Steve Smith, Sr. Activated Off PUP - Impact of Return (merged)

[FerrariFan87]

According to ESPN alerts and other reports, Steve Smith, Sr. is back! Likely to return to practice on Monday!

 

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17328836/baltimore-ravens-wide-receiver-steve-smith-likely-return-practice-monday

[usmccharles]

Ice up, son. 

[K-Dog]

Happy dance. 

[757RavensFan]

Assuming that Steve Smith is a 100%, does that make him the automatic starter?  Prior to today, it was safe to 

assume that Wallace and Aiken were the starting WRs.  Now that Smitty is back, does that put Aiken on the bench

and Smitty and Wallace as starters?  

[FlocksGottaFeed]

SSS healthy is starter anywhere in the league. Without a doubt.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

...and so it begins!

[January J]

Hard to say at this point. It will likely come down to how healthy Steve is feeling. If he's looking like he's picked up right where he left off then yes..but I'm thinking they play it very cautious with him and do a lot of rotating to keep him fresh. So technically if you want to call him the starter I guess you could- but Aiken and Wallace will see the feild just as much in different packages. I'd say to look out for a lot of 3 wide receiver sets but with the talent we have at tight end and not to mention juice we are going to see ALOT of different looks this year.

Edited August 17, 2016 by January J

[FlocksGottaFeed]

5 minutes ago, January J said:

Hard to say at this point. It will likely come down to how healthy Steve is feeling. If he's looking like he's picked up right where he left off then yes..but I'm thinking they play it very cautious with him and do a lot of rotating to keep him fresh. So technically if you want to call him the starter I guess you could- but Aiken and Wallace will see the feild just as much in different packages. I'd say to look out for a lot of 3 wide receiver sets but with the talent we have at tight end and not to mention juice we are going to see ALOT of different looks this year.

Agreed. There will likely be several packages that will utilize all these weapons and SSS will be 'technically' a starter unless he hasn't completely returned from injury. Knowing Steve's thought process in making the decision not to retire and the team's ardent, proactive encouragement for his return 'non-starter' wasn't in the equation then or now.

[Deflated Football]

Can never count him out. Pencil him in across Aiken or Wallace but limit his usage because of the injury and age. He doesn't need to be a workhorse at 37. I commend Ozzie and company for surrounding him with competent veterans and promising newcomers. 

[rmcjacket23]

I expect him to show significant wear and tear from a brutal injury, so I don't think the 100% concept is even really a consideration.

He's the third WR with a reduced role from last season in my opinion.

[Moderator 3]

In case anyone wonders why the two threads SSS got merged: they were started at the same time.

[757RavensFan]

49 minutes ago, Moderator 3 said:

In case anyone wonders why the two threads SSS got merged: they were started at the same time.

No worries. 

[K-Dog]

2 hours ago, rmcjacket23 said:

I expect him to show significant wear and tear from a brutal injury, so I don't think the 100% concept is even really a consideration.

He's the third WR with a reduced role from last season in my opinion.

Significant?

I would not bet on that.

[ravensdan]

I will say again not to bet against Smith.  If he can go when the games count he'll be Flaccos #1 target. No doubt in my mind. 

[Deflated Football]

18 hours ago, K-Dog said:

Significant?

I would not bet on that.

Prepare yourself, numbered bullet points are coming from @rmcjacket23

[rmcjacket23]

5 minutes ago, Deflated Football said:

Prepare yourself, numbered bullet points are coming from @rmcjacket23

Nope, no need. Its a 37 year old WR coming off a brutal injury for WRs (and all players) who is already thinking retirement.

Toughness doesn't really factor in to declining physical ability, which is what I expect. 

He won't be garbage, but I don't think he's better than Aiken at this point. If we need 2014/15 level production out of him or even want that, somethings gone wrong with our offense.

[usmccharles]

9 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Nope, no need. Its a 37 year old WR coming off a brutal injury for WRs (and all players) who is already thinking retirement.

Toughness doesn't really factor in to declining physical ability, which is what I expect. 

He won't be garbage, but I don't think he's better than Aiken at this point. If we need 2014/15 level production out of him or even want that, somethings gone wrong with our offense.

