Torrey

[Ravensfan23]

Torrey is dealing with a minor Hammy. It's more precautionary, as far as holding him out of practice then anything.

Those rookies and young guys are learning the different between working out hard, and being pushed hard in camp.

[CapoRocky]

What ever became of Travis Taylor???? Bum!!!!

[gjohnson1989]

[quote name='izvoodoo' timestamp='1312140655' post='729184']
You can improve hands, Doss actually had bad hands early in his career in college.
[/quote]
Who are you? What do you know about tandon's hands early in his career. I've been his roommate for the past 3 years and can tell you he has had sticky hands since he stepped on IU's campus.
For everyone else that knows they are talking about, how do you all like Tandon in your offense this year? I'm really excited to watch him on the big screen! I've seen every game of college ball he has played and I, for one, think he definitely has what it takes to succeed at this level. top notch guy, hard worker, not the typical diva wr personality, he's a quiet and humble guy. you guys definitely got a steal getting him in the fourth round.
I'm the newest ravens fan here! I'll be there dec 21 when you guys play my team, colts. Can't wait! Don't know who to root for?!

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='gjohnson1989' timestamp='1312333081' post='732661']
Who are you? What do you know about tandon's hands early in his career. I've been his roommate for the past 3 years and can tell you he has had sticky hands since he stepped on IU's campus.
For everyone else that knows they are talking about, how do you all like Tandon in your offense this year? I'm really excited to watch him on the big screen! I've seen every game of college ball he has played and I, for one, think he definitely has what it takes to succeed at this level. top notch guy, hard worker, not the typical diva wr personality, he's a quiet and humble guy. you guys definitely got a steal getting him in the fourth round.
I'm the newest ravens fan here! I'll be there dec 21 when you guys play my team, colts. Can't wait! Don't know who to root for?!
[/quote]

I just read he was struggling with drops. We all love doss, we think he's got a lot of Q in him.

[gjohnson1989]

[quote name='izvoodoo' timestamp='1312333616' post='732687']
I just read he was struggling with drops. We all love doss, we think he's got a lot of Q in him.
[/quote]
He did not struggle with drops. He struggled with being hurt freshman year. But never was there a question about his hands. then the last 2 years, both 70+ Rec years. Glad you guys like him! I think he's gonna be huge for you guys. Its pretty crazy to think I lived with him haha. What would you guys predict as his rookie stats?

[flynismo]

[quote name='gjohnson1989' timestamp='1312333865' post='732702']<br />He did not struggle with drops. He struggled with being hurt freshman year. But never was there a question about his hands. then the last 2 years, both 70+ Rec years. Glad you guys like him! I think he's gonna be huge for you guys. Its pretty crazy to think I lived with him haha. What would you guys predict as his rookie stats?<br />[/quote]


I dont see his totals being very high, since we will likely be spreading the ball all over the place this year..

But a lot of us absolutely love this kid. Sticky sticky hands, and he has a huge catch radius. cant wait to see how this turns out!

[Ravensfan23]

I'll say this. For all that was made about Torrey Smith's small hands and body catching, every video i've seen on Br.com of practice shows him catching the ball well with his hands. And it's not just Flacco tossing the ball out there, some of those throws have been game like throws.

Now I'm not saying his hands are no longer a concern, but they are still a work in progress, especially compared to Doss. However, Torrey Smith doesn't seem nearly as bad as some guys made him out to be catching the ball.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1312407892' post='733930']<br />I'll say this. For all that was made about Torrey Smith's small hands and body catching, every video i've seen on Br.com of practice shows him catching the ball well with his hands. And it's not just Flacco tossing the ball out there, some of those throws have been game like throws. <br /><br />Now I'm not saying his hands are no longer a concern, but they are still a work in progress, especially compared to Doss. However, Torrey Smith doesn't seem nearly as bad as some guys made him out to be catching the ball.<br />[/quote]

yeah, I think that was exaggerated too. His hands definitely weren't as suspect as some people thought.

[Yooniboy]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1312407892' post='733930']
I'll say this. For all that was made about Torrey Smith's small hands and body catching, every video i've seen on Br.com of practice shows him catching the ball well with his hands. And it's not just Flacco tossing the ball out there, some of those throws have been game like throws.

