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Without Jimmy Smith, Who Plays Corner For Ravens?

Prior to the opening game of the 2011 NFL regular season, Baltimore Ravens head coach announced his starting cornerbacks would be rookie Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams. That changed right away in last Sunday's opening day 35-7 beatdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers when Smith was injured the first time he was on the field for the kickoff following the Ravens three-play touchdown drive early in the first quarter.

Smith was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain which will keep him out at least a few weeks according to Harbaugh. In his place, the Ravens employed a rotation of corners including Lardarius Webb, Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr. Even Cary Williams had to miss a few plays with a nagging injury but he returned to finish the game. Of the three other corners, both Carr and Foxworth were not 100%, so a majority of the snaps went to Webb.

Star-divide

Granted, Webb was a beast defending the run, throwing his 182 pound body all over the lace, making solid hits and tackling with force and confidence. However, in pass coverage not only was he less than effective, he was actually targeted by Roethlisberger regardless of whom he was defending. After a surprisingly impressive rookie season, it seems that Webb's cover skills have taken a step backwards and opposing quarterbacks such as Big Ben have tried to exploit the Ravens pass coverage in his direction.

Of course, Webb is far from the biggest problem in the Ravens secondary. Domonique Foxworth has not fully recovered from his ACL surgery and the results are obvious. Badly embarrassed in the Ravens pre-season game versus the Washington Redskins, Foxworth was playing way off his receiver and beaten regularly, looking slow and hesitant in coverage.

Chris Carr, while the best cover corner on the team in 2010, still is not fully recovered from his injuries and his availability and effectiveness remains up in the air right now. Rookie Chykie Brown was inactive for the Steelers game, but with Smith's injury, Brown might find his way to the active roster and playing time out of necessity. Even safety Haruki Nakamura came in as the nickel and dime back on Sunday due to the secondary's lack of depth.

That leaves Cary Williams and most likely Lardarius Webb as the Ravens best bet to open the game against the Tennessee Titans. However, if the pass rush is anywhere as effective at Tennessee as it was against Pittsburgh, it might not make that much of a difference and be good enough to beat a team that shouldn't be anywhere as dangerous as the one they demolished last week.

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all reasons why smith shouldn’t have been on ST. i can’t bare another atlanta or houston type DB beatdown. we needed smiths size. not sure a high ankle sprain goes away in a few weeks….

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 4:17 PM EDT reply actions  

come on man. smith on ST’s was an unecessary risk considering our need for a big DB. it was stupid. webb went out 2 years ago because of the suicide squad. after he went down he was easily replaced on ST but now it is hard to replace his slot as a DB. fight that logic.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 4:43 PM EDT reply actions  

You are wise raven. Do you by chance have a newsletter I could subscribe to?

"Is adult entertainment killing our children, or is killing children entertaining adults?"
-Marilyn Manson

by StuckInUtah on Sep 15, 2011 4:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

injury rate is 100% on offense, defense, and st

by Evan Skev on Sep 15, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'll side with raven on this one

Get Smith off Special Teams! All we hear the entire offseason after drafting him by Ozzie and the coaches is that he is our future at CB, he is going to be put on the #1 WR from the start, and now we throw him in there on a squad where all we heard the entire offseason as well is how many injuries this part of the game causes?

I am fine with any of the other CB’s doing it, but not Jimmy.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 15, 2011 4:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions  

I am fine with any of the other CB’s doing it, but not Jimmy

I honestly have no problem with Jimmy Smith playing special teams players can get hurt any time either on defense or offense. Smith could have had the same problem on defense just because he got hurt on special teams shouldn’t mean he shouldn’t see special teams again.

Its always a risk for a player to get injuried and if you think just running down the field to tackle some body on kick returns and punt returners is more risky than playing defense where you have to actrally do more than run down field seems to be wrong.

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?-langton Hughes

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Sep 15, 2011 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

But by that reasoning why not throw Suggs and Reed out there on kickoffs too? They’re both quick and sure tacklers.

"Is adult entertainment killing our children, or is killing children entertaining adults?"
-Marilyn Manson

by StuckInUtah on Sep 15, 2011 6:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

without killing our 22 starters you can find 11 ST nuts. i think its more initiation and stupidity than it is a need that smith had to be out there. put ed reed out there then.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 5:02 PM EDT reply actions  

without killing our 22 starters you can find 11 ST nuts. i think its more initiation and stupidity than it is a need that smith had to be out there. put ed reed out there then.

