BLUE 1,026 Posted September 26, 2014 (AP) -- Steve Smith was synonymous with the Carolina Panthers for 13 seasons. He has quickly established himself as the Baltimore Ravens' top receiver, and it also won't take him long to face his former team. Possibly the greatest player in Carolina history, Smith will face the Panthers on Sunday in Baltimore. After Carolina (2-1) made the decision to release Smith on March 13, it took less than 24 hours for Baltimore to sign him to a three-year deal. He has become Joe Flacco's top target with team highs of 18 catches and 290 yards. "I never really imagined that I'd be in a different uniform," he said. "I never really thought that I'd be playing against the Panthers." Smith is