Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary

SCMom · 09-08-2011, 07:55 AM

On the Steelers: Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary
Thursday, September 08, 2011
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Casey Hampton suggested this week that the Steelers have the edge on the Baltimore Ravens because they have a better deep passing game.

The Ravens tried to counter that in April by drafting one of the best cornerbacks available, Jimmy Smith of Colorado, with the 11th overall pick. Smith is big at 6 feet 2, 210 pounds, and he has been clocked in a reasonably fast 4.47 seconds in the 40. Word from Baltimore is that he will make his first pro start Sunday in his first game against the Steelers.

The Steelers have some young receivers who can fly.

"I'm not worried about him," said one of them, Mike Wallace. "He needs to worry about us."

Wallace has 4.3 speed and has led the AFC in each of the past two seasons with averages of 19.4 yards (2009) and 21.0 yards ('10) per catch. Emmanuel Sanders runs a 4.4, and Antonio Brown looks to be even faster than his 4.47 clocking coming out of school. Smith will be tested deep early in his NFL career.
"He just needs to just be ready, because we're going to be coming at him," Wallace said.

Wallace has two big-play seasons behind him, so his puny three catches for 19 yards in this preseason prompted no concerns. On the other hand, Brown has been sensational, averaging 25.6 yards on nine catches this summer, three for touchdowns -- one of 77 yards.

The Steelers are expected to test that Ravens secondary with the rookie Smith at cornerback Sunday.

"Man, we can take our shots deep on anybody," Wallace said. "We don't discriminate. It doesn't matter who it is. Anybody can get it."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11251...#ixzz1XMhGOgVa

kwothdaraven · 09-08-2011, 07:29 PM

i pray the steelers test jimmy smith. hes the real deal. testing him will just keep the ball out of other steelers hands and end drives sooner.

the player to test is cary williams. also a 6'2 corner, hes been great in preseason but he is a little inconsistent

SCMom · 09-08-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwothdaraven

i pray the steelers test jimmy smith. hes the real deal. testing him will just keep the ball out of other steelers hands and end drives sooner.

the player to test is cary williams. also a 6'2 corner, hes been great in preseason but he is a little inconsistent

It's his first NFL start lol...and he's starting against the Steelers. Real deal or not, I don't think he's going to be the phenom you hope him to be right out of the gates.

Now, if he does perform well, I'll give the dude his full props. But that's a lot of expectation to put on a rookie who's never started. It's not impossible for him to do well, it's just not the norm for him to be a phenom right away.

I'm not complaining...cause I'm not a Ravens fan, but I really think it was a huge mistake to start two CB's who have something like one NFL start between them.

3rdandlong · 09-08-2011, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwothdaraven

i pray the steelers test jimmy smith. hes the real deal. testing him will just keep the ball out of other steelers hands and end drives sooner.

the player to test is cary williams. also a 6'2 corner, hes been great in preseason but he is a little inconsistent

When we spread it out and our OL gives Ben some time, there's no way your secondary can keep up. Regardless, it should be a close game, it always is.

***Fire Arians*** · 09-08-2011, 09:43 PM

that's why we're better than the ravens. they do all these personnel moves just to try and keep up with us, and it seems like we're always a step ahead of them because of that.

DanRooney · 09-09-2011, 01:50 AM

Obviously the Ravens are stupid. Starting rookies? Who does that?

Actually this is one time I believe that starting two rookie corners is a big gamble. Especially with the speed we have at WR. Ben is developing some great chemistry with his receivers.

Rick5895 · 09-09-2011, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Arians

that's why we're better than the ravens. they do all these personnel moves just to try and keep up with us, and it seems like we're always a step ahead of them because of that.

Kind of reminds you of the Houston Oilers of the late 70's doesn't it. hey were always try9ing to get players just to beat the Steelers and it ended up making them a worse team. Here's hoping the ratbirds suffer the same fate.

solardave · 09-09-2011, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanRooney

Obviously the Ravens are stupid. Starting rookies? Who does that?

Actually this is one time I believe that starting two rookie corners is a big gamble. Especially with the speed we have at WR. Ben is developing some great chemistry with his receivers.

