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Daily Caw: Za’Darius Smith Making a Good Impression on Ravens

By Brett Foote

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Welcome to the Daily Caw, where we round up all the latest Baltimore Ravens news from around the web.  Today Za’Darius Smith is making a good impression, Sam Koch signed a deal that will make him a Raven for life, Justin Forsett is pumping some serious iron, and Joe Flacco is learning some things from new backup QB Matt Schaub.

Ravens rookie pass rusher Za’Darius Smith makes good first impression – Aaron Wilson, The Baltimore Sun

"“The new draft pick [Smith], the guy looks good,” said veteran outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, during the Ravens’ June minicamp. “He looks really good. I think our coach, [linebackers coach] Ted Monachino, does a good job of making sure he’s prepared and ready to play, and we expect some good things out of him.”"

Ravens lock up punter Sam Koch with five year, $18.5 million contract extension – Aaron Wilson, The Baltimore Sun

"Koch probably could have commanded even more money on the open market but instead chose to remain with the only NFL team he has played for.“It was always in the back of my mind that the last thing I wanted to do was test free agency, because I didn’t want to have the possibility to leave this place,” Koch told The Baltimore Sun in a telephone interview Thursday night. “You have a top-notch organization here, including the staff. To have the opportunity to stay here, I told [Ravens senior vice president of football administration] Pat Moriarty: ‘It’s not about the money; it’s about the chance to have my family rooted here.”"

Justin Forsett benches ridiculous weight – Sarah Ellison, BaltimoreRavens.com

"Well, this is just ridiculous.Justin Forsett posted a video of himself performing a dumbbell bench press at 115 pounds each. He calls the impressive workout just “another day at the office” and added the hashtag #unfinishedbusiness."

Joe Flacco benefiting from backup, and tutor, Matt Schaub – John Eisenberg, BaltimoreRavens.com

"Flacco, 30, is obviously still the starter, a franchise cornerstone and the dominant figure in the quarterback room, but Schaub, 34, has a lot to add to the conversation. Although Marc Trestman is now the Ravens offensive coordinator, the groundwork for their West Coast-style offense was laid by Trestman’s predecessor, Gary Kubiak, in 2014, and Schaub started 88 games for Kubiak as a member of the Houston Texans between 2007 and 2013.“Matt has a lot of reps under his belt running this offense,” Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said at the team’s mandatory minicamp last month."

Ravens hope safety is next free agent steal – Clifton Brown, CSN Baltimore

"Kendrick Lewis could be the next new Raven to have a bigger impact than anticipated.Last year, it was running back Justin Forsett, who had a career-best 1,266-yard season, after his initial signing by the Ravens didn’t draw much attention. Lewis’ signing as a free agent safety from the Texans didn’t generate much fanfare either. But as the Ravens prepare to start training camp later this month, Lewis is a favorite to start at one of the safety spots, and has a chance to be a key piece of their defense for several reasons:"

Next: Ten reasons the Ravens will win the Super Bowl: Reason #10

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