Baltimore Ravens: Steve Smith and James Ihedigbo Updates
Oct 20, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) reacts after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter. The Carolina Panthers defeated the St. Louis Rams 30-15 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
This is the NFL season of the year for comings and goings.
Definitely leaving the Baltimore Ravens is safety James Ihedigbo who will likely be signing with the Detroit Lions today. There he will be able to re-join former Ravens secondary coach Teryl Austin, who has been hired as the Lions’ defensive coordinator.
After only starting 15 games in his first five years, Ihedigbo started every game this past season for the Ravens at strong safety. According to the metrics of Pro Football Focus, he ranked 16th of the 86 safeties in the study, logging a total of almost 1,100 defensive snaps. Ihedigbo totaled 100 tackles, pulling in three interceptions and covering two fumbles as well.
It was a good year for the 30-year-old, who I will mostly miss because I finally remembered how to spell his name.
Possibly coming to the Baltimore Ravens is wide receiver Steve Smith. He has been officially released by the Panthers, and a whole host of football sites and followers are linking him primarily with the Ravens.
Off course, the Ravens signed Jacoby Jones and have Torrey Smith and Marlon Brown (and Dennis Pitta) returning. But it would still make good sense to have another Smith for Joe Flacco to target. Steve Smith has been among the best receivers in the league, though it is generally conceded that he had little help to fully maximize his talents.
Securing Smith could help to give clarity to the entire receivers issue, and inform Newsome about what direction to take with continued free agency and the college draft. Certainly getting a free safety is a high priority, along with addressing needs on the line at center and right tackle, and perhaps an additional tight end. Another running back would be cool also. Anybody ever heard of a guy named Ben Tate?
There is more to go in putting this 2014 version of the Baltimore Ravens together, but the overall clarity of past couple days is encouraging.
Steve Smith career statistics, all with Carolina …
Year |
Age
G
Rec
Yds
Y/R
TD
Lng
R/G
Y/G
2001
22
15
10
154
15.4
0
33
0.7
10.3
2002
23
15
54
872
16.1
3
69
3.6
58.1
2003
24
16
88
1110
12.6
7
67
5.5
69.4
2004
25
1
6
60
10.0
0
15
6.0
60.0
2005
26
16
103
1563
15.2
12
80
6.4
97.7
2006
27
14
83
1166
14.0
8
72
5.9
83.3
2007
28
15
87
1002
11.5
7
74
5.8
66.8
2008
29
14
78
1421
18.2
6
65
5.6
101.5
2009
30
15
65
982
15.1
7
66
4.3
65.5
2010
31
14
46
554
12.0
2
39
3.3
39.6
2011
32
16
79
1394
17.6
7
77
4.9
87.1
2012
33
16
73
1174
16.1
4
66
4.6
73.4
2013
34
15
64
745
11.6
4
44
4.3
49.7
Career
182
836
12197
14.6
67
80
4.6
67.0