What is Wrong With Torrey Smith?

Sep 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) can not make the catch as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Terence Newman (23) defends during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Torrey Smith was undoubtedly everyone’s favorite Baltimore Raven breakout candidate for 2014.  Following the 2013 season, when Smith broke the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the first time, he seemed destined for stardom.  Everyone, especially fantasy football GM’s, dreamed of Torrey becoming the Raven’s version of Andre Johnson and racking up incredible numbers.

But through three weeks, it’s safe to say that things aren’t going the way we imagined.  Despite playing on 76% of the Raven’s total offensive snaps and seeing 16 targets, Smith has managed only 6 receptions for 85 yards.  He has one dropped pass and a mere 18 yards gained after the catch.

In watching the first three games of the Raven’s season, it’s quite obvious that opposing defenses are more concerned with Steve Smith than Torrey Smith.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith, who is ten years older than Torrey, has played on only 66% of the total snaps but has seen a whopping 32 targets.  He has hauled in 18 of them for 290 yards, 130 of which came after the catch.  S. Smith also has an NFL leading 11 missed tackles, more than twice as many as Golden Tate, who is second.  Torrey has zero.

The conspiracy theories are flying as to why Torrey Smith has yet to live up to his preseason hype.  The most popular one is that he isn’t a fit for Gary Kubiak’s offense, which requires wide receivers to run precise routes.  To date, Smith has not been known for his route running.  He has, however, been a threat to simply turn upfield and outrun everyone.

Torrey is young and fast, but those qualities aren’t necessarily needed in Kubiak’s system, which is more focused on the quarterback getting the ball out quickly rather than dropping back and heaving passes deep down the field (or taking sacks while attempting to do so).  His lack of route running ability has been on clear display as he loses targets to the smaller and slower, but more experienced Steve Smith.

In watching the first three games of the Raven’s season, it’s quite obvious that opposing defenses are more concerned with Steve Smith than Torrey Smith. Steve is the recipient of more double teams than Torrey, most likely because he is visibly going all out on every play, while Torrey is not.  I have personally witnessed at least one offensive play per game where Torrey appears to be leisurely jogging into his route.

More from Ravens News

• Ravens’ Super Bowl odds stagnant amidst Lamar Jackson trade rumors
• 5 Georgia Bulldogs the Ravens might draft to follow Todd Monken
• Get ready, Baltimore, you’re going to love Todd Monken
• Ravens news: Bengals fall to Chiefs in AFC thriller, a new OC in the mix, and more
• Ravens news: Anthony Richardson buzz grows louder, an unsung hero, and more

If the current trend continues, I fear that Torrey Smith will not be in a Raven’s uniform next season.  The hiring of Gary Kubiak has been a blessing for the offense and it is making Joe Flacco a better quarterback.  It has also transformed the offensive line from one of the worst in the NFL into one of the best.  He has had quite the magic touch in a small sample size of games.

Some team is going to give Torrey Smith a 2nd tier wide receiver contract, which will be worth somewhere north of $7 million a year.  If he continues to play the way he has for the Ravens, they will be hard pressed to hand him that kind of money.  But somebody will.  The Dolphins gave Mike Wallace, a similar type of player, $12 million a year, and he has been a square peg in their round hole of an offense so far.  But he was coming off of two consecutive dominant years when he became a free agent.

I certainly hope that I’m wrong about Torrey and that he turns things around, but these first three weeks have been very disconcerting.  He has all the natural ability in the world, and he is a great person.  The kind that an organization like the Ravens needs on their team.  But if his head isn’t in the game, he’s just simply not worth paying like a top NFL receiver.