(Torrey) Smith Is A Project WR Compared To Reed/Doss/Williams

[hawkprey]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1313895811' post='758637']

Its all a matter of 'what have you done for me lately'. [b]Everybody sees LaQuan and Reed tear it up against poor competition. On fire. They must be awesome against the first teamers. [/b] I wish we could watch all these guys on a much more even playing field.

I do think Torrey needs work. He is running slow. But I think most of these guys need just as much work.
[/quote]

They've been going against worse competition, but they've also had a worse QB throwing to them. I've seen both them (and Doss) make catches in some small windows. In fact, on the 41 yard completion by Cantwell, Reed actually went up and got it rather than having the ball thrown at him (so to speak).

Next week I want to see them with Joe against 1s. When your guys stand out like that it's time to see what they can do against the next caliber players.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='bmore187' timestamp='1313889520' post='758507']

man i have the right to have an opinion......Torrey has not impressed me in the least bit sorry ........he looks slow too, wheres the speed?
[/quote]
Speed isn't everything in the NFL. You could be the fastest guy on the field but you won't make the team if you're not getting every other aspect of the game down. Just ask Jeremy Bloom; remember him?

That said, it's much, much too early to declare anyone a bust. If we're going off just two preseason games, then you could pretty much say almost every NFL player was a bust their rookie season before they even played a regular season snap.

Also, bear in mind, rookies are at a huge disadvantage this year because they've had almost no time with coaches and have had very little time to learn the playbook. At least veterans can get by on last year's knowledge and basic concepts they've picked up from their time in the league.

[Milton145]

To be fair, not many balls have gone Torrey's way even when he HAS been getting separation.

[Jamal]

I don't really base much if any merit on pre-season games, but I never liked Smith. Just check out my prospect rankings made before we drafted him.

I didn't like the fact that he was extremely raw in the route running department, and had very small hands. I hope he proves me wrong, but I don't anything more than a slightly above average #3.

[Ngata92NT]

Everyone needs to relax on the Torrey Smith-bashing. You really think you can label him a bust after two preseason games? A rookie wide receiver, with no OTA and a shortened training camp, in the 2nd preseason game of his career, running with the 1s and 2s doesn't make a big impression so he's suddenly a bust? Unbelievable.

I'm not a Torrey apologist either, I didn't want us to draft him at all, I criticized the pick afterwards. Torrey is very raw, not a polished route runner yet, and doesn't have elite speed. But I do think we need more time to evaluate him before we can make a true judgement. Torrey showed the ability to get open in his 2nd preseason game, and has already begun to show some improvement. If Joe hadn't missed him on several throws, we'd probably all be singing his praises right now.

However, I do agree that Doss and especially Reed are more valuable to us right now than Torrey. I hope that Reed gets to take some snaps with the 1s in the next game and allow us to test Torrey out against weaker competition. Doss may be the most polished of the three, Doss runs the best routes and is unafraid to go over the middle. Doss also has sticky hands and good size for a WR. However, Reed's superior speed and elusiveness and his greater experience in the system make him my favorite to be the #3 WR week one.

[ghost1986]

Yeah and another guy that comes to mind is Jonathan Baldwin. Looks like it was a good move not to get him. I heard he has a wrist injury that will have him out for a month after getting in a fight in the locker room. The main reason I'm sticking up for Torrey Smith is I start at University of Maryland in the Fall and am ready to be a Terp. That and I've always wanted us to have a deep threat. I wanted Titus Young, but it sounds like he isn't doing too bad either. And LaQuan will earn his spot on the team, but with David Reed coming back healthy and strong, I too think he will be the #3 receiver. And I could care less about hand size. Is the guy going to be a hand model? No. Yeah a receiver needs good hands. They don't have to be big. Jerry Rice also had small hands. I doubt Torrey Smith will ever be at that level, but I'm just saying. I hope Joe improves against the Redskins. I wanna see him connecting with both the youngsters and the vets.

[JamesRules]

Looks like I was right when I said he should be traded LOL! Don't get me wrong, I think he's good. But ready? Hell no! He needs atleast another two years right now it seems like he's making excuses acting as if people are going to bash him right here. I want him to be one of our punt returners now and earn a spot on the WR squad. Right now, it looks like we can pull a Packers by having four receivers to spread the defense. If that's the case, we can go far, I know it.

My list is- Lee, Boldin, Reed, Doss, and last Smith. I'm not sure if Laquan will make the teaming knowing that many players have to get cut. What's more important is looking at the Cornerbacks. That's going to be a fight to see who beats out who.

