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

[Flamengo1265]

Ravens might have to win the division to make the playoffs this year.....Bills, Dolphins, Chiefs and Chargers all have the potential to win 10 games with Patriots, Colts and Broncos winning their divisions. The Charger and Dolphin games will be crucial.

[Saxxin]

Just bring up Asa. Our new RB fumbled in the end zone. He's still here. Jackson is the logical choice. He has the ability to be explosive. I'm pretty sure his recent situation has hammered it home to hold on to the ball at all cost. The Td's will come with the good blocking the return team gives him.

[Saxxin]

For anyone panicking. Denver has a top 5 defense easy. The ravens have a damn good O line and if you think the rest of their schedule it will be this tough I think you're underestimating just how much a good defense can dictate a game. The ravens defense was just as good. If the roles were reversed and it was manning driving i think D does they same thing. takes the ball away. It's downhill for the offense from here. That was the best D they'll see all season. We're ravens fans. Give that defense the credit they earned. We'll get our rematch in the playoffs.

[balfan23]

I originally thought this was a risky move ... taking your best receiver and having him return punts. Maybe it is a bit risky, but in the end, you cant be scared to put your playmakers on the field. If they think he can do a better job there than Camp - then let him do the job.

[Ravens_Flock]

I don't care how you shake it out. It's a dumb move.

[The Negotiator]

He's by far our best wideout, if he gets hurt running punt returns then who is catching passes, it would be a dumb move Harbs.

[Fullblack_RAVEN]

I don't like it. If steve gets hurt or worn out by spec teams, this team is screwed.

I say that partly bc of this: @AaronWilson_NFL 6h6 hours ago

Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman progressing with knee injury, expected back by October, according to sources

So... yeah. Call someone up... do something. Smith shouldn't be playing on special teams, period.

[Halshayeji]

I love SSS senior back there. He's probably the returner on this squad. I wish harbs plays him one more game just to prove that he's legit as a returner the. Hand the job to camp or whoever until the playoffs come. Then it's work risking...

[Grapple Raven]

Steve Smith was already hobbling twice during the Denver game... so now we want to put our #1 WR, who is the only one Joe can depend on at this point, out there to return kicks?  hmmm, yeah okay.

 

Heck we lost our LT in the first drive of the Denver game...so lets let our most reliable receiver return kick offs...then if he gets injured we will be out a WR and a Kick returner. 

 

Harbs, respectfully I think you need to rethink this one~ just sayin'!

[Dorota]

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.

I agree with you on both instances. Not every down of course, but if our tackles cannot protect Flacco, additional blocks from Gilmore and Juice will be appreciated. Maxx Williams is athletic enough to be a playmaker. It might just take him a little longer to become an all-around TE with the necessary blocking included.

 

And Upshaw - you're on point on that one. Except, I think, if he proves to become significant not only as an every-down player, but also as a defensive leader in the locker room, Wizard of Oz might make the budget work. We have to chose who we keep because of the salary cap, Upshaw just needs to prove his a primary need and that he can take up Suggs' role when Sizzle retires, which unfortunately might not be too long.

[Ravensfolyfe]

What ever works.

[FloridalovesRavens]

The jury is still out on this decision. Scares the heck out of me to tell you the truth. I'll leave this to the experts to decide. Go Ravens.

[Jim Giampaoli]

"He looks good to me back there". Smith Sr.looks good to a lot of us, standing back there. My scare is watching his 36 year old body moving forward into enemy territory. He is our go to guy WR. Harbaugh, if you can't come up with anybody (Ross James)you've lost your cookies.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Jim Giampaoli

[mearzunkies]

Man Gilmore was the individual player to let me down(O-Line was the unit). I hope he bounces back or you all are right, use him to block. Max looked a lot stronger as far as a threat is concerned.

[cbrook1862]

If you put Steve back there then what was the point of signing Ross? Campanaro isn't explosive to me, give As a another chance.

