Torrey Smith

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='pittman2052' timestamp='1304133628' post='676389']
Not writing them off, but where is the production? Lardarius Webb plays decent but gives up way too many big plays(third and 19). Paul Kruger had one big play which was an interception against Pittsburgh. I hope Sergio Kindle can become a great player once or if he is healed up. Also, I am hoping that Terrance Cody can become dominant again. But if you look at all that we gave up and the production we haven't gotten, it's just really frustrating knowing we needed an Andre Johnson type player and we failed miserably at that. I am hoping that Torrey Smith can become a great receiver, just I really can not see it.
[/quote]
No one predicted Sergio's injury. I think we can expect Cody to start get more playing time since Gregg's not getting any younger. Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta had no chance to start over or take playing time from Heap especially with the way he was balling. Ramon Harewood is coming off injuries. This is a veteran team anyway. As far as 2009 Oher is good and Webb has shown flashes but got set back with his injury. With a year off of the ACL injury, Webb can be great for us next year especially as a dime/slot corner.

There was/is no Andre Johnson type talent in the entire draft.

[FerrariFan87]

We didn't draft Smith because he went to Maryland ... come on, guys, stop hatin'.

P.S. Our 3rd round pick, Reid, shut down Mr. Houston last season. Just saying.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

In my opinion, taking Smith over Houston was a mistake but to everybody who doesn't care for him.. The Ravens taking Torrey was inevitable if he was available in the second. It just upsets me though that we passed on Houston.

[ghost1986]

Yeah Ferrari I did hear that about Jah Reid shutting down Justin Houston. I just hope he and Oher can shut down the team Houston. Mario Williams, Brooks Reed and J.J. Watt? Can I get a Mike Mayock "Are you kidding me?!" And then they got Brandon Harris. Not really a team I'm looking forward to playing. Hopefully Cameron adjusts to these new picks. I really hope that for some reason Kaepernick starts when we play the 49ers. I have a grudge against him ever since the Boise State kicker gave them that game. I think the Smith brothers will have a field day for that game.

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1304134497' post='676410']
We didn't draft Smith because he went to Maryland ... come on, guys, stop hatin'.

P.S. Our 3rd round pick, Reid, shut down Mr. Houston last season. Just saying.
[/quote]

Haters gonna Hate

[img]http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/287539719.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1304136030&Signature=mmFWABVW5CrtEVIq23yUl7jb4rs%3D[/img]

[pittman2052]

I will always believe that Leonard Hankerson or Jon Baldwin is much more of what we needed in a reciever. Both is as fast as Smith, better hands, better route running, and can win jump ball situations. Torrey can run deep all day long. If he has to jump for a ball he wont be able to do it. We needed a tall fast reciever.

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

[quote name='pittman2052' timestamp='1304135144' post='676426']
I will always believe that Leonard Hankerson or Jon Baldwin is much more of what we needed in a reciever. Both is as fast as Smith, better hands, better route running, and can win jump ball situations. Torrey can run deep all day long. If he has to jump for a ball he wont be able to do it. We needed a tall fast reciever.
[/quote]

watch the video i posted. im sure he can jump to catch a ball....

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='pittman2052' timestamp='1304135144' post='676426']
I will always believe that Leonard Hankerson or Jon Baldwin is much more of what we needed in a reciever. Both is as fast as Smith, better hands, better route running, and can win jump ball situations. Torrey can run deep all day long. If he has to jump for a ball he wont be able to do it. We needed a tall fast reciever.
[/quote]
Even though I don't care for Smith, neither one of those receivers is faster. I don't doubt that Smith is deep threat. I doubt his route running, catching(small hands), and consistency.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='pittman2052' timestamp='1304135144' post='676426']
I will always believe that Leonard Hankerson or Jon Baldwin is much more of what we needed in a reciever. Both is as fast as Smith, better hands, better route running, and can win jump ball situations. Torrey can run deep all day long. [b]If he has to jump for a ball he wont be able to do it. We needed a tall fast reciever.[/b]
[/quote]
I sincerely hope we're not relying on Flacco to throw jump balls at a regular rate. Im not a big fan of Torrey Smith either, I think hes too similar to Clayton and Travis Taylor, but at the end of the day if he's running deep all day long and he's open its whatever. Baldwin has separation problems at the LOS, the same as Smith does.

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

keep hearing how "small" Torreys hands are, he prolly cant even eat a whopper, could he?

[img]http://blog.mrhacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/bk_tinyhands.jpg[/img]

[MiselisM]

I love how all the people criticise the front office, as if they could do a better job. If you dont like it, you should have gone into sports management and did something about it!

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='BohBalmerOsbohs' timestamp='1304135557' post='676443']
keep hearing how "small" Torreys hands are, he prolly cant even eat a whopper, could he?

[img]http://blog.mrhacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/bk_tinyhands.jpg[/img]
[/quote]
Damn a Whopper.

[img]http://www.sauceforthoughts.dreamhosters.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/whitecastle.jpg[/img]

White Castles' are more his speed.

[Wacko4Zacko]

So now with NFL lockout back. How can Ravens communicate with T.Smith and Jah Reid? They both need offensive playbooks?