[cant knock the hustle]

I follow the combine very closely, but unfortunately was forced to miss it this year. In 2009, the wideout that most impressed me was Mike Wallace from Ole Miss. In 2010, it was David Reed from Utah. These two especially impressed me in the gauntlet drill. Reed had some of the best hand eye coordination I've ever seen out of the combine. He's got great hands and I think he could be like a Steve Smith, formerly of the Giants.

As for Torrey Smith, the hate is completely unwarranted at this point. Dude's played a few drives in two preseason games and had to go up against the best corner in the league in game 1. He is somewhat of a project but he has tremendous upside. This is something we bargained for in the draft. I have seen many comparisons to Roddy White, even on Falcons message boards. Roddy White, like Smith, was a project coming out of UAB and had two terrible seasons, poor enough to be considered a first round bust. In year 3, he was a completely different receiver and exploded onto the scene with a combination of Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and Byron Leftwich throwing to him. Torrey Smith has a very similar skill set to Roddy White and they two both came into the NFL unpolished.

I agree Torrey Smith is a project but I would like to see him as the slot receiver this season. Although the stats might not be there in years one or two, his impact will be felt because of his ability to stretch the field. We haven't shown this yet in preseason because we do not want to play our hand. He, like Doss, has been drawing rave reviews in training camp. But IMO Smith has much greater upside (I think potential number 1 whereas Doss is more of a 2) and should be thrown into the fire early, if nothing more than to stretch the field early in his career,

[BadgerVid]

Evans comes to Baltimore with 2 years left on his contract.

That says to me that Smith/Doss have 2 years to sort it out and Lee has 2 years to prove that his past couple of years was because he was in Buffalo.

Except Lee hates to move and will want to stay.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='BadgerVid' timestamp='1313904417' post='758711']
Evans comes to Baltimore with 2 years left on his contract.

That says to me that Smith/Doss have 2 years to sort it out and Lee has 2 years to prove that his past couple of years was because he was in Buffalo.

Except Lee hates to move and will want to stay.
[/quote]
I agree. As of right now, it's unrealistic to expect Tandon Doss, David Reed, or Torrey Smith to be the #2. Based solely on one preseason game, the #2 WR spot is Lee Evans' job to lose, and quite frankly, the onus is on Smith and Doss to prove over these next 2-3 years that they deserve not only to be the #2 behind Boldin, but the future #1 if Boldin declines significantly in that span.

I'm not concerned about Smith. I'm also not concerned about Doss or Reed. The team drafted two receivers this year with the intent of developing them [i]before[/i] they're thrust in extensive action, as opposed to throwing them in the fire as they did with Mark Clayton. We'll see in due time if these picks pan out.

[The Raven]

He's not a bust yet, and he's not quite a project. He'll take time to mold him into an NFL WR, but I wouldn't call him a project by any stretch. Give him time dude.

[Greatness]

Torrey will be ard with a little more time. As in my signature, Tandon Doss is a freakin' Boss. He may be slow, but he's sho nuff a pro, yo!

[reediddy]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1313908517' post='758727']
He's not a bust yet, and he's not quite a project. He'll take time to mold him into an NFL WR, but I wouldn't call him a project by any stretch. Give him time dude.
[/quote]

Not nearly a bust, we haven't played any games. He just has to learn how to run NFL routes. Although I guess we could make him an honorary Moss running go's all day

[ravensdfan]

Definitely a Reed groupie here.

Right now, I'd want:

Boldin/Evans/Reed/Doss .....Smith/Williams

I reserve the right to change my opinion as more preseason games are played however lol

[jdynamite]

Everyone already knew Doss was a polished WR with savvy route running ability, ( he wasn't highly coveted because of the "elite speed factor" during the draft process. Doss has always been viewed as an instant plug in as a complementary WR ( 3 r 4).
T.Smith on the other hand has the speed, decent hands, but needs work on route running. When the draft occurred people consistently compared him to Heyward-Bay but analysts always stated that he was much more of a polished WR than Heyward-Bay was coming out of college.
I think during the season Smith should be able to make an impact in the slot simply by drawing mismatches with seam-routes down the middle where his speed should allow separation for big plays against nickel backs, dime backs or even safeties.
** I was so happy he was our 2nd round pick and not the 1st pick like some mock drafts had lol**
Honestly it reminds me of the Dolphins a few yrs ago.
Ted Ginn - elite speed ( need route running work). (similar to Torrey smith)
Davone Bess - good route runner ( but average speed, fell in the draft ) Tandon Doss

No I'm not saying Smith will end up like Ted Ginn just comparing skill sets.