Now I'm not saying his hands are no longer a concern, but they are still a work in progress, especially compared to Doss. However, Torrey Smith doesn't seem nearly as bad as some guys made him out to be catching the ball.
[/quote]

exactly
nicely put.

im sure we can all agree, we want success with Torrey here.
his hands are pretty small, but that doesnt mean they cant catch.
he made it to our 2nd round pick, so SOMEONE saw something in him, despite his hand size

lets just hope for the best,
and pray he pans out

[da#1ravensfan]

Can't wait to see Torry Smith catching a 80 yard bomb from Flacco against the Steelers in week one.

[flynismo]

100th post!


But yeah, so far my biggest fears about Torrey are proving to be reality. Questionable hands and route running...


I'm not going to call him a bust after a few preseason games like others have, but I'll say this - I will be very surprised if he is not Bernard Berrian 2.0. I was sure of that before the draft, and even more sure now.

However the one thing that makes me hold onto hope is the reason I started this topic in the first place -- he has the mental makeup of a winner. Guys like him may get their asses kicked, but they will go down swinging.

I'm rooting for you Torrey. I hope you prove me wrong.

[RoflDogs]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1314335888' post='766777']
100th post!


But yeah, so far my biggest fears about Torrey are proving to be reality. Questionable hands and route running...


I'm not going to call him a bust after a few preseason games like others have, but I'll say this - I will be very surprised if he is not Bernard Berrian 2.0. I was sure of that before the draft, and even more sure now.

However the one thing that makes me hold onto hope is the reason I started this topic in the first place -- he has the mental makeup of a winner. Guys like him may get their asses kicked, but they will go down swinging.

I'm rooting for you Torrey. I hope you prove me wrong.
[/quote]


I haven't seen anything bad with his route running tbh (Though I watched the game quickly cuz I DVRed it). He looks quick off his breaks.

I agree with hands though, but he/we will have to deal with them just like fans deal with Desean's/Nicks'/etc hands

[omar586]

the ravens needs to stop drafting WRs, period, just sign UDFAs or through FA, no more drafting WRs, with exception of doss and D. reed, every WR we drafted suks

[scrock]

Torrey 'hands of stone' Smith

dude has a lot of work to do, he needs to relax like Joe said and play football

[D_UP]

He seems to have concrete hands.

[Ravens1991]

He should taken #89 instead of Doss to follow Taylor and Clayton. LOL Seriously give him time we all knew he was a raw WR. I say we bring him in for a couple of deep bombs a game. Maybe we will get lucky that he is on a nickel w/o safety help and he gets us a 40 yard gain

[flynismo]

[quote name='RoflDogs' timestamp='1314336145' post='766788']


I haven't seen anything bad with his route running tbh (Though I watched the game quickly cuz I DVRed it). He looks quick off his breaks.

I agree with hands though, but he/we will have to deal with them just like fans deal with Desean's/Nicks'/etc hands
[/quote]



I honestly did not think Torrey's hands were THIS bad.
But hey, it's only a few preseason games, so maybe it's just nerves or an aberration.

[Thepurplehaze]

ehh.. He just looks nervous out there. I've watched the guy for some time now at Maryland and that was not the Torrey Smith I've seen all these years.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Thepurplehaze' timestamp='1314338940' post='766854']
ehh.. He just looks nervous out there.
[/quote]


That's what I'm hoping too. Because if it isn't that, then it probably means the NFL is too fast paced for him.

[Thepurplehaze]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1314339069' post='766855']


That's what I'm hoping too. Because if it isn't that, then it probably means the NFL is too fast paced for him.
[/quote]
Yeah, I hope that's not the case. It was a short training camp and the guy is still 22 years old. Give him a year or two to adjust..

[Radinho84]

just a question: how are all the other wr rookies doing so far in the nfl? is there anybody shining right now? i think the fact that they didn´t have otas plays a huge role.

what´s with little, baldwin, jones, green hankerson and all the other guys that we where talking about during the predraft days?

does anybody have information about them? are the cincy fans calling green a bust because he hasn´t had 200 yards receiving in his first two games??

[flynismo]

[quote name='Radinho84' timestamp='1314341734' post='766888']just a question: how are all the other wr rookies doing so far in the nfl? is there anybody shining right now? i think the fact that they didn´t have otas plays a huge role.

what´s with little, baldwin, jones, green hankerson and all the other guys that we where talking about during the predraft days?

does anybody have information about them? are the cincy fans calling green a bust because he hasn´t had 200 yards receiving in his first two games??[/quote]


well, Baldwin is looking terrible (another guy a lot of people here wanted). Just like in college, he cant beat the press.