Plus now we are unable to do Jimmy Smith press Conference.

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

[quote name='Wacko4Zacko' timestamp='1304135831' post='676452']
So now with NFL lockout back. How can Ravens communicate with T.Smith and Jah Reid? They both need offensive playbooks?

Plus now we are unable to do Jimmy Smith press Conference.
[/quote]

yeah that really sucks we cant have a conference with anyone.

[Wacko4Zacko]

Im glad Jimmy Smith got his playbook though. Hopefully Mason/Boldin may have his playbook and could let Torrey see it. Mason/Boldin, Flacco, and Torrey could do workouts.

[True]

Hope he becomes a multiple dimensional player and work on his route running + not body catching.

[Wacko4Zacko]

Real talk. Harbaugh better have gotten a playbook mailed or sent before lockout

[RavensAllTheWay]

Let's not forget that rookies have a lot to [i]learn[/i] at the NFL level.

[justifythegame]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' timestamp='1304131110' post='676291']
For the people doubting Smith, who do you guys think is better? Smith or David Reed? Because there's been plenty of talk about using [i]Reed[/i] to potentially open up space for Boldin and Mason, and I'm not arguing with it. Now we have another option, so I would not worry. To me, the most realistic way we could screw this pick up is if Cam fails to utilize him.
[/quote]
Undoubtedly, without question, it David Reed. He is polished, he can run routes, and can catch. And if you are talking about speed or a deep threat i'm not sure its either of them because they aren't that fast, even mark clayton was fast than them running a 4.41.. so if we truly want a deep threat we better hope Donte Stallworth comes back.

[Clutch Ravens]

You just know that if/when Torrey Smith drops a game-winning TD that there'll be a slew of topics entitled "Torrey Smith is a Bust, Cut him NOW!".

I am in no way encouraging or endorsing this, however.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1304137285' post='676485']
Undoubtedly, without question, it David Reed. He is polished, he can run routes, and can catch. And if you are talking about speed or a deep threat i'm not sure its either of them because they aren't that fast, even mark clayton was fast than them running a 4.41.. so if we truly want a deep threat we better hope Donte Stallworth comes back.
[/quote]
I don't know if my Smith hate will go as far as saying David Reed is the better receiver. Neither has proven anything in our aerial attack at the next level anyway to even say.

You must want the end-arounds to continue to want Stallworth back..

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='justifythegame' timestamp='1304137285' post='676485']
Undoubtedly, without question, it David Reed. He is polished, he can run routes, and can catch. And if you are talking about speed or a deep threat i'm not sure its either of them because they aren't that fast, even mark clayton was fast than them running a 4.41.. so if we truly want a deep threat we better hope Donte Stallworth comes back.
[/quote]
Since when is Reed not fast? I really don't understand your assessment of him there because I'm also wondering since when was he a good route runner? The combine doesn't mean that much as far as translating into the NFL, especially in 40 times.

And in all honesty, I think Stalls is done. He's not the youth were looking for, and because his future here is not set in stone unlike Torrey and potentially Reed, I have a feeling he will be more excluded from Cam's playbook than the other two.

[Bullrush]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' timestamp='1304123620' post='675652']
*yack* Terrible. All I have to say, I'm tired of repeating my displeasure with Smith. If he wasn't a Terp, he'd never even be in consideration for the Ravens.
[/quote]
Why would you say that? He's a legit 2nd round talent who could have gone higher as well. We need a guy who can stretch the field, badly. So we got him. He's also a high character guy who will become one of the leaders in a couple years in the offense once he's established himself. And please, enough with the Travis Taylor comparison. Torrey is not gonna be counted on as a starter. He will stretch the field, catch screens, keep defenses on their toes, help set up the running game. A la Mike Wallace from the Steelers, a la Johnny Knox from the Bears. Once he does that well he will get more playing time as a receiver and possibly start for us at some point.

Nobody knows how he's gonna pan out, but I don't get why people act like it was a reach and he's gonna be a colossal bust for sure who won't even be able to stretch the field. He hasn't dropped any ball for the Ravens yet, wait and see what happens. If he does perform well all of you guys will look more than just foolish. If all he's gonna be able to do is stretch the field and make a 50yd play once per week or within two weeks then I'm ok with it. We didn't spend a top 5 pick on him.

[Ravensfan23]

First off let me start by saying I like the pick of Torrey Smith and I'm a die hard FSU fan, so it's not because he went to Maryland.

I think one of the main things that people are forgetting about Torrey Smith is, he is still learning and improving as a WR. I keep hearing people debate about what he can or can't do. Torrey Smith was recruited as a dual threat QB to play for Maryland before switching to WR. So what we see good or bad from him isn't a finished product.

The biggest thing i think most people are overlooking with this Torrey Smith pick is that, he's not being drafted to be the "Man". The Ravens have Boldin and Mason who Smith will be able to learn from. His route running isn't really good right now, well he'll have a pretty good route runner to learn from in Mason. Teams won't give him the amount of respect they give Boldin, Mason and Heap, so his speed might be able to take over more then his route running because he'll be going against 3rd and 4th DBs.

