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QB Troy Smith (2006 Heisman Trophy Winner)

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Don Banks CNNSI

SI.com - Writers - Ravens postcard (cont.) - Thursday August 2, 2007 11:30PM
Camp Confidential

I spent some time after lunch with rookie quarterback Troy Smith, and I came away convinced the Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State gets it. He's in a really good position to learn with the Ravens, and he knows it.
"It's the best spot in the NFL for me,'' said Smith, who was drafted by Baltimore with the first pick of the fifth round. "Steve McNair is in his 13th season playing in this league. I told him I grew up watching him. Thirteen years ago, I was 10. It's incredible for me just to be getting to slap five's with him every day. He doesn't even know how much I'm watching and learning from him.''
Smith doesn't look too good right now. He's erratic with too many passes, and he's over-thinking everything, as young quarterbacks will do when the speed of the NFL game hits them for the first time. His challenge, Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel told me, is to speed up his release, because if he can get rid of the ball faster, the pass rush and the closing ability of NFL defenders will be somewhat negated. But making good reads and quick decisions are what nearly every young quarterback struggles with at first.
Smith knows he has to adapt his game to the Ravens offense, even if at Ohio State things were the other way around, with the Buckeyes building their offense around him. In Baltimore, he's the likely No. 3 quarterback this year. But with McNair getting up in years, and backup Kyle Boller headed for free agency in 2008, who knows how different next season might be for Smith?
"This is going to be a hard process,'' Smith said. "Sometimes I think to myself, 'I was the Heisman Trophy winner last year, the best quarterback in the NCAA.' But this is something totally different. This is the NFL, and that doesn't necessarily mean anything here. I've got to work hard for it.''
Smith gets it. He knows he has to drop off the radar screen for a while, in order to some day re-emerge and make people remember his name again.
 
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Troy Smith had a very good day of practice in both the scrimmages and seven-on-seven drills.

On one play in the redzone, Smith dropped back and as soon as he hit his back foot, he released a laser to Freeman in the back of the endzone. He later showed good touch on the ball, lofting one to the back corner of the endzone where a leaping Williams reached over Willis Gaston for the score.
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ExtremeRavens. Baltimore Ravens Message Board and Fan Site
 
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Aug 3, 2007 6:27 pm US/Eastern

Ravens Rookies Looking Forward To Debut
(AP) WESTMINSTER, Md. Several Baltimore Ravens newcomers are eager to make a strong first impression during Saturday's scrimmage against the Washington Redskins, including $40 million running back Willis McGahee or quarterback Troy Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner.
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Smith is aware that his glittery Ohio State pedigree guarantees him nothing in his competition with Drew Olson to be the Ravens' third-string passer. Smith opened camp with a lot of errant throws and interceptions, but has begun to calm down and get acclimated to the faster pace of the NFL.

"I started off a little rocky, as I would expect, trying to think too much early on, but things are starting to come
together," Smith said. "The guys have accepted me. It's a totally different trust factor at this level."

Smith is expected to see a lot of action. Starter Steve McNair and backup Kyle Boller will get limited snaps Saturday.

"Hopefully, when I'm called upon and when my number is etched in stone, I'll be ready," Smith said. "Until then, whether I have to be a great cheerleader or not, I'm happy to do anything to help this team win."
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wjz.com - Ravens Rookies Looking Forward To Debut
 
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bubu_basset;895951; said:
went to MT Stadium today to see Raven scrimage vs Redskins. Troy missed and overthrew several times during 7 on 7, but connected several passed during 11 on 11.
In my opinion, he looked fine but he still have a lot of work to do.
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I was there as well. Oh man, was it hot or what! The thermometer indicates over 120.

Troy did miss more often during limited showing, but did show some flashes of brilliance on a couple of occasions. The most impressive play came as he booted out to his right and hit a TS in stride for a sizable gain (10+ yds).