AJ is looking like Torrey so far.

Seriously, Doss is so far looking like the best WR in the class, other than Julio. That doesn't mean anything after a few preseason games, but an update nevertheless.

[neoi78]

He was not Torrey "stone hands" Smith .. he was Torrey "no hands" Smith. He caught 1 good ball in 3 preseason games. Doss caught 2 balls that were very poorly thrown by a backup QB, that were hardly catchable, and he SNATCHED them out of the air. Torrey body caught 2 or so balls tonight.. its a bad habit to unlearn. I wish the kid luck, as I feel he has the drive to correct his game, in a few years.

[JayDaRavensFan]

I can't stand drops. Nobody is perfect but third down drops for first downs really grinds my gears! Even the one he caught he almost dropped. I hope he gets it together.

[Death_from_Above]

Sorry sir, but you first instincts were correct. He is a Clayton, a Donte Stallworth. He's all speed and no hands. That was his rap coming into the league and in all three preseason games he's dropped passes like a boss. Evans is our burner that can stretch the field, Boldin is our clutch receiver that will get the hard yards, and right now Doss has shown in the game he wants it more. If you want to keep this guy, put him on the practice squad, but don't let him suit up this year. Mark my words, if he plays this year we will all be screaming at the TV when he drops several passes at critical times in a couple games. He's not worth the heartache this year.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1314339069' post='766855']


That's what I'm hoping too. Because if it isn't that, then it probably means the NFL is too fast paced for him.
[/quote]
A lot of rookies are taken by surprise by the speed of NFL games, if that is the problem, it might not be so bad.

However, I doubt that this the problem, but that is just my opinion.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

I think he's let his slow start into his head a little to much and he's really feeling the pressure. I don't want to sound as though I've no faith in him or that I believe he's already a bust but if he started the season as the 5th WR on the depth chart I wouldn't be surprised. Doss has definitely outplayed him and what with Cam's recent comments about Reed he also has an advantage.

One thing I must say though, the thing I yelled at my TV for (at 2AM no less) the most was when I saw Torrey running an end around. Too many bad memories of last year came flooding back.

[SecretAgentMan]

Look, against Pitsburgh, he will go against William Gay, Gay stinks, and he could have a big game.

[y0unghustla]

Like Joe said he is just trying to hard to be perfect. Also I think it has a lot to do with the play calling. If they want to get him involved they need to call plays that go with his strengths which is speed. I never see us running WR screens to the slot or the outside often at all. Get him the ball and let him make people miss in open space and that will build his confidence. Look what the skins did running that screen pass to Austin did for him. He caught some great balls yesterday. That's just my opinion

[mgridda]

His first preseason game he lined up against Asomugha and likely he's just being bombarded with commands, directives and information. Being put in the position he's in now is so high pressure that he's likely doing a lot of introspection and maybe even beating up on himself a lot for not making plays.

I think he's just hungry and thinking too much. It happens to me all the time. If I got off to a good start, I'm king kong. If I start out bad and there's coaches telling me this, veterans telling me that, then I start to get suffocated in all of that self-analysis and over analysis and desire to do really well and I end up having one of my worst performances.

Ultimately, if you want to play sports and do well, then you've got to turn your mind off and just play. Just have fun. Torrey is going to get there, maybe he's learned enough from this last game for it to happen next game.

I think the reason why they like Torrey is because he does well in practice. I don't want him to be another Mark Clayton, but there have been a few times both yesterday and before where Torrey Smith just needed the QB to throw him the ball for it to be a touchdown. On that WR bunch play where Tyrod got flushed out of the pocket if he would have thrown it up for Smith, then Smith was wide open and we'd be praising him today.

It's too fickle, really. He's got to make better of his opportunities.

And for those of you saying "catching is not learned in the NFL" then just look at Roddy White. A lot of players go year to year on how well they catch. Catching is about focus and hand positioning and hand-eye coordination. All of these things can be improved or can be lost over time. Roddy White used to catch footballs just like Torrey Smith and was heavily criticized his first two years.

Last year he was statistically the best receiver in the NFL.