Ebony Bird
FanSided

Ravens: Steve Smith Sr. is on an island all by himself in the wide receiver department

By Karl Nelson II

facebooktwitterreddit

Sep 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; ) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) celebrates after hits touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

We thought it was bad last season when Steve Smith Sr. came on as a primary receiver for the Baltimore Ravens, a job that former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith held the year prior. Last season, Torrey got off to an extremely slow start for the year and didn’t really find a groove until midway through the season.

Jacoby Jones was a disappointment last season as he never really found a rhythm at either position he held; wide receiver or punt and kick returner, which wasn’t any help to the Smith brothers, but still, it wasn’t nearly as bad as what we’re witnessing right now.

This year, Smith Sr. is likely wishing he had the help of an even struggling Torrey and Jacoby before he has to be left to the group of fellow receivers he has at the current moment. He just doesn’t have any help.

At least last season, he could count on having some experience to assist him on the field, but with guys like Kamar Aiken, Marlon Brown and Michael Campanaro in the fold, he hasn’t really been able to get the help he needs. Now, while I believe that has less to do with their ability and more to do with their lack of chemistry with Joe Flacco, it still doesn’t change the fact that Smith appears to be on an island all alone a lot of the time.

No team can win in those circumstances, which is evident right now as the Ravens have gotten off to an 0-3 start for the first time since the John Harbaugh era began and the first time in the history of the franchise.

Steve Smith might have not impressed us Week 1, but he’s been back to himself since then, especially yesterday when he gave flashes of a marvel-like hero out on that field, making something out of nothing on several different occasions.

He recorded 13 receptions on 17 targets for 186 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals, according to espn.com, and usually those kind of numbers show up on the winning side, but that wasn’t the case Sunday and it’s starting to look like that will be the pattern of this season.

Sep 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) runs after a reception during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Cincinnati Bengals defeated Baltimore Ravens 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Next: Ravens' best player lets them down

More from Ebony Bird

Home/Ravens News