Smith is not a starter and to my knowledge ladarius webb in the first game was notified that he would start over Smith while Carr & Williams would be the starters

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?-langton Hughes

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Sep 15, 2011 5:48 PM EDT reply actions  

Smith was a starter, read the first paragraph of the article

" Baltimore Ravens head coach announced his starting cornerbacks would be rookie Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams."

QFT

by Swampduck on Sep 16, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

i agree with jazz… not that it’s important but i thought webb & williams were R&L

by Evan Skev on Sep 16, 2011 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

just loyalty to webb. jimmy would have either started last week or this week. he’s too good and webb cannot defend a rody white type receiver. webb is an agressive tackler but thats after the catch. jimmy’s ready. i like webb, but we can’t have all the Smurfs on the field at the same time.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 5:51 PM EDT reply actions  

Yeah…that game against Atlanta really showed the weakness of our secondary last year. Just posted about that.

by SL9178 on Sep 15, 2011 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

you do know that still have williams right who has played and preformed much better then Smith.
just loyalty to webb

I highly doubt that it obviously meant that Webb was probably was practicing better than Smith or the coaches just didnt feel comfortable with smith as the starter in the nickel at the time. I dont think it was loyalty at all besides to my knowledge didnt webb play good in the steelers game?

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?-langton Hughes

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Sep 15, 2011 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

CBs & CBs

This has been one of our weak spots for so long. We just get carved up by teams with good (not even great) QBs and star WRs. I remember seeing this happen a few years ago at home at the hands of Delhomme and Steve Smith. The Atlanta game last year…! Even though that was offensive interference in my opinion…!

Our D-Line and safeties (Ed Reed healthy…!) camouflage it a bunch. But we are super thing at CB. Even with Jimmy and Williams starting we are susceptible. Those guys will become A-listers soon…but they’re not there yet.

Real question is: Do we face a team this year that can make us pay for that?

by SL9178 on Sep 15, 2011 5:52 PM EDT reply actions  

i agree but jimmy and williams need the reps to get ready for crunch time. jimmy will be a month behind and williams just needs downs. i have seen enough of us getting out muscled for balls. wilson came on strong last year as he improved. carr and webb are what you get, foxworth is a second stringer.

i may not of started smith and williams last week because pitt plays smart and we needed experience over size. this week would have been a good week for williams and smith despite kenny britt. hasselback is a wise qb but he doesn’t have bens arm. williams and smith could get away with some late breaks.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 5:58 PM EDT reply actions  

Jimmy is an aggressive player who loves to hit people. You need guys like that on special teams. It was a freak injury (like many injuries are), and he’ll be back in a few weeks.

by JoshuaStein on Sep 15, 2011 6:14 PM EDT reply actions  

well it worked out just fn’ great. this, AFTER the Webb near ACL blowout. like i said, put ed reed in there, put ray lewis in to bust up the wedge. its all part of the game right?

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 6:17 PM EDT reply actions  

I thought for sure Webb tore his Acl on defense not special team in that bears game

I remember that game and webb was covering a wideout then some how he tore his acl

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?-langton Hughes

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Sep 15, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

nope, kick coverage

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Who’s returning shit anyways with cundiff banging balls into the bleachers. Did you see the rex ryan video calling for the “terminator” play where he hides a beast behind the 1st wave and blind sides poor unsuspecting soles on kick coverage. it’s a dangerous and ignorant play with the sole purpose hurting someone so he can roll his belly in laughter. that’s the type of mokey shit that happens on ST’s.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 6:23 PM EDT reply actions  

This is maybe the first time that I agreed with everything you said.

ST is for the non stars, put Chykie Brown and Ruki out there, not Webb and Smith.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 15, 2011 7:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

since when Jimmy smith became a star so i guess a first round pick automatically becomes a star

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?-langton Hughes

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Sep 15, 2011 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

He may not be a star right now, but has more potential to be one than any other CB on our team because of his physical gifts.

We are banking alot of our future on him, so we need him healthy for defense.

"'If there isn't a bone sticking out of my leg, I'm playing" - Marshall Yanda

by Mr MaLoR on Sep 16, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

He may not be a star right now, but has more potential to be one than any other CB on our team because of his physical gifts.

I agree that he has alot of potentials base off his physcal gifts and etc but that it stops there just at potentials.