[bmoraven]

We should risk our number 1 Receiver in this role. He clearly is the only receiver Joe is Clicking with, if anything, why Exhaust him and risk him getting injured. We need him down the stretch.

[bmoraven]

We should NOT risk our Number 1 Receiver.

[stampedehero]

SSS as The Returner......No No No NO NO

[stampedehero]

"He looks good to me back there". Smith Sr.looks good to a lot of us, standing back there. My scare is watching his 36 year old body moving forward into enemy territory. He is our go to guy WR. Harbaugh, if you can't come up with anybody (Ross James)you've lost your cookies.

All with you........

[respecttheRaven]

If SSS was our teams #3rd or 4th WR, I would say sure, as long as he wanted to (which he stated he did). But, he is our #1....and I think it is pretty risky to put him back there.

[purpledown]

someone not named Steve Smith has to step up on offense. If not this will be a long season.

[ravenstime]

Steve can do it! I believe, with everything considered, especially that it's his last year, he is the best choice. Now, if Camp gets more reps in practices and works his way into it, Harbs will have an extra choice, or option, if you like and he'll pick whoever's got the hot hand. I certainly hope for an injury-free year for Steve, Camp, too. I'd use 'em both to bring back punts, but certainly, I wouldn't be afraid to use Steve some.

[omar586]

we needy a speedy WR until perriman comes back

[Crusader]

We should NOT risk our Number 1 Receiver.

We should have a plan but Fail to plan, Plan to fail. Heck lets have Joe run kicks back next!

[RavenManiac#7]

Harbs is a very brave man. Of course, I guess some might say, no, he's too risky of a man. I tend to think I'm in the latter group. I do Not like the idea of putting SSS back there to return punts. It's not that I don't think he can do it. In fact, he can, most likely, do it better than anyone else on the team. But, he's just too invaluable to our offense. It's not just that he's our #1 receiver, at least for now. But it's more that there is such a HUGE drop off from him to any other receiver (active) on the team. We CANNOT afford to lose him. Does anybody really think our current receiving corps, without SSS, is adequate? The Only other receiver who can consistently gain separation is Campanaro, and he's not being played Nearly enough. There's no doubt, given his short history, that Camp could get injured again. But, while he's healthy, he should be on the field. He's our best receiver after SSS. I do Not want Camp on punt return duty either, just because of the risk for injury. I don't think that either one of these guys should be risked back there. Harbs knew this was a concern, but all he's done about it is put our best receiver back there. I just don't like it. I hold my breath every time I see him back there until I see him get up.

[757RavensFan]

It's not an issue if SSS can be a good punt returner, I think everyone agrees on that.  The question is SHOULD he be doing it?  Emphatically, I have to say NO considering the current state of affairs of our WRs.   

 

BTW, Correct me if I'm wrong, I didn't see most of the first half but didn't Campanaro field the 1st couple of punts vs Denver? IF so, why was he pulled? 

Edited September 16, 2015 by 757RavensFan

[berniemc2015]

I told you all that Steve would make a good return man, Now maybe people will listen. We be looking to shut Oakland out this weekend do you hear me now?

[berniemc2015]

757RavenFan we have enough wide receivers to take a chance on SSS, next man up remember that ? We do what we have to do for the betterment of this team. Move on

[WordProphet]

It's not about Steve being able to return the ball of course he can do that, but if he gets hurt and is not part of the WR's, then what? Can we really afford to have Steve return balls? I don't think so! And if he does and get hurt who's at fault, Harb, for putting him out there. One thing we are Raven Fans have to understand don't risk a man out of his position, I mean playing football period is a risk on your body all the time and we all know that, but take the risk playing your position, not outside of your position. For if Steve gets hurt we've lost a returner and a WR. So that's two positions compromised because this decision was not thought through completely. Yeah, I understand the idea of next man up, but do we truly have a next man up for Steve, who can give us what Steve gives us as a WR, we better think about that, I mean I'm just saying!!!

[letitgosometimes]

Not.