[News] John Harbaugh Likes Steve Smith As His Punt Returner

[BR News]

Michael Campanaro’s missed reps due to injury impacted the Ravens’ decision at punt returner.

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[reed20fence]

Right, what with all the speedy threats we have in our prolific passing game right now, sure, why not stick SSS out there and watch gunners slam into him with full heads of steam?

Am I the only one terrified of the eventual devastating hit he takes on a return?

[Prino61]

The risk is way greater than the reward. i would rather see Charles James doing it

[Drew P]

Terrible off season planning for that role.

[iluvpurple]

Truth be told, I loved seeing what Sr could bring in the return game, he is after all a veteran and still has great agility, ability, and speed...... With that said, I also fear for his safety, but I am more confident than I thought I would be with him doing the returning for us..... Injury is always a huge factor in every facet of this game, so I just try to push that out of my mind.

[January J]

i kind of like him back there as well. sure it is risky, but you have to play your best players. putting an inexperienced guy back there and risking turnovers is risky too, and i like the big play potential that sss brings. i dont think he will do it every game, he will also be calling fair catches or just letting them drop unless hes got plenty of room to run it. hes a smart returner. and once we get a substantial lead im sure they will let others do it anyway. im cool with this move. this is steves last year, and if he wants to do it who are we to not let him? he deserves it and hes the best guy to do it anyway.

[johnmike72]

Will he like him back there if he gets hurt? What then, and there goes you #1 receiver. Need to re-think this one.

[n#7]

Smith as the punt returner? And Camp as the backup? It looks like Asa will be back much sooner than anticipated.

[reed20fence]

I don't think anyone minds him being back there when the situation dictates a smart, well aware veteran that can quickly decipher the situation, hang time of the ball, approach of the gunners, and the arc of the ball where it'll land. Someone who's mostly back there to determine when to fair catch and when to let it bounce.

But to ipso facto stick our only reliable, consistent threat in the pass game back there is taking a huge, gynormous gamble.

I guess that's where the dilemma is arising.

You think Suggs getting hurt is bad, just imagine Harbs announcing SSS being done for the year. Despair would be an understatement.

Edited September 15, 2015 by reed20fence

[rmcjacket23]

Terrible off season planning for that role.

In 2015, not sure its a role that's really worth spending a lot of time planning.

 

We are amongst probably at least 15-20 other teams who have people you've never heard of any perhaps with no experience returning punts and kicks.

 

Many of them will do just fine this season, as will we.

 

If we falter this season, I can guarantee the lack of a kick returner won't crack the top 5 realistic reasons for that faltering.

[Raveology101]

It might be Harbaugh's time to go man I love the guy as a leader but as a head coach man this guy is not making the right personnel decisions. Why would you risk injury to best and based of the last game only offensive threat for punt returns ? Also he is what 30 something he will run out of juice in the 4th quarter when our docile offense normally decides to wake up which I suspect happened last game. What was the reason we got rid of Jacoby...? ill wait

[757RavensFan]

I dont like SSS returning punts.  We all saw how he wore down at the end of the season just playing WR.  

To put this additional role on him and expecting him to hold up is just asinine. 

Edited September 15, 2015 by 757RavensFan

[surfdude]

my main concern is Steve wearing down its a long season and Steve wore down last year. We need him down the stretch. Not worried about injury, its football.

[January J]

steve is clearly the best option and has earned the right to decide if he wants to do it, this is his last year so let him tear it up. i can definitely see him busting open quite a few long runs. i think its a risk worth taking as long as he plays it safe, which he will bc hes a smart returner.

[ravens4life86]

Exactly now your impacting the passing game even more.. Making him pull double duty, and be a no.1 WR. JEEZ these coaches and this organization makes you scratch your head some times. Never should have let Jacoby walk, after that they shoyld have signed James Jones. Now they should sign a vet like Hakeem Nicks, Donnie Avery,Santana Moss, Brandon Loyyd or make a trade... But bring in a vet WR who can get open

[NCMan]

I don't think anyone minds him being back there when the situation dictates a smart, well aware veteran that can quickly decipher the situation, hang time of the ball, approach of the gunners, and the arc of the ball where it'll land. Someone whose mostly back there to determine when to fair catch and when to let it bounce.

But to ipso facto stick our only reliable, consistent threat in the pass game back there is taking a huge, gynormous gamble.

I guess that's where the dilemma is arising.

You think Suggs getting hurt is bad, just imagine Harbs announcing SSS being done for the year. Despair would be an understatement.