[jdynamite]

Btw, can anyone tell me what happen to WR James Hardy?? Did he get cut, injured what's the deal? Has he played in a preseason game, because I haven't seen or noticed him if he has.

[BloodRaven]

Torrey Smith is a project. I wouldn't be surprised if he remains buried on the depth chart for most of his career here.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1313927136' post='758784']
Torrey Smith is a project. I wouldn't be surprised if he remains buried on the depth chart for most of his career here.
[/quote]
And Im not surprised by this comment. I mean, he is certainly a bust. If you can't shine in the first two preseason games, its a wrap! You're done! Pack 'em up and go home!!

[Tiz]

@torreysmith SUCKS

Take that motivation torrey.
You know how hard you working. You know what the coaches think. And I know you read comments on you and use that while you work on your game

[GrimCoconut]

Bust? Bust? We're just trying to get a good wide receiver!

Anyway, I won't reiterate the obvious consensus being T. Smith needs more time. I will just say this:

If you want to see a bust look at DHB, Cody, Gholston, Maybin and see what they all have in common. Give the man a chance to prove himself before cutting him. I'm sure Tom Brady didn't light up his first preseason game.

C'mon, man.

[dontbnvus]

LMAO a possible bust ! All this based on? Not catching the non passes thrown his way? Not throwing the ball to himself and taking it 80 yards while leaping linebackers in a single bound? Offensively we have not looked very good at all in the passing game the first two weeks. That is not all Torreys fault. The first game the Qbs had zero time to take a breath let alone scan and deliver. The second game Joes timing was off with almost everyone. Can we atleast give this kid a chance before putting the bust label on him?

It is rather funny though ... 3 1/2 weeks with a NFL team, faced some very good corners, had some poor passes thrown his way. Yup he is a bust alright.

[lowrider]

On the ravens official webpage after Reed's return, there was a clip of David Reed and Torrey Smith in a practice catching and turning and running up the sideline. Reed looked confident, smooth, and fast compared to Smith. Then the next thing I read is that Reed was having some struggles in camp catching or something like that. Now last year I kept hearing about Reed's hands, so I bet the injury and getting back into rhythm is part of it.

But it is way to early to say anything about both. I like that Mike Duffy likes Reed so I hope he makes an impact this year. I do think Smith will need a year to develop but that isn't unusual. Wide receiver takes a couple years to develop.

[Jamal]

[quote name='Greatness' timestamp='1313910650' post='758743']
Torrey will be ard with a little more time. As in my signature, Tandon Doss is a freakin' Boss. He may be slow, but he's sho nuff a pro, yo!
[/quote]
Doss isn't exactly a speed demon, but he is definitely not slow. He has more than enough speed, to become a solid combo type WR.

[Militant X 1]

Torrey has been mute (silent) these past 2 games. hopefully he can make some noise his next time out.

~Mili

[H8R]

A bust? You guys are too much, he hasn't even played a REAL game. It's a ridiculous idea to expect the guy to get after starting veteran cb's in PRESEASON with ZERO off-season! Let us not forget, just the timing with Flacco alone could take a whole season. I love Joe but let's not think hes one of those QB'S that make his receivers vastly improved.... just from him throwing the ball. He's a young QB himself with a lot to learn.

I think Torrey will do good things for us. Give the kid a chance. He's a hardworker and physically gifted. Torrey hasn't exactly had much of a chance to stretch the field. He'll have more chances and I think he will give us some big plays this year.

[D_UP]

If smith burns the steelers in week 1 everyone that's doubting him will be singing his praises then. Give the guy time 2 preseason games doesn't tell the whole story on the guy. Late

[-Truth-]

Definitely too early to call him a bust.

[PuRock]

[quote name='D_UP' timestamp='1313965821' post='759300']
[b]If smith burns the steelers in week 1 everyone that's doubting him will be singing his praises then.[/b] Give the guy time 2 preseason games doesn't tell the whole story on the guy. Late
[/quote]

Not only that, but everybody will want to give him a nickname.

[BloodRaven]

There are a lot of examples of elite WRs who weren't/aren't speed demons, and a lot of WRs who can run like the wind yet are pretty terrible. But based on what we've seen Smith is a long, long way from being a starter.

[Tyler]

Some fans make me laugh at their lack of football knowledge. Maybe in 2008 we should have Labeled Flacco as a bust after having a horrendous pre season his rookie year. How'd that work out for us?