The way I see it is that both McNair (no surprise) and Boller are doing great. In my opinion, Boller was not too far behind McNair although apparent most Ravens fans are not fond of him that much. TS has a lot to make up to catch up to these two but has a slight lead over Drew Olson, which should earn him a slot in the roster. Good luck to him!
 
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Troy Smith also looked good this morning. It is clear he is ahead of Drew Olson on the depth chart. Smith has been the more consistent of the two and has far more upside than Olson, especially considering that he has with a stronger arm and better athleticism at the position.

Still, Smith is inconsistent at best.

On one play, during seven-on-seven drills, Smith hit his back foot, looking left the entire way back. He then threw quickly down the right sideline looking to hook up with Damien Linson on a go route.

The pass was perfectly placed and timed, but Linson could not bring it in. On the next play, Smith threw a pass in the left flat, in the dirt, falling far short of his intended target. He is reading the various looks the defense gives him better, but he must learn to relax, trust his eyes and be more consistent with his passes.
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ExtremeRavens. Baltimore Ravens Message Board and Fan Site
 
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Heisman winner Smith starting over with Ravens


By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, August 8, 2007

The Ravens liked Smith's arm and poise enough to take a low-risk gamble. Eric DeCosta, the team's director of college scouting, said Smith was drafted on the notion he could develop into a solid backup and "maybe more than that."

The feeling around Ravens camp is that Smith will make the final roster as the No. 3 quarterback.

That's all he's looking for -- an opening. That's what enabled him to rise from backup running back to star quarterback in Columbus, Ohio.
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It's not easy for a rookie to impress a hardened group like the Ravens. Smith already has.

"He's a very mature person, and he has a tremendous arm," linebacker Bart Scott said. "I think he has a chance to be a steal, like a Tom Brady (sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2000).

"We all know (McNair) only has so much longer to go, so the cards are set up for Troy to come in and play and start early in his career for a pretty good football team."
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Starkey: Smith starting over with Ravens - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
 
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Heisman winner's future uncertain
Aug 11, 2007 3:00 AM (4 hrs ago)
by Matt Palmer, The Examiner

Smith could see plenty of action in the second half against the Eagles. It is still unclear if he is fourth on the depth chart behind Drew Olson, who spent all of last season on the practice squad after being signed as undrafted free agent out of UCLA.

Smith has looked inconsistent throughout training camp. His arm has been strong, but he has been slow on some of his reads and regularly throws errant passes, including when he participated in a non-contact scrimmage against the Washington Redskins last week.
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Heisman winner's future uncertain - Examiner.com
 
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T. Smith, Olson to take next step
Quest for third quarterback spot will continue in preseason opener

By Don Markus | Sun reporter
August 12, 2007

The competition for the No. 3 quarterback job is one of the few intriguing battles so far at Ravens training camp. Troy Smith and Drew Olson will take their evolving contest from the practice fields at McDaniel College in Westminster to M&T Bank Stadium for tomorrow night's opening preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Smith, who was drafted in the fifth round this year after winning the Heisman Trophy at Ohio State last season, has been getting more reps in practice than Olson, who signed as a free agent out of UCLA in 2006 before spending last season on the Ravens practice squad and playing for an NFL Europa team in Amsterdam.

As he has done through the first two weeks of practice, Smith had his good moments and others when he looked like a rookie in yesterday's morning workout. His first pass in full-team drills was picked off by veteran cornerback Samari Rolle, but he finished off the seven-on-seven drill by floating a touchdown pass to rookie receiver Damien Linson.

The same was true yesterday for Olson, who looked sharp on his first series but then had another Pro Bowl cornerback, Chris McAlister, step in front of a swing pass with nothing but clear space between him and the end zone. Both quarterbacks also had a couple of good throws dropped.

"Every play is important, and you have to treat it that way as a quarterback, never take a play off," Smith said after practice. "And as a professional, that's the way it has to be every second of every day. Be as professional as you can be and try to take that with you on the field."

