[News] Eisenberg: Ravens Banking On Steve Smith To Produce

[BR News]

While young receivers develop, the Ravens must get as much as possible from the 36-year-old veteran.

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[Arch Mage]

You go Steve Smith, Sr. I hope you can see that being a coach to all these young guys may be the biggest contribution you can make in OTA's. We need you on the field in September!

[ellicottraven]

I disagree with the entire premise of your argument John. The Ravens front office and coaching staff is too smart to bank on Steve Smith Sr. this year. I don't think they're banking on it, but if he gets another 1000 yd season will sure be glad. I truly believe the Ravens think that their young receing corps between Brown, Perriman, Aiken, and other young players will get to the next level this year and contribute in the passing game heavily. But, they aren't foolish enough to expect a great season and bank on Steve Smith at 36 yrs old, despite how great a player he's been.

[Rat]

Maybe he knows something from the coaching staff...you don't. Just sayin...

[The Mom Gene]

"In one sense, that's a bit of a dice roll. As ESPN's Jamison Hensley pointed out Monday, the last 36-year-old NFL receiver to surpass 1,000 yards in a season was Joey Galloway in 2007. It's only happened five times in league history. There does seem to be a ceiling of sorts for receivers his age."

 

In 2009 at 35 respectively, Derrick Mason caught 73 passes for 1,028 yards. He fell way off after that. In 2010 he had 61 catches for 802. And then on to the Jets and Houston where he was completely ineffective... In 2009 at 35, he was comparable to Smith.

 

I also believe that Steve trains much harder, and is defying his age a little better than most.

[salamander]

I am actually very relieved to know SSS is out there on the field right now with these young players. Who could possibly be a better role model to help these receivers develop their skills? Even more important, who is better equipped than SSS to instill the passion and intensity for this game, starting on day 1 of OTAS? Grateful that SSS is showing this level of leadership.

[stixfix69]

SSS training regiment has kept him physically in great shape on the other side of 30, I really see no reason for his play to drop off, unless Trestman calls plays that target the other WR's more this year....There is no doubt we drafted for the future, and the players entering their 3rd year are expected to up their games....I think the FO and coaches were thinking when we signed him he would be done after his first year, and didn't see the numbers he put up last year coming....And i honestly think had SSS had a average year and released, we would have re-signed Torrey, but SSS play allowed us to move on, and commit to the cheaper youth movement...jmo...

[Saxxin]

SSS play's like a Raven an will be a big part of showing the new guys how to play by that mentality. I think this is Joe's best core of receivers to date. 4k yards and 30 TD's are well within his reach with this group.

[budman]

I believe Steve will get it done. Like a lot of people, I am looking forward and excited about the upcoming season. I know that we are very talented but I keep asking myself "Are we too young and inexperienced at this point. I sure hope not. I would love to see rookies and vets gel together to take this season by storm and climb to heights we haven't seen yet.

GO RAVENS!

[Ravenseconbeast]

SSS without injury is an insane athlete. We all know he took some seriously tough catches last year. He never would show you he took some beating, but he did.

He is going to be phenomenal. He is all out 100%. Just the way RAVENS should be playing all the time!

[EvilWayz]

Steve Smith Sr. is a beast, and I'm glad he's there in Baltimore. This guy is a Bulldog and will most definitely have a better season. Not only that, he will also make the other receivers around him better, just by doing what he does on the field. Our rookies has a great opportunity here to be able to learn how the wide receiver position is supposed to be played.

If Steve Smith Sr. is able to stay healthy, there is no doubt in my mind that he's going to perform at a high level. Steve Smith Sr. is a true Hall of Famer, he is going to give it everything he's got every week, which I think he either ties with someone or break some kind of receiving record or YAC or something like that. All in all I think Steve Smith Sr. is going to have one hell of a season.

[oldnavy09]

I love the way SSS plays the game. I wish he had been a Raven his whole career. He is cut from the Ray Lewis mold.

I have high hopes that Perriman can open the field up with his speed and SSS can take advantage of not drawing the best CB each snap.

I think he will have a big year and again, I love the chipiness he brings to the offense.

[KidNme]

We've got a pretty good mix of young and old, all across the board. I think it will bode well for us this year. We just have to hope we avoid any serious injuries, especially early in the season. Perriman couldn't have asked for a better mentor than SSS or a better place to showcase his talents. He has an opportunity to sell a lot of Jerseys, once he gets going. :-)

[Maryland]

I think we will use our WR depth a lot more than most teams and rotate to find mismatches. Fantasy football geeks and stat geeks will probably hate it, but I think our WRs will combine to put up some decent stats.