I will take 37 year old SSr coming off an Achilles injury over Aiken any day of the week.  I don't expect to see his old form, but him at 75% is still better than a lot of WRs.  But no telling how someone comes back from an injury

[rmcjacket23]

1 minute ago, usmccharles said:

I will take 37 year old SSr coming off an Achilles injury over Aiken any day of the week.  I don't expect to see his old form, but him at 75% is still better than a lot of WRs.  But no telling how someone comes back from an injury

I wouldn't. And realistically, its in our best interest for Steve to be the #3 on this team. As I said already, if he's our #1 this year, its a poor sign for us offensively both short term and certainly long term.

[usmccharles]

Just now, rmcjacket23 said:

I wouldn't. And realistically, its in our best interest for Steve to be the #3 on this team. As I said already, if he's our #1 this year, its a poor sign for us offensively both short term and certainly long term.

Obviously. 

[January J]

1 hour ago, Deflated Football said:

Prepare yourself, numbered bullet points are coming from @rmcjacket23

 

Nah but I expect Steve to be the number 3 ..will bode well for him and be better for the team come postseason time when we need him fresh. Yes I said postseason and didn't stutter.

[PurpleCity5]

22 hours ago, 757RavensFan said:

Assuming that Steve Smith is a 100%, does that make him the automatic starter?  Prior to today, it was safe to 

assume that Wallace and Aiken were the starting WRs.  Now that Smitty is back, does that put Aiken on the bench

and Smitty and Wallace as starters?  

Nope, I'm well convinced Wallace and Aiken are the starters with Aiken as the #1. Steve is going to hit a decline and I think he himself doesn't anticipate he'll be as good this year as compared to last. I think he's best fit on the slot. He can still beat linebackers and out muscle smaller CBs.

[K-Dog]

Can we get a dictionary definition of "significant " ?

[Deflated Football]

41 minutes ago, January J said:

 

Nah but I expect Steve to be the number 3 ..will bode well for him and be better for the team come postseason time when we need him fresh. Yes I said postseason and didn't stutter.

My ninja

[rmcjacket23]

3 minutes ago, K-Dog said:

Can we get a dictionary definition of "significant " ?

You'll know it when you see it.

[K-Dog]

Just now, rmcjacket23 said:

You'll know it when you see it.

So it's completely subjective. 

 

Go figure. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Yea i think he's automatically the number one. Its his job until someone else takes it. I guess thats possible but i learned a lesson when we signed the guy and thought we were getting an ok vet in his twilight years - do not assume anything with this guy. His competitive fire is unreal, and hes still incredibly athletic. The quickness, the sharpness, the precision in his routes, the leaping ability.... its all still there.

His comment about running routes the other day told me all i need to know. He said a couple months ago he would run 20 routes (just picking a random number, prob not the one he used) and he'd run 2-3 perfect. Then he worked his way up to 10, then 15... Last week he ran 18 to his standard of perfect, and then the other day he was 20/20.

The man has a high standard for himself, and isnt going to give himself a pass or call a route perfect if it wasnt. That tells me the explosion and suddenness is there... and hes focused on the details and fundamentals.

He knows its in all likelihood his last year. No reason to hold back.

I think hes going to shock the world (though it probabbly shouldnt be shocking at this point) and pick up right where he left off. He'll be the #1 and still one of the better WRs in the league, just not quite as prolific bc he'll be in a deeper rotation and not as relied upon. Joe wont have to force it to him as much with Watson, Aiken, Wallace and Pitta - some of his other favorite targets.

But that just means he wont wear out down the stretch like in 2014. We'll get a much more efficient use out of him. And that means he can go buckwild in the playoffs.

When we make it to the playoffs, expect Larry Fitzgerald 2008 performance from Smitty.

[rmcjacket23]

11 minutes ago, K-Dog said:

So it's completely subjective. 

 

Go figure. 

Yes. Just like saying whether or not a player had a great season or not is inherently subjective. It goes both ways.

[Davesta]

Aiken and Wallace on the outside, Steve smith in the slot in our 3 WR sets.

[K-Dog]

1 hour ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Yes. Just like saying whether or not a player had a great season or not is inherently subjective. It goes both ways.

Pretty funny in context.

[FerrariFan87]

1 hour ago, Davesta said:

Aiken and Wallace on the outside, Steve smith in the slot in our 3 WR sets.

I like the sound of that... rotating Perriman on the outside as well, and in 4-WR sets. One can only hope.