Smith would seem to have had an advantage over Olson going into camp, because the Ravens in their history have never cut as celebrated a draft pick as Smith. It didn't hurt that Ray Lewis mentioned that he was a "fan of Troy Smith" during the team's organized team activities in June.

"Nothing's promised, I don't care who you are," said Smith, whose draft status plummeted when the Buckeyes lost to Florida in last season's Bowl Championship Series title game and continued to drop at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Olson is not looking at tomorrow's game as a make-or-break situation, or his competition with Smith as an uphill battle, because the Ravens gave the rookie a three-year contract that included a $105,000 signing bonus.

"It's however the coaches perceive it," Olson said. "To tell you the truth, I just look at it by game, and I do whatever I can do. If I looked at it as an uphill battle, I'd press too much and try to do too much. I just want to do stay within myself and play my game."

Quarterbacks coach and first-year offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel said tomorrow night's game should give him and Ravens coach Brian Billick another clue as to who will be the team's No. 3 quarterback this season.

"Practice situations, the reps are so limited, you can find out who can learn vicariously," Neuheisel said yesterday. "But there's nothing like being out there with no coaches around and doing all the little things that maybe are overlooked when you're coaching a fundamental of a play and see who can move the chains."
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T. Smith, Olson to take next step -- baltimoresun.com
 
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Heisman winner Smith debuts against Eagles
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Posted: August 12, 2007


BALTIMORE (AP) -- The last time Troy Smith played a significant football game, he was vying for a national championship.

In his NFL debut Monday night, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will be competing for a job.


Smith and former UCLA standout Drew Olson are seeking to begin the season as the Baltimore Ravens' third-string quarterback behind Steve McNair and Kyle Boller. The duel begins in earnest against the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason opener for both teams.

The winner gets a spot on the roster with a team that has high hopes for reaching the Super Bowl.

"I'm getting a chance and opportunity to be part of something special here, and it's my first Monday night football game. It means a lot," Smith said. "Getting back out there on the field just means a lot. I'm just anxious to get out there."
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SportingNews.com - NFL - Heisman winner Smith debuts against Eagles

Troy Smith and Drew Olson took all of the snaps through most of the practice. Both players worked the scout team against the first defense and prepared for the action they would share against the Eagles.

Smith looked relaxed and comfortable, and it showed in his play. The rookie quarterback threw several nice passes, moving his unit well, and throwing with good velocity and great touch. He connected on a few touchdown passes to rookie Matt Willis and tight end Kendrick Ballantyne.

In one goal line sequence, Smith rolled out to his right, changed his arm angle to avoid the on coming rusher and drilled a perfectly placed pass to Damien Linson. On the very next play, Smith dropped back, hit his back foot and quickly spotted Willis at the goal line. He let loose a rocket to the wide receiver, who hung on for six points. Billick Commending the UCLA rookie, Billick shouted, ?Way to hang on.?

Later on, Smith hit tight end Marcus Freeman in successive plays during a live, no contact scrimmage.

On the first play, the quarterback found Freeman on a short crossing route. The next play, Freeman worked his way behind the linebacker, but in front of the safety where Smith dropped the ball in perfectly for six points from 25 yards out. Freeman is having a solid camp, even with a few drops.
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ExtremeRavens. Baltimore Ravens Message Board and Fan Site

Troy Smith was erratic early in practice but later settled down. He threw a very nice deep ball down the left sideline to a well covered Matt Willis. Derrick Martin was stride for stride with Willis but Smith dropped the pass in perfectly. Unfortunately Willis dropped it. Willis has struggled the past two days. He did atone for the mistakes somewhat when he snared a pass from Smith in traffic. The ball was intentionally thrown behind Willis and the receiver adjusted smoothly. Smith also hit Yamon Figurs on a 15 yard score on the right sideline just beyond Chris McAlister and just in front of Ed Reed.
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Baltimore Ravens News, Blogs and Fan Sites With Baltimore Ravens Message Boards, Fan Forums, Baltimore Ravens Blogs, Articles & Analysis on the Ravens - Ravens24x7.com
 
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