We are banking alot of our future on him, so we need him healthy for defense

Im sure Smith will be helpful on defense but the emergency for him to be a starter is probably not as high since Cary Williams has step up nicely so far. I think you and other ravens fans are taking the injury on special teams a little overboard it wasn’t like Jimmy Smith was playing special teams as a starter on defense any way besides teams do allow starters to play special teams to like wes welker and etc.

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?-langton Hughes

yeah I agree with Jimmy and Cary shutting down the other teams WR’s, they’ll make anybody rushing the QB look good - Jaz

by jazz20 on Sep 16, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

I hope

Smith can get back in time for the Cardinals game. Kolb may not be the most threatening QB in the league, but my grandmother could pass for 200 yards if the Cards receivers are under matched. Even before that, playing the Texans and not having an answer for Johnson could be a serious issue.

by Seth Weaver on Sep 15, 2011 6:43 PM EDT reply actions  

Granny wouldnt do much with Ngata sighed Webb pollard mcphee or rayray up in her pretty grill

Relax fellows…let’s enjoy the destruction

by Evan Skev on Sep 15, 2011 9:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

he will be back after the bye for sure.

we dont need him for any jets wr, and rams don’t have a legit #1. So we should be fine, as long as he can come back for week 6 after the bye. they said 3-4 weeks i believe, so he should be back by then.

by Rayisyourdaddy on Sep 16, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions  

both of those DB spotlight games.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 7:44 PM EDT reply actions  

Calm Down Calm Down PEOPLE

C-Murder aka Cary will play Britt and other “bigs” we play regardless of Smith’s health. We are going to break him in into playing #1, though when healthy, he will contribute a lot. Yes, even on ST. He got hurt at the end of the play while breaking down and his feet got tangled with another players feet. Fluke injurie that could happen on a field goal. We have a top 3 secondary even without Smith. WE! ARE! GOOD!

by Georgia Raven on Sep 15, 2011 8:30 PM EDT via mobile reply actions   1 recs

i pray you’re right. by the way, Georgia has the hottest chicks on the planet.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 8:36 PM EDT reply actions  

Brazil

But I’m not complaining about GA.

by Georgia Raven on Sep 15, 2011 8:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

maybe S. Carolina.

by raven on Sep 15, 2011 8:39 PM EDT reply actions  

Yeah if you like toothless and 25 with a middle school diploma.

by Georgia Raven on Sep 15, 2011 8:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

BTW

Webb was playing a form of D that is very difficult for most dbs. Yes he gave up majority of the passing yards but he closed out on every tackle and he never got beat deep. Pitt kept throwing on him expecting one of their wrs, they are pretty good at getting YAC, to break a tackle or two for some big gains. I wouldn’t trust that method vs #1s but I will trust him to keep another teams #2 under control. Plus the teams with better corners don’t have our front 7 and as I said b4 we still have a top 3 secondary. Do the math

by Georgia Raven on Sep 15, 2011 8:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions  

Verily, GR

by Evan Skev on Sep 15, 2011 9:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

With the way the coaching staff regards J. Smith as our next "shut down corner"

He should not be playing sp teams. You can say all you want that hes not ready or not a star or even a starter yet but our coaches see him as a star, starter, shutdown corner. Nuff said. Anyone that has starter capacity at a position we are thin at SHOULD NOT be playing anywhere they may be hurt other then their assigned position. Is Jimmy Smith a special teams ace? Could Chykie Brown or anyone else do as good of a job on sp teams? Probably. Can these guys play at the level of J. Smith at Cb? NO!

Don't let my defense dictate your offense..

by lastcallbmore on Sep 15, 2011 9:42 PM EDT reply actions  

I have no problem with Smith playing ST. Putting him in there as a gunner on punt coverage or covering the gunner on punt returns is OK. I don’t like seeing him on KO coverage or returns. The difference in my opinion is the gunner in PR needs to be strong, fast and able to fight for position while running, and covering the gunner is similar. These are traits similar to play WR or DB so it is a natural position for Smith. Kick coverage or returns is just running or blocking in chaos. Not the ideal situation for a speed guy. Both have risks but I think punt team is more taking advantage of his talent where there is postential reward and on kick off it is a waste of talent with little reward. So why take risk with an important player when there is not a lot of reward to go with it?

by PurpleMoonDance on Sep 16, 2011 4:26 PM EDT reply actions  

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