[Merged] Jimmy Smith & Cary Williams (Week 2 Preseason)

[The King]

Looked like Jimmy's coverage on Dwayne Bowe (who, were you ranking receivers by their athletic freakishness would probably fall only behind Andre and Calvin Johnson) looked very solid most of the game. Bowe made one spectacular catch tipping the ball and then bringing it in with one hand, and a very nice one off a beautiful throw along the side line. Williams also played very tight coverage. Both of them need just work on making a play on the ball once it's in the air. Were they better at that they probably wouldn't have allowed a reception all night.

[Yatagarasu]

Tell Jimmy that if he wants to be a #1, I mean #1 cornerback, somewhere around Revis or even Nnamdi's level, he has to play till the whistle. Just cause he gives a tight window doesn't mean Peyton will not thread a pass to teach the rookie a lesson. Jimmy needs to start intercepting the ball and be a ballhawk to show QBs that throwing that tight window is not a good idea. Just seeing the tight window he's creating against #1 WRs gives me hope that he might be the better CB out of the 1st round. PP7 and Prince "I broke my foot" haven't been impressing to their team. I expect Jimmy to have a Joe Haden type season, or maybe even a pro-bowl Devin McCourty type season. However, I believe our CB position is going to be a position of strength.

[MKdave]

The thing about Cary is that he has impressed at every training camp and PS, but he hasn't stepped up when it matters, yet. I'd still start with Webb in base, and move Webb into the slot when we go nickel and dime with Cary and Smith on the outside, which is what we were doing last night. If he continues to play at a high level, then make him the number 2. Does anyone know how Foxworth is recovering?

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

He looked impressive, but he's still got a long way to go before I'd consider him a lock for starting as a #1 or #2 corner in the regular season. I think a Williams/Smith combo could be likely down the stretch though, especially when you consider Chuck Pagano's recent comments about how he enjoys watching them play, their physicality.

[Pääjärvi]

[quote name='jimmysmith3' timestamp='1313812274' post='757455']
Ya I think he could be a good #2 corner or a solid #1. He did get beat at the end of the quarter on that slant route when the Cheifs scored that TD, but other than that he was excellent. With him and Jimmy playing that tight press and Ngata, Cody, Suggs, and co. blitzing; we will be even better this year defensively. [b]Josh Wilson? Who's that?[/b]
[/quote]

Our best CB last season

[BloodRaven]

Definitely impressed, I just hope they continue to improve and we don't come crashing back down to earth like with Webb.

[ravensdfan]

I concur with most of the opinions stated.

Williams was excellent throughout nearly 3 full quarters. He got beat twice (one for a TD) but everyone gets beat sometimes. He is still outperforming every CB we have.

J. Smith got schooled a little bit. His coverage is definitely tight. Needs to pay more attention to the ball and finish plays. Not sure how quick he can adjust. I guess we'll see.

[poedacrow]

Is this where the line for the Smith/Williams bandwagon forms? I'm all in. Seems like only yesterday when we were
fretting over our DBs...now look!

[Ronthekeys]

[quote name='wayne' timestamp='1313825929' post='757619']

.....and even on that TD catch on Cary, that was aight coverage.Also, y'all call someone catching the ball on you as getting beat? Sometimes as great as the coverage is, the catch and placement of the ball is even greater but that doesn't mean the CB got beat, just the WR made the play and the QB's placement of the ball was near to flawless.
[/quote]Cary just let the receiver get inside. That's something that can be corrected. That why we have preseason.

[T-ray]

[quote name='MKdave' timestamp='1313832162' post='757633']
The thing about Cary is that he has impressed at every training camp and PS, but he hasn't stepped up when it matters, yet. I'd still start with Webb in base, and move Webb into the slot when we go nickel and dime with Cary and Smith on the outside, which is what we were doing last night. If he continues to play at a high level, then make him the number 2. Does anyone know how Foxworth is recovering?
[/quote]

And you know why Cary has stepped it up when it matters?? Because unlike Pagano, Mattison had a tendency of having his head stuck up his butt and not knowing who should be playing for him and when. Williams was never given a chance to be a starter or even see the field outside of special teams last year; how can someone 'step up' if they're never given a chance to do so??

[GrimCoconut]

I know this is primarily about Smith & Williams, but I have a question about another cornerback we drafted: Chykie Brown. Did anyone see him play last night or last week? I haven't been able to watch the preseason games except segments of the games, so I'm curious how he's performed.