Since when is SSS a reliable and consistent threat in our "passing game"? The only reliable and consistent thing he is good at is flapping his piehole. Show me some evidence to show reliability and consistence at being a WR. The Panthers knew what they were doing. Let him return punts. Maybe he can do that.

[LunarRover]

Steve Smith should be back there. Hes got the skill to be effective, just hope they give himn teh blocking he needs to breakout big drive starters for us. Webb also can and has been effective at them. Campanaro, when weighing in the likeliness of injury im concerned with. Hes like fine fragile China and always seems to be hurting somehwere

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Since when is SSS a reliable and consistent threat in our "passing game"? The only reliable and consistent thing he is good at is flapping his piehole. Show me some evidence to show reliability and consistence at being a WR. The Panthers knew what they were doing. Let him return punts. Maybe he can do that.

 

Here you go; he lead the team!!! 79 receptions 1,065 yards

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/team-statistics.html click on 2014 Regular Season and you will see that he lead the team in receptions and yards!!!

 

Have a  nice day!

Edited September 15, 2015 by ibleedpurpleandblack

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Exactly now your impacting the passing game even more.. Making him pull double duty, and be a no.1 WR. JEEZ these coaches and this organization makes you scratch your head some times. Never should have let Jacoby walk, after that they shoyld have signed James Jones. Now they should sign a vet like Hakeem Nicks, Donnie Avery,Santana Moss, Brandon Loyyd or make a trade... But bring in a vet WR who can get open

 

Does it really matter who we have if your QB has no time to throw the dang ball.  Did you not read the article where it said Flacco was pressured on 64% of his drop backs.  That gives him no time to set his feet or get passed his first outlet.  The blame isn't on the receivers when they are running 10+ yard routes that develop once Flacco is scrambling or on the ground.  What needed to happen was we needed to have an extra lineman in to block Ware and have the RB back in protection against Von Miller.  Instead they let the LT/RT get beat up all day and Flacco pressured all day.  

 

The OL and coaching inability to make in game adjustments (yet again) lost the Denver game!! 

Edited September 15, 2015 by ibleedpurpleandblack

[rmcjacket23]

It might be Harbaugh's time to go man I love the guy as a leader but as a head coach man this guy is not making the right personnel decisions. Why would you risk injury to best and based of the last game only offensive threat for punt returns ? Also he is what 30 something he will run out of juice in the 4th quarter when our docile offense normally decides to wake up which I suspect happened last game. What was the reason we got rid of Jacoby...? ill wait

1. Kick returners aren't nearly as valuable when over 60% of the time you're either taking a knee or waving for a fair catch.

 

2. If Harbaugh gets fired for putting a star WR out for punt returns, then its time for the Steelers to fire Tomlin and for the Broncos to fire Kubiak.

 

After all, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, two very high quality, very important WRs are returning kicks for those teams.

 

Sigh.

[Crusader]

If the Ravens don't win against Oakland it will not matter who is back there. Ravens are in for a hard road playing the divisions they have this year. The Raiders could very well be the only team they can win in that division. You think Denver pass rush was good just you wait and see with KC and Rams. Facing another former Ravens coach.

[RavensFootballFan]

SSS did decent as a returner. Hopefully this is temporary it is nuts to risk injury to #1 wide receiver with no one to replace his production from depth chart. Hope Campanaro gets reps this week and takes over as returner.

[iluvpurple]

steve is clearly the best option and has earned the right to decide if he wants to do it, this is his last year so let him tear it up. i can definitely see him busting open quite a few long runs. i think its a risk worth taking as long as he plays it safe, which he will bc hes a smart returner.

I agree with you 100% and my earlier post said this in a round-about way, but my post was disagreed with, I am glad yours was not......

[bioLarzen]

One cannot help wondering whether Harbaugh would still like him returning punts if we had legit returners on our roster...

[RavensFootballFan]

If the Ravens don't win against Oakland it will not matter who is back there. Ravens are in for a hard road playing the divisions they have this year. The Raiders could very well be the only team they can win in that division. You think Denver pass rush was good just you wait and see with KC and Rams. Facing another former Ravens coach.

 

Bengals and Steelers have to play Broncos, Chiefs, Rams and Cardinals too. We will beat the Raiders, Harbaugh's teams always fight back hard after a lost. We got just one more road game (At Arizona) and two home games that are winnable (Rams and Chiefs). I think we will come out of it at least 2-2 and a good chance of 3-1 considering playing Arizona away is winnable. Why the gloom and doom? The Ravens are not an easy team to beat. 

