ONE BIRD FLYING UNDER THE RADAR
With four games to go, wide receiver Torrey Smith is quietly having a breakout year, which is even more impressive when you consider the issues the Ravens have had moving the ball this season. Smith has been the focal point of the passing game with Dennis Pitta injured and Anquan Boldin having been traded to San Francisco, and has been the only offensive player consistently producing.
Smith is no longer the deep-threat with questionable hands he was regarded as coming out of the University of Maryland, and has proven comparisons to fellow Terps alumni Darrius Heyward-Bey from his rookie season to be wrong. Through 12 games, Smith has racked up 54 receptions for 952 yards and scored four touchdowns, and has a good shot to break the Ravens’ single-season receiving record currently set by Michael Jackson back in 1996. (1,201 yards)
Right now Smith ranks in the top 5 in the NFL in yards-per-catch and in receptions over 20 yards. The third-year receiver also is 14th in receiving yards among wide-outs (New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham has 988) and ahead of big names like Victor Cruz, Dez Bryant, and Mike Wallace.
If Smith can average over 63 yards receiving per game over the final four weeks of the season, he will set the team record, and should have a realistic shot to attend his first Pro Bowl.
TOMLIN HIT WITH FINE, STEELERS DRAFT PICKS IN LIMBO
Earlier this morning, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was fined $100,000 for his potential interference with Ravens kick returner Jacoby Jones when the teams met last Thursday night.
The decision was dealt from the league’s senior vice president, Ray Anderson. Tomlin said he had made contact several times this week with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and had spoken to Anderson on Monday as well.
The NFL also states that a decision has not yet been made about possible modification of forfeiture of the Pittsburgh’s draft choices this April.
The only fine in recent years higher than the $100k out of Tomlin’s pocket was on Bill Belichick after Spygate, when the Patriots were recording another team’s practices. The Patriots also were penalized in the following year’s draft.
Tomlin said on Fox Football Daily that it would be crazy for anyone to believe he interfered on purpose. He also apologized again at his press-conference on Tuesday, and called the event “inexcusable.”
Tomlin did however, defend his actions last Thursday by saying that all coaches stand in the white stripe they are not allowed in, and that defense probably did not sit well with the NFL.
RISING THROUGH THE RANKS
After being ranked in the bottom half of the league in most power rankings last week and for most of the last month, the Ravens are rising fast in the eyes of most pundits.
ESPN places the Ravens as the 14th highest team in the league, after having them as low as 20th just two weeks ago before Baltimore defeated the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers in consecutive weeks. The Ravens are ESPN’s highest ranked team without a winning record.
NFL.com has the Ravens moving up to 16th after being 18th last week and praises the Ravens for being able to hang in the race for the wild card and division, despite struggles on offense. NFL.com places two 6-6 squads ahead of Baltimore in Miami (14th) and Chicago (15th).
If the Ravens can win this Sunday at home against the Minnesota Vikings, they should continue to climb in the rankings, as they aim to close in on a sixth-straight season with a playoff berth.
ELAM LEARNING ON JOB
When Matt Elam was drafted in the first round last April, it was believed that he would originally sit behind recent acquisition Michael Huff for at least the beginning of his rookie year. However, when Huff was benched in Week 1, and cut later in the season, it became clear that Elam would be counted on in the secondary for the Ravens.
Elam has been unspectacular, but has not made any critical mistakes so far in his rookie campaign, notching two passes defended without an interception while proving capable at tackling and playing the run when needed.
Elam is a more natural play at strong safety but with James Ihedigbo already playing there, and playing well, Elam has played free safety out of need. He has improved since being added in as a starter in Week 2, but is still one of the weaker links in a surprisingly strong secondary led by cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Ladarius Webb.
With matchups against Matt Stafford and Tom Brady looming, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun believes that Elam will be challenged, and needs to be ready to stand up to the tests.