I don't buy into the notion that he was drafted because he is a MD guy. I think the Ravens truly valued this guy. Now as I've said before, I'm a die hard FSU fan, so my knowledge of MD football is limited, especially with most of you guys here.

However I can say that 2 years ago was the first time i saw Torrey Smith and i was pretty impressive with his potential. I was really impressed with his return ability and was also intrigued by his potential to add a vertical threat to the Ravens. I personally feel that Smith improved his game this season, but still has a long way to go.

I think Smith can develop into a really good #2 type WR for the Ravens. I've read some of you compare him to Clayton and Taylor. But i think the thing you have to realize with those guys were, they never had a guy like Boldin to take the pressure of being the man off of them.

As far as believing that either Hankerson, Little, or Houston would have been better, well you guys maybe be right, but none of us were in that War Room and none of us knew who was on the board and why. I think too often we as fans get too attached to the Names and Numbers of these college guys.

For example take Justin Houston. People look at him and look at his numbers and feel like he could be the pass rusher the Ravens need. They may see a few of his games, but for the most part they watch highlight reels, that are meant to make him look good. Then you watch some other videos of him and call it film study. However as fans we only see a limited supply of these guys. The Ravens have looked at every single snap good and bad that Houston has taken, not just some highlighted clips. Obviously they didn't like what they saw enough to select him with the top 2 picks. Hell it was 31 other teams that felt the same way, so maybe he's just not that good as an overall player. Maybe the Ravens made a mistake. Who knows.

I just find it interesting that we as fans get attached to certain players then say the Ravens wasted a pick because that guy wasn't taken, as if we have sat in a dark room and watched hours upon hours of film on these players like the scouts have. Now there were a lot of people on this board that wanted Houston in the 1st round. Some of you say the Ravens reached for Smith, and some are the same ones that wanted a OLB that was selected in the 3rd to be taken in the first round. Wouldn't that have been a bigger reach? It also has to say something about Houston for him to go in the 3rd round despite it being a extremely weak rush OLB class.

Now with those last two paragraphs I'm not attacking anyone personally, or even bashing Houston because i haven't watched enough of him to know if he's a great player or not. I'm just pointing out how many fans get attached to certain prospects. When you really hold no weight one way or the other. If the guys we want the Ravens to draft so desperately, turn out to be bust, we just shrug it off and do the same thing for another prospect the next year. However if our jobs, and the money we used to feed our families depended on use making the correct judgment on these players, I wonder how many would continue to be so adamant about their favorite prospect?

[MKdave]

[quote name='neoi78' timestamp='1304124053' post='675700']
Ugh.. Hankerson? I don't like Torrey I hear he catches balls against his body.
[/quote]

He'll learn pretty quickly that that won't fly with Joe rifling them in there. I'm not too concerned. It's not hard to teach someone to catch with their hands.

[Mahatma_Sloth]

wow justifythegame awakenthedemon and pittman2052 are not pleased... they should Q.Q more maybe that would change the pick. dont be such debbie downers guys hes a raven now get used to it

[ravensdfan]

I like Torrey. I liked Little better though and was certain when he was still on the board that would be where we'd go. I don't see Torrey as an immediate starter to be honest which is what I felt we needed. Someone with the potential to come in and be a starter right away. Perhaps Reed steps into a starting position (he seems to have decent speed) while Torrey works on route running with Mase for a season and helps out on ST.

Now I have to go see if there is a thread on our next pick, that OT. Oh boy.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='EnVy_CaLiBeR' timestamp='1304131700' post='676318']
Don't care that they took Torrey. I care that they took him when Justin Houston was available.
[/quote]


This. I 100% agree with this. Unless the FO knows that Kindle is very likely coming back, then I just don't understand how they could pass on a guy in the second when we've been strongly linked in the first. He would have been my pick.

Having said that, despite Torrey not being my favorite receiver, nor would I have looked elsewhere than Houston, now that he's a Raven I will root for him and hope he has all the success he can.

[Clutch Ravens]

I've been bashing Torrey for months, as a football player.

He's a great person and there's absolutely no reason for me not to want him to succeed. Make me eat crow and go get 'em Torrey!

[RayRiceFan27]

[quote name='MiselisM' timestamp='1304135668' post='676445']
I love how all the people criticise the front office, as if they could do a better job. If you dont like it, you should have gone into sports management and did something about it!
[/quote]


this^

I know there will be doubters and such, but people act like they know the guy personally just by watching games of him. Then some just write of high character like it doesnt even matter. Ok, then lets go get someone who is a great player that could contribute with big character issues, then goes and gets suspended from the league for a few games to a season, and lets see if you think high character doesnt matter anymore. If you guys think you can make better picks, then go to school for sports management and go apply for the ravens, why are you still sitting here? Bottom line, nobody, NOBODY, knows how things will turn out. Jimmy Smith could turn out to be the bust for all you guys know, Jah Ried could be the best RT in the NL in a few years, NO ONE KNOWS. We are all playing a guessing game, thats it. Im not guaranteeing T Smith will be good, but Im atleast going to be positive and hope he will be good, and not doubt him right of the bat.