Thanks.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='Ronthekeys' timestamp='1313846834' post='757725']
Cary just let the receiver get inside. That's something that can be corrected. That why we have preseason.
[/quote]

Credit the WR on that play as well. He gave Cary a hard fake on the fade route and that half of step Cary took was all the WR needed to get inside.

As I said before, both Jimmy and Cary are aggressive, ball hawking guys. If you were pumped about him running the route, then you have to take the TD given up in stride because you take the good with the bad with aggressive guys like that.

But if and when those two guys learn when to jump, and can avoid getting beat because of their aggression, that's when greatness happens

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1313848492' post='757744']
I know this is primarily about Smith & Williams, but I have a question about another cornerback we drafted: Chykie Brown. Did anyone see him play last night or last week? I haven't been able to watch the preseason games except segments of the games, so I'm curious how he's performed.

Thanks.
[/quote]

He played well last week, especially for his first NFL game. I can't say he really stood out to me last night, because I was watching the front 7 alot.

A bit off topic, but man do I love McPhee. For the people how gave Ozzie a failing grade for not addressing the pass rush in the draft, you might wanna reconsider. Just saying.

But back to Brown. I'm about the re-watch the NFL Networks replay of the game, so If you want I could give you my thoughts and views on Brown after that.

[hawkprey]

For 2 corners who have never started a game, or probably even played a regular season snap at CB, these guys looked tremendous. I think their physical press coverage works a lot better with our tendencies to blitz than Foxworth and Webb's style. When the ball is coming out quick, you don't want to give your guy a ten yard bumper to work with.

Also, keep in mind corners routinely get burned in the preseason because they haven't gameplanned. They have absolutely no idea what to expect, while WRs don't need to gameplan for corners. So CBs have the worse hand this time of year.

[bmore187]

I loved the Smith Williams combo starting. I didnt believe the Cary Williams hype until now. Its easy to see that Williams is a better CB than Webb. Sorry but its true, i like Webb but he's too up and down as a player to me. He'll have a solid game then turn around play bad the next one. Webb does great at blitzing and run support but coverage wise he gets beat more often then not and seems to be regressing rather than improving. With that being said i would like to see Webb at the Dime and Carr at the nickel. Bring in overpaid overrated I have a no ACL Foxworth in only when teams go to a 5WR set. Also Zibikowski has been playing like crap and i actually like Nakamura > Zibikowski. Nakamura will come up and hit you! With all that being said this how our secondary depth chart should look like: FS Ed Reed / Zibikowski SS Bernard Pollard / Nakamura
CB Cary Williams CB Jimmy Smith
Nickel- Carr
Dime - Webb
Quarter- Foxworth

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='ravensfan2430' timestamp='1313813486' post='757489']
Tight coverage. Needs to locate the ball a bit better, but that will happen the more he plays.
[/quote]
I agree but I sorta expected something like this to happen. Remember he was hardly thrown against in college because of his tight coverage so that's the one thing he'll have to work on. He was right there but is just not used to getting thrown on all that much.

I wish Jon Baldwin had played. I wold have like to see Jimmy against the really tall receiver. Smith vs A.J. Green should be epic when it happens.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1313857027' post='757878']
I agree but I sorta expected something like this to happen. Remember he was hardly thrown against in college because of his tight coverage so that's the one thing he'll have to work on. He was right there but is just not used to getting thrown on all that much.

I wish Jon Baldwin had played. I wold have like to see Jimmy against the really tall receiver. Smith vs A.J. Green should be epic when it happens.
[/quote]

Yea, also keep in mind that Bowe is a pro bowl WR. It wasn't just some 2nd or 3rd year WR, it was a top 10 WR. Both The Jimmy and The CW did a great job in coverage on Bowe.

Jimmy will learn to get his head around sooner, the more comfortable he becomes, but neither guy looked like a young player out there.

