[Blogs] Is Torrey Ready To Be No. 2?

[BR News]

No Malcom Floyd. No Derrick Mason.

While Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said the team is open to bringing in a free-agent wide receiver, the choices are dwindling.

That means the rookies could be relied upon to step into the No. 2 spot behind veteran Anquan Boldin. Seemingly, speedster second-round pick Torrey Smith would be a natural option.

“The history is that guys can play right out of the gate, and we’re not going to lower the bar for these guys. The bar is high,” Harbaugh said.

“They knew what they were getting into when we drafted them. We did draft them because we thought they were guys who would get up to speed quickly.”

Like all rookies, Smith didn’t have the rookie camps or organized team activities that help with progressing in an offense. But he does possess a game-breaking speed that requires no teaching to use.

Smith had one of his most impressive practices Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium. He flashed across the middle, stretching short dumps for potential long gains. He has also shown his ability to get behind cornerbacks and track the deep ball in practice.

“I feel I was a little more focused and locked in today. It was the build-up of understanding the offense more and being more confident,” Smith said.

He was asked if he felt he would be ready to be the No. 2 receiver if needed.

“I just want to play, whatever role it may be,” the Maryland product said. “I feel they drafted for me to play and I just need to be as ready as I can.”

It’s still early in the training camp process, however, and as Harbaugh said, the first true test will be Thursday in the opening preseason game in Philadelphia, when Smith has to take his lessons from practice to a game.

Boldin, who has been tutoring Smith and all the young wideouts, said Smith has been picking up the offense pretty quickly.

“We’ll see. Some guys are, some guys aren’t,” Boldin said. “I think he’s one of those guys that are capable of stepping into that No. 2 spot.”

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/08/07/is-torrey-ready-to-be-no-2/]View the full article[/url]

[GT_Samson]

If Cam would open up the playbook a little bit more it wouldn't matter who is the #2 we will succeed. I hated watching the 2nd half of our last loss and how predictable we were. Lets just go and have a good year no matter who's on the field. (I'd like to see Tandon Doss tho lol)

[Yum Chickens]

I'm really interested in seeing what Tandon Doss can do as well

[Jaf0414]

We have weapons its time to open up the play book and usee all of them we have a good set of wrs that all carry there own triats size speed hands its time to get them in situations where they will win... we have two good tigh ends that can cath good running backs and a stud qb. our line is picking it up...

[Jcpoe222]

He will be 100% fine, is anyone really shocked that we had to get rid of Heap and Mason? This will be thee best move for Flacco, no more comfort blankets

[Jaf0414]

the ravens need to show there ersitillity we need to agttack on offence now
will different approaches and use what we have

[Yum Chickens]

Also, I don't like this poll. There's no option for undecided or "we'll see" as Boldin said. I'm just going to vote yes though because I like being optimistic =)

[JohnnyTsunami10]

RANDY MOSS

[BMORElegacy]

Where is the "He doesn't have a choice" option? With Floyd and Mason blowing us off it looks like Torrey is being thrust into the role. And since the FO has been pursuing WRs it looks like they don't want Torrey in that role just yet, but it looks like its going to happen, like it or not.

[joemak]

Boldin had a huge rookie year. If he can do half of what Boldin did his rookie year we will be fine.

[ravenfan4ever]

Did anyone notice last year that while we had some 240-280 air yard games that 80-90% of those yards were in one half. Either they ran up 200 air yards in the first half and tried to sit on the lead in the second, or 40 first half yards and then opened it up in the second coming from behind. Hope this year we see some 2 half games on offense. Come on Cam... let's play to win...wire to wire, on offense instead of depending on the "D" that let us down in the 4th quarter a lot last year. No more of that "play it safe" approach. It's kinda like the prevent defense... often prevents you from winning

[HEINY55]

Forget Moss, forget Owens... We need to pick up Smith if anyone and I'm not even set on him. Really optimistic about our Receiving core this year...

[Waka Flocka Flacco]

I agree with Johnny, lets give Randy a shot sign him to a 1 yr contract see how he behaves. He would immediately boost our receiving corps and take pressure off the rookies. Him and Boldin would be unstoppable, and throw RR in the mix we'd be looking at a high powered offense.

[balfan23]

Well, this is one of the million dollar questions for the Ravens this year, isn't it? And it is quite possible that the season is riding on the answer.

[Flacco2Mason]

Hope so, because he might have to.