[FloridalovesRavens]

Throw him the ball he will catch it! I have no worries about his age. In todays world 36 is nothing. Go Ravens.

[Purpleghost23]

Let the old man do his thing a year will not change that much...lets goo triple s one more 1000 and the lombardi,and you can ride to the sunseat

[robbie29]

I would not be surprised at all if the Ravens get to the postseason this year. I also wouldn't be surprised if, when they do, Steve Smith does like Ray Lewis did in 2012 and announces that this will be his last ride. Let's hope for a similar finish as 2012...

[CanadaEH]

Let's get Steve a ring!!

[Mr.Incredible]

I hope they don't bank on him too much, we have way to many WR's and TE's to spread the ball out to. I don't really care if he gets over 1,00 yards id rather see one of our young receivers get over 1,000. What im looking for in SSS this season is helping our young WR's to grow/develop, teach them some of his tricks and DECENT production, around 500 yds, anything over that is a bonus for us.

[RavensBaltimore]

"In one sense, that's a bit of a dice roll. As ESPN's Jamison Hensley pointed out Monday, the last 36-year-old NFL receiver to surpass 1,000 yards in a season was Joey Galloway in 2007. It's only happened five times in league history. There does seem to be a ceiling of sorts for receivers his age."

 

In 2009 at 35 respectively, Derrick Mason caught 73 passes for 1,028 yards. He fell way off after that. In 2010 he had 61 catches for 802. And then on to the Jets and Houston where he was completely ineffective... In 2009 at 35, he was comparable to Smith.

 

I also believe that Steve trains much harder, and is defying his age a little better than most.

Remember, 2010 is the year we got Boldin, so Mason went from being our top receiver by far to our WR2. Considering that, 12 catches and 300 yds isn't that big of a dropoff. There is a good chance that at least one or two of our rookies can become a significant factor this year, and we may see increased producton from either Aiken, Brown, or Campanaro. If any of that happens, I think the Ravens would be pretty happy with 800yds from Smith.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Sounds like a good bet to me. SSS already proved people wrong by going for 1000 yards and multiple TD's last year when the so-called experts were saying he would be average at best.

[FloridalovesRavens]

The so-called experts also forget to take into account our great QB who has a rifle arm lol. Bring in the receivers there will be enough balls to go around. Boy oh boy hurry up September!

[Purple Dawg 96]

Let's get Triple " S " that RING! No more "GIFTS"! Big Jen and Brady got rings courtesy of the Ravens beating THEMSELVES! Let's do this for TRIPLE "S " and finish the job! Go CAVS Lol

[huntrgathrr]

Marlon Brown and Kamar Aiken are seasoned veterans at this point in time. Both have proven they are more than ready to compete at the NFL level. They will contribute early in the season as Perriman and Waller get up to speed. The future at WR for the Ravens,however, is Perriman, Brown and Waller. These 3 are big and fast and will be a force once Smith retires. Along with Gilmore and Williams as well as Forsett/Allen the Ravens will have a formidable passing game.

[Dorota]

"Preserve" him - he's not a fossil Not sure how well preservation goes if he plays a punt returner, but I'm not adverse to seeing him there.

[RavenManiac#7]

I do believe it sounds like a good idea to try to lessen SSS's snaps a bit. It's a Huge understatement to say he is not your typical 36 year old but, still, it would be nice to have him as "fresh" as possible for a playoff & SB run, which we must Always plan on having. All this, of course, is subject to how the season is going and how our other, younger receivers are performing. Another thought is this; once again, depending on how our younger guys are doing, maybe SSS could return punts. Of course, the other receivers would have to be performing well, but if they are, then it might be worthwhile utilizing SSS's ability to do that. Maybe someone else on the final roster will prove himself fully capable and talented enough at returning punts to do so, but if SSS's snaps Have been able to be reduced, perhaps he could help us in that regard if no one else Has grabbed that opportunity and excelled at it. I know one thing, I wouldn't want to have to be the one to choose between these receivers for our final 53 man roster. There's, most likely, going to be some pretty decent talent let go. I don't see how we can keep them all, but they all seem to have something to offer. I think Ozzie's job is going to be tougher this year than normal. Remember when a lot of people said he couldn't judge wr talent? Well, he seems to have done pretty well this past draft and of late with UFAs.