[wayne]

[quote name='bmore187' timestamp='1313853228' post='757813']
I loved the Smith Williams combo starting. I didnt believe the Cary Williams hype until now. Its easy to see that Williams is a better CB than Webb. Sorry but its true, i like Webb but he's too up and down as a player to me. He'll have a solid game then turn around play bad the next one. Webb does great at blitzing and run support but coverage wise he gets beat more often then not and seems to be regressing rather than improving. With that being said i would like to see Webb at the Dime and Carr at the nickel. Bring in overpaid overrated I have a no ACL Foxworth in only when teams go to a 5WR set. Also Zibikowski has been playing like crap and i actually like Nakamura > Zibikowski. Nakamura will come up and hit you! With all that being said this how our secondary depth chart should look like: FS Ed Reed / Zibikowski SS Bernard Pollard / Nakamura
CB Cary Williams CB Jimmy Smith
Nickel- Carr
Dime - Webb
Quarter- Foxworth
[/quote]

^^^^^^^ This! Fellas, that was great coverage by Smith, great coverage. Turining his head around and playing the ball more so than the WR can easily be taught but what is hard to teach a CB is good coverage and Smith has this so no worries, in 2 more preseason games he can correct that for the most part. Also, I feel Webb has regressed a little too and we know Carr is just a slot CB and who knows how Foxy will return from the injury. Obviously, for Pagano to try out Smith and Williams speaks volumes rght there and I'm sure we have our starting CBs in Williams and Smith from Day 1. I know people wondering how can I be so confident after 1 game of preseason at that but justb seeing the way they are playing, I haven't seen that since 06 with how they are playing. Sure, they will get beat but name any CB outside the obvious that's considered one of the best CBs in the league that don't get beat here and there. Now, I would like to see how they do vs a fast WR and playing Atl next week will be perfect for that evaluation. Ok, Williams got a TD pass completed on him and another pass, so what?

[scrock]

Cary WIlliams looked good, he played better than Jimmy because he has more experience

Jimmy had good coverage on a couple of those Bowe catches, especially on the one he knocked the ball out and Bowe made a one handed catch, Jimmy will learn to play the ball better as the weeks go on, I was impressed with both guys

[bmore187]

[quote name='wayne' timestamp='1313873245' post='758272']
^^^^^^^ This! Fellas, that was great coverage by Smith, great coverage. Turining his head around and playing the ball more so than the WR can easily be taught but what is hard to teach a CB is good coverage and Smith has this so no worries, in 2 more preseason games he can correct that for the most part. Also, I feel Webb has regressed a little too and we know Carr is just a slot CB and who knows how Foxy will return from the injury. Obviously, for Pagano to try out Smith and Williams speaks volumes rght there and I'm sure we have our starting CBs in Williams and Smith from Day 1. I know people wondering how can I be so confident after 1 game of preseason at that but justb seeing the way they are playing, I haven't seen that since 06 with how they are playing. Sure, they will get beat but name any CB outside the obvious that's considered one of the best CBs in the league that don't get beat here and there. Now, I would like to see how they do vs a fast WR and playing Atl next week will be perfect for that evaluation. Ok, Williams got a TD pass completed on him and another pass, so what?
[/quote]

Thank You

[Ronthekeys]

I think the ravens might rotate Foxworth and Cary to start the season and then determine who is the starter midway n the season. You got to give him time the way he's been performing.

[Alexir]

For those interested, WBAL will be replaying the game tonight at 7 30

I think Cary and Jimmy played so well last night. That one catch Bowe had was lucky and on the other catch Jimmy was right on his hip the whole time.

Our corners are looking better and it looks like we FINALLY replaced Chris and Samari. Slip and Slide (Fabian and Foxworth) was my least favorite corner tandem.

[Kwothdaraven]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1313881191' post='758386']
For those interested, WBAL will be replaying the game tonight at 7 30

I think Cary and Jimmy played so well last night. That one catch Bowe had was lucky and on the other catch Jimmy was right on his hip the whole time.

Our corners are looking better and it looks like we FINALLY replaced Chris and Samari. Slip and Slide (Fabian and Foxworth) was my least favorite corner tandem.
[/quote]
looks like gymnastics is coming on at 8. i dont see the ravens. or anything football for that matter

[Kevin Mullins]

I agree with all the thoughts shared prior to me.

I think Jimmy Smith will develop into a very special player over the course of the next 18 games. I'm interested to see him cover on a deep route though. I know he has good speed, but not great speed, and if he is slated to be our #1 he will have a test playing Andre Johnson of the Texans.

Cary Williams is a find!! The kid is long limbed, quick, and capable of playing bigger then his body. I am worried, however, that he could be a guy that plays great with the microscope on, but relaxes a bit when he is asserted a job. He could be a could #2 corner.