 

Edit: I made corrections on Arizona road game, I at first thought it was Chiefs. Sorry. I forgot to add, Ravens and division rivals also have to play Chargers. 

Edited September 15, 2015 by RavensFootballFan

[trevorsteadman]

Well in theory Steve Smith would be a number 2 on most teams. I love the guy and he is one of my favorite players, but teams don't game plan around him. I wish he had more consistency with his hands he dropped a couple in Denver and was high in drops last year. Breshad Perriman is almost going to be thrown into the #1 role right away when healthy because honestly that is the only way teams will respect this offense. The offensive line is great but when they know targets don't threaten their corners they can rush more down. Perriman has the speed and size to succeed. He just needs to get back healthy. I am hoping he gets back by week 4 or 5 and hopefully we can sneak out a couple wins in our schedule. I don't know why people are freaked out thinking it's the end of the season it is one game and the Ravens are known for bouncing back. Keep Crockett on the O-line to help block along with Juice in the back field if need be and send Maxx out there to get catches he got open a few times Sunday. The Ravens are going to have to force these young guys to grow up. Upshaw will replace Suggs and will impress everyone and then get too good for our check book next season. There is a reason Upshaw was calling the plays in the super bowl and not Lewis. Leader in the making that is just overshadowed by two pro bowl outside linebackers.

[trevorsteadman]

Bengals and Steelers have to play Broncos, Chiefs, Rams and Cardinals too. We will beat the Raiders, Harbaugh's teams always fight back hard after a lost. We got just one more road game (At K.C.) and two home games that are winnable (Rams and Arizona). I think we will come out of it at least 2-2 and a good chance of 3-1 considering we play Chiefs late in season after offense's young players have more experience. Why the gloom and doom? The Ravens are not an easy team to beat. 

I agree the Ravens have one loss they could've won against another play off team early in the year. Honestly every season they have a trend of losing to play off teams at the beginning of the season then getting good right when it counts. Arizona game is in Arizona though, thought I should put perspective on that. I know because I'm going to Arizona for that game First 5-7 on the road after that is all home games which the Ravens thrive in. If Ravens go 4-4 on the road and 6-2 at home they will get in the play offs. 

[RavensFootballFan]

I agree the Ravens have one loss they could've won against another play off team early in the year. Honestly every season they have a trend of losing to play off teams at the beginning of the season then getting good right when it counts. Arizona game is in Arizona though, thought I should put perspective on that. I know because I'm going to Arizona for that game First 5-7 on the road after that is all home games which the Ravens thrive in. If Ravens go 4-4 on the road and 6-2 at home they will get in the play offs. 

 

Thanks for correction. I had the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals schedule open side by side tab wise and thought the Steelers schedule was the Ravens because they look alike when scrolled down while Bengals page was black. My bad. I agree we will go at least 4-4 on the road, especially the experience we will gain from the Denver game and make the playoffs. I would like to see us finished 11-5 but 10-6 will do as long as we make playoffs. Steelers have to play SF this week and could go 0-2. I forgot to add Ravens and our division rivals have to play the Chargers. That is 4 of 5 teams that will not be easy for anyone. More than half of all games will be tough games for everyone. Going to be a very interesting year. Have fun at Arizona. 

[Rich McG]

When your best receiver (by far) is 36 years old and retiring after this season, it's not good. When the coach is using,this wonderful old receiver, as a returner....it just doesn't sound right. When "good ole Joe" throws that 1st interception. How? Why? The Bronco fans were booing their team. We had total control and Joe does WHAT?  Yes it's only the first game and other really good teams made possibly even worse mistakes. But we played so well, we had the lead, and control of a away game. Why Joe Why?  One of the best corners in the league says "he knew that play was coming and that Joe threw the ball right to him". Tough start that didn't have to be. Oakland better buckle-up because the Ravens are coming to town and they are focused and mad.  Me....I'm just mad, and waiting for Sunday. Go Ravens!

Edited September 15, 2015 by Rich McG

[GeeWallee]

I was somewhat surprised Stevie Sr. was back there on Punt Return duty. He was the best option though, for the time being. We will see how quickly Campanaro gets up to speed , after missing practices.

We lost Week 1 last year.....and we were just fine. Losing T-Sizzle stings, but this is a good Football Team. Lot's of teams lose to Denver ,in Mile High Stadium ! We had a chance and just didn't get it done.

"We're Moving On To Oakland !"........lol