I can answer this. A classless coach who makes statements like "I'm glad we broke Ben's nose"! An idiot who runs up the score in the preseason on another team and says he didn't do it on purpose. Harbaugh is a douchebag. There, I said it!!!

steeltheone · 09-09-2011, 05:19 AM

Just remember if speed were the biggest factor in a wideout all teams would draft track stars.....

CTFan · 09-09-2011, 09:39 AM

The Ravens did make change in the secondary, but we also beefed up our pass rush. You'll see more press coverage and a better, more agreeswive pass rush. We'll see how it plays out.

Additionally, our deep passing game should be better too.

09-08-2011, 07:55 AM	#1
SCMom MST3K Junkie Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,903 Gender: Female Member Number: 16666 Thanks: 154 Thanked 151 Times in 97 Posts	Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary On the Steelers: Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary Thursday, September 08, 2011 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Casey Hampton suggested this week that the Steelers have the edge on the Baltimore Ravens because they have a better deep passing game. The Ravens tried to counter that in April by drafting one of the best cornerbacks available, Jimmy Smith of Colorado, with the 11th overall pick. Smith is big at 6 feet 2, 210 pounds, and he has been clocked in a reasonably fast 4.47 seconds in the 40. Word from Baltimore is that he will make his first pro start Sunday in his first game against the Steelers. The Steelers have some young receivers who can fly. "I'm not worried about him," said one of them, Mike Wallace. "He needs to worry about us." Wallace has 4.3 speed and has led the AFC in each of the past two seasons with averages of 19.4 yards (2009) and 21.0 yards ('10) per catch. Emmanuel Sanders runs a 4.4, and Antonio Brown looks to be even faster than his 4.47 clocking coming out of school. Smith will be tested deep early in his NFL career. "He just needs to just be ready, because we're going to be coming at him," Wallace said. Wallace has two big-play seasons behind him, so his puny three catches for 19 yards in this preseason prompted no concerns. On the other hand, Brown has been sensational, averaging 25.6 yards on nine catches this summer, three for touchdowns -- one of 77 yards. The Steelers are expected to test that Ravens secondary with the rookie Smith at cornerback Sunday. "Man, we can take our shots deep on anybody," Wallace said. "We don't discriminate. It doesn't matter who it is. Anybody can get it." Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11251...#ixzz1XMhGOgVa __________________ *People assume that time is a strict progression of cause and effect, but actually from a non-linear non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey...stuff.*

09-08-2011, 07:29 PM	#2
kwothdaraven Water Boy Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 4 Member Number: 16975 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary i pray the steelers test jimmy smith. hes the real deal. testing him will just keep the ball out of other steelers hands and end drives sooner. the player to test is cary williams. also a 6'2 corner, hes been great in preseason but he is a little inconsistent

09-08-2011, 09:43 PM	#5
*Fire Arians* Anti-Spammer Mod Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,615 Member Number: 16570 Thanks: 120 Thanked 376 Times in 237 Posts	Re: Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary that's why we're better than the ravens. they do all these personnel moves just to try and keep up with us, and it seems like we're always a step ahead of them because of that.

09-09-2011, 01:50 AM	#6
DanRooney Head Coach Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portsmouth, VA Posts: 1,510 Gender: Male Member Number: 16248 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary Obviously the Ravens are stupid. Starting rookies? Who does that? Actually this is one time I believe that starting two rookie corners is a big gamble. Especially with the speed we have at WR. Ben is developing some great chemistry with his receivers. __________________

09-09-2011, 05:19 AM	#9
steeltheone Team Owner Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Harrisburg Pa. Posts: 2,952 Gender: Male Member Number: 6351 Thanks: 56 Thanked 64 Times in 47 Posts	Re: Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary *Just remember if speed were the biggest factor in a wideout all teams would draft track stars.....* __________________ Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." - Vince Lombardi

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09-09-2011, 09:39 AM	#10
CTFan Water Boy Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 28 Member Number: 18739 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fast corps of wide receivers prompts major change in Ravens secondary The Ravens did make change in the secondary, but we also beefed up our pass rush. You'll see more press coverage and a better, more agreeswive pass rush. We'll see how it plays out. Additionally, our deep passing game should be better too.

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