Ladarius presented a physical side to him that I didn't know he possessed. I think he could be an excellent situational nickel corner, who would be moved outside when needed in coverage. I feel he is much like cris carr and better with the sideline as an assistant.

Lastly, I didn't see anyone mention that Foxy was out there last night. He is the veteran that can provide great coverage when needed. I think we all wrote him off and forgot about the rather good job he did for us the year we signed him. I agree that he is not worth the massive contract we provided, but he is younger then most think (played with josh for a year or two) and is smart, and probably our fastest corner in a straight line.

I think when you factor in all of these guys, as well as an oustanding rotation of Zibby, naki, and Pollard you will see a pass defense unlike any other.

[jimmysmith3]

[quote name='Pääjärvi' timestamp='1313833670' post='757638']

Our best CB last season
[/quote]
Haters gonna hate.

[The Raven]

Jimmy covered Bowe really well for a rookie, even for a vet imo. Bowe just... made some nice grabs... Looked like some madden catches man... lol

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1313910991' post='758746']
Jimmy covered Bowe really well for a rookie, even for a vet imo. Bowe just... made some nice grabs... Looked like some madden catches man... lol
[/quote]
Jimmy Smith's only problem in that game against the Chiefs was that he wasn't finishing plays as often as he should. That's a skill that'll be learned over time. I'm sure that he'll be bombarded with lowlights of the plays he didn't finish during film study, as opposed to the handful of plays that he finished beautifully during that game.

That aside, I can see Jimmy Smith having an immediate impact on this team early in the season, even if he's not starting.

[reediddy]

[quote name='wayne' timestamp='1313873245' post='758272']
^^^^^^^ This! Fellas, that was great coverage by Smith, great coverage. Turining his head around and playing the ball more so than the WR can easily be taught but what is hard to teach a CB is good coverage and Smith has this so no worries, in 2 more preseason games he can correct that for the most part. Also, I feel Webb has regressed a little too and we know Carr is just a slot CB and who knows how Foxy will return from the injury. Obviously, for Pagano to try out Smith and Williams speaks volumes rght there and I'm sure we have our starting CBs in Williams and Smith from Day 1. I know people wondering how can I be so confident after 1 game of preseason at that but justb seeing the way they are playing, I haven't seen that since 06 with how they are playing. Sure, they will get beat but name any CB outside the obvious that's considered one of the best CBs in the league that don't get beat here and there. Now, I would like to see how they do vs a fast WR and playing Atl next week will be perfect for that evaluation. Ok, Williams got a TD pass completed on him and another pass, so what?
[/quote]

I agree with you here. Pagano seems to be returning to our aggressive blitzing style defense of the past which requires big corners that can press and hold their own on an island. From what I saw against the Chiefs, Jimmy was right there with Bowe every time, but the veteran savvy of Bowe and the speed of the game gave him the advantage. Williams looked promising but had his moments where it looks like he needs work. I've always thought that he needed a good look given his size and I'm glad he is getting his opportunity. Still, I personally never thought of Foxworth as anything more than a glorified nickel, and especially so now that he is coming back from injury. Webb seems to have regressed, I agree, but his aggressive style is good for certain CB blitz packages and that shows. Carr as our nickel seems to work. I'm happy with how our defense is shaping up. Kindle also looked very good in the rush, as well as McPhee.

[colljb9]

i love the blitzing style pagano has brought back to the ravens D, especially with our young guys stepping up in all sorts of situations like kruger, mcphee, kindle, arthur jones, nakamura. Jimmy and Cary are both young and i think foxworth needs to stick around (with a big pay cut) to help these guys progress but i do think the tandem should start. Hopefully our offense gets it together because if our first team/ main rotation defense, which really only gave up 7 points because the one punt was fumbled by webb that led to that cheap field goal...gives up only 7 points in about 2 and a half quarters of work...im pretty confident were going to win those games. The touchdown drive was at the end of the half and harbaugh will get that lack of effort and concentration at the end of the half figured out by week 1...so if you look at that our defense really didnt give up any points to a 2010 playoff team. Im not worried and i think in these next two weeks we'll see our real defense come out...week 4 of the preseason against the falcons will be a real test and i hope joe brings chip on his shoulder and outplays his draft counterpart matt ryan

[SecretAgentMan]

All Jimmy Smith has to do is look behind him while covering people. Then he will be a shutdown corner. Cary, will do good, if he can learn how to step it up in the redzone.