Jimmy Smith Set To Start?

May 23, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) during OTA drills at the team practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens offseason workouts are essentially finished, and one player has stood out above all others. That man is Jimmy Smith, the Ravens third year “draft disappointment”. Smith has a new boxing program that has raised his speed and conditioning levels and he is also about 12 lbs lighter than he was last year(or at any point in his NFL career).

I have always bee a fan of Jimmy Smith. I was pulling for him on draft night and I have been defending him for 2 years as a player. When he gets on the field healthy, which has essentially only been in the playoffs in both of his seasons, he has played remarkably well. he had 2 INTs in 3 games to end the season in 2011. this year he played very well in the New England and San Francisco games and even almost singlehandedly(with an assist from the pressure applied by the Ravens front 7) held the niners on their final goalline stand. Smith was in coverage on all three of the Crabtree pass attempts. Crabtree didnt get any of them and Smith even knocked Crabtrees block off on one.

Smith has had an issue with health, not playing a full season(or even close to a full season) in either of his two years, but hopeflly this will be the year that changes. If Smith stays healthy I think he will win a starting job and could even play at a probowl level this year. I really havent talked to a sigle person that had a bad thing to say about how he looks right now.

Smith is poised for a big year.