[ravensmaniac]

saw team practice sat! doss looks great! joe knew what he was getting there. i believe we brought boldin in last year to replace mason this year. the team we had last year was good but, not good enough. if we kept mason we dont improve. they have found a way to get better and this is that path. who knows with the lockout if the team can put it all together in time for a s.b. run this year. they still have a month untill it counts. in ozzy we trust! be a true fan and put up or shut up! flacco is the best qb this city has had in a VERY long time. he has improved in all three years. a lot of us "fans" say he dumps it off too much? what does brady and welker do? stop making the real fans look bad with idiotic comments. Flacco's
stats are comparable to brady in the last year or so, i'm not saying he is brady but get real people.dont forget what we went through with the Baltimore colts we have a team and that is all that matters so be positive. now LETS GO RAVENS!!

[BmoreKing]

Torrey was a sure bright spot on a confused Offense at the practice.

[display name]

It would be nice to add a nice free agent WR or make a trade, but Torrey Smith is promising. In a couple years he could easily start. For know I'm looking at Mark Clayton or the NYG's Steve Smith.

[stixfix69]

IMO TJ is the logical choice, he knows the offense, and was really our best mismatch last year being covered by #3 CB's......He was terribly under-used by Cam.....He always towers over the smaller CB's....Smith has a injury history which a is red flag for me, hate to see us pony up the money, only to watch him get dinged up......

[balfan23]

If this is question #1 for the Ravens, we also have:

2. Is Jah ready to be a starting RT?
3. With Birk on his last legs, who can fill in at C when needed?
4. Other than possibly Cousins, do we have any suitable backups along the O line?
5. Can an emergence from Kindle and the aggressiveness of Pagano address our anemic pass rush?
6. Can Flacco play 16 games (plus hopefully 3 more), as we have no one to back him up?
7. How many carries can Rice endure, as we have no one reliable to reduce his workload?
8. Is Foxworth done, and if so, who will be the starting 2 and what shall we do with a $7M bench player?
9. Are Dickson and Pitta ready to fill Heap's huge shoes?
10. In order to answer these questions, we'll need to make personnel moves ... so are we EVER going to work a long term deal with Ngata to free cap space?

Some of these are issues could be addressed before the season starts and we are all patiently (well, maybe not so patiently) awaiting the answers. Some others are simply questions that will only be answered on the field during the course of the season.

[Naull]

Tj, TO, or Stokley

We have some choices i prefer Stokley or TJ for a nice speedster, despite TJ dropping that pass, he did beat the Steelers early in the season with a great cut n catch and maybe that dropped pass put a chip on his shoulders to proove himself, let Flacco play aggressive with some play calling and lets spread teams out.

[duknatr]

people need to know it was not all the defense fault last year. if the offence could held on the ball longer the defense would not have to try so hard.

[Ravens fan PA]

@ravensmaniac I agree we have a good team let it play out its time to move forward give these guys a chance.

[balfan23]

[quote name='stixfix69' timestamp='1312737864' post='739707']
IMO TJ is the logical choice, he knows the offense, and was really our best mismatch last year being covered by #3 CB's......He was terribly under-used by Cam.....He always towers over the smaller CB's....Smith has a injury history which a is red flag for me, hate to see us pony up the money, only to watch him get dinged up......
[/quote]
So many people out here blasting the concept of bringing TJ back. I agree, if we bring anyone, I'd prefer to see it be TJ. He had terrible #s last year, but as you said he was under-used by Cam. With no Mason, I think he could fit in the mix. He's no burner, but still can get behind defenses and outsize some CBs.

We'll just have to believe that the FO will make the right move.

[Jcpoe222]

@balfan you're asking questions that every team in the NFL now has to answer with us being back into a salary capped season. We had the luxury for the past two seasons of having depth and players to fill the void if needed. So my only question to you is how about we see what happens with a whole bunch of new younger players?

[stephon]

Steve smtih from Ny giants google him

[raven410]

You can do it!!!

[theflock52]

man im really hoping our offense doesn't collapse this year. im tired of seeing us fall in the playoffs to Pittsburgh. i think torrey will be a great vertical threat for the ravens that really haven't showed us in all of the years they've been here. lets go torrey and the offense!

[CapoRocky]

I have watched Torrey since his early days at UMD. The preseason will be a gut check for Torrey and the other rookies. Can you say super-sized butterflies in the stomach? Can we pass against Philadelphia in the preseason opener? Does Aso make them one of the best defenses in the league? Here are some other things floating around in my mind: (a) how will the rookies hold up to the pressure of playing against Pittsburgh in the season opener?; (b)what role will Doss play in the equation?; (c) can Q finally have a breakout season without Mason taking half of his receptions?; (d) will the line give Joe enough protection to throw deep to Torrey?; (e) will the presence of Vonta make running the first option?; (f)does anyone think that bringing in another WR is really the answer?

[TOM IS COOL]

get steve smith