Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals: Seven Players to Watch
Jul 24, 2014; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) catches a ball over hs shoulder during practice at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
I was critical of Jimmy Smith from the moment the Ravens drafted him. I thought the way he covered in college would get flagged way too often in the pros, I thought he relied too much on his athleticism and I thought he looked stiff. For two-and-a-half years, I was right. Then, all of a sudden, the light came on midway through last year and Smith looked like an all-pro.
Now, in his fourth year in the league, I ask, will the real Jimmy Smith please stand up?
If the real Smith is the guy who more or less locked down Calvin Johnson, the Ravens defense is in great shape. I think there is a very good chance that’s who the real Jimmy Smith is. But, eight games does not a career make. Smith needs to prove that last year’s hot finish was not a fluke, and he gets the chance to do so against A.J. Green.