate value is through the roof in trikle down effect. I really really like this kid and his hometown story and roots, i really do. But lets not be seduced here guys...Hes not gonna make the whole offense that much better no matter what. We need PROTECTION for all plays to progress and come together. nothing right now would be better for JOE, and Rice, than to have blocks be there when they need to be and for holes made when rice is trying to get his ten yard burst up the gut. How many sacks did joe take last year...too many. How many times did we see Rice dance around in the backfield because the hole that was supposed to be there wasnt??? Use your heads Brass! I wish Smith the very best , hes a college stud. But hes not enough to warrant a 1st rounder. We need SUBSTANCE that will equate to effecting the whole offensive or defensive unit. Typically fat and unattractive yes...but beastly Lineman do THAT!

[monahco]

Everybody says we need a pass rusher early in the draft but where would they start? Over Double J? Not unless we move up at least 15 picks... Not over Suggs. With the type of D we run our 5 Technique is Cory Redding and Ngatas on the other side. There's not a 5 technique we can get by the time pick worth getting in the first round. We need to give Flacco more time and more targets by picking up a true deep threat. If Gaithers not healthy or won't be on the team then we also need a LT. Lets be honest... Gaither was very reliable on thr field and Oher looked better at RT. Our other huge need is a [i]<shut>[/i] down corner and if our scouts think Jimmy Smith is one and he's there when we pick then we need to get him. Another pass rusher can wait till after the draft when we got our best linebackers other then Ray.

[yakraven]

Hopefully they also looked at Scott and Molten also.

[izvoodoo]

I wouldn't take him in the first, but if he fell to us in the 2nd I'd be ecstatic.

[ed20reed]

As a maryland student, i've met torrey personally and watched him on the playing field for the past 4 seasons. he is a great reciever with playmaking abilities, especially down the sidelines and can beat the cb. however, in the acc the competition is not the SEC. torrey will make a great addition to a team early in the second round or anxious 1st rounders. The ravens need to move up and get a top notch cb or ol in the first round. Last years Kindle will hopefully make it back and Gaither is questionable.

Oh, and one more thing. Let's make sure we play some football this year!!! Go Ravens!!!