Nov 10, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) walks onto the field prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Today’s lunchtime links will get you all caught up with today’s happenings in one convenient place. We’ve rounded up all the latest Ravens offseason buzz, news, rumors, and speculation from around the web so you don’t have to.
Bleacher Report is rounding up the latest offseason buzz for us. We’re currently gearing up for mandatory workout time, which means we get some more definitive clues around depth charts, roster spots, and potential breakout candidates for the 2014 season.
Positive reports are surfacing around such players as C.J. Mosley, Ray Rice, Arthur Brown, Steve Smith, and now Timmy Jernigan. The rookie has made an impression on fellow players and coaches, looking explosive and strong. If that work translates through camp and the preseason, he might be prime to make a first year impact.
“The main thing is being able to have somebody out there to push you that much harder. He hits a ball, you want to do that much better. And he wants to do much better than you.”
Many have expressed their concerns over cornerback depth, which is why rumors keep flying about possible additions to the secondary. The Ravens appear set at their first two spots with Jimmy Smith and Ladarius Webb, but an injury to either would be potentially devastating with nothing more than special teamers behind them.
For the first time since 2011, punter Sam Koch is facing competition in the form of rookie free agent Richie Leone. Koch deserves props for taking it in stride. “The main thing is being able to have somebody out there to push you that much harder. He hits a ball, you want to do that much better. And he wants to do much better than you.” And as we all know, the philosophy of having competition at every position worked out pretty well last year for a team that plays up in Seattle.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley takes on the notion that Torrey Smith is a one trick pony. The statistics seem to indicate that Smith is purely a deep threat, which would have a huge impact on upcoming contract negotiations. We’ve already seen what being pigeonholed into one role did for Victor Cruz’s payout. The real question is, is this just a product of usage? Gary Kubiak is not known for passing deep a whole lot, so we’ll find out pretty quick this season if Smith can run good routes or if he truly is just a speedster.