Steve Bisciotti and Ozzie Newsome have made it well known that getting a long term deal done with Torrey Smith is a priority.
Since being drafted in 2011 Smith has consistently been one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets. He posted a career high in catches and yards in 2013, despite frequently facing double teams, and opposing defenses making it a point to try to make him a non-factor in games.
As important as his production is on the field, the way he conducts himself off the field, makes him that much more indispensable to the Ravens considering their turbulent offseason. Getting a deal done with him before the beginning of the 2014 season is even more important now than it was four months ago.
Most Ravens fans know the stories of the hurdles Smith had to overcome to get where he is today. The oldest of seven children he helped his mother raise his six younger siblings, worked jobs after school to help pay the bills, and has never had a sip of booze in his life.
The only time you hear his name in the offseason is when he is making a difference in the community with his foundation, which provides resources, opportunities and educational support for Baltimore’s youth.
Or when he is Instagramming pictures of his new born son.
On the field Smith has been a vital cog to Baltimore’s offense, and played a big role in their Super Bowl run in 2012. When drafted out of Maryland he was thought of as a one dimensional receiver. A burner who could help take the top off of a defense and spread the field.
In the past three seasons, he’s improved his blocking and intermediate route running, while remaining a big play threat every time he steps on the field. He has also been durable, and has never missed a game in his three year career.
Torrey’s critics will say he was the Ravens number one receiver last year by default, and he isn’t truly an elite pass catcher and that he disappears for stretches.
The inconsistency “they” say, makes him a number two guy.
The counter to that is the Ravens lacked a complement to Smith last year, which they now have in Steve Smith, Sr. With Dennis Pitta out and Ray Rice overweight and slowed by a hip flexor, Torrey was the only legitimate threat the Ravens had on the field at times.
With more weapons this year, and more opportunities for Smith in single coverage, look for him to improve his statistics from 2013, and take another step towards proving he belongs in the category of elite NFL receivers.
Getting a deal done with Smith before 2014 could be complicated, and his contract could be a tricky one.
But hopefully Drew Rosenhaus and Ozzie Newsome can find common ground and make Torrey, a role model both on and off the field, a Raven for the foreseeable future.
It’s time to make this alleged No. 2 a No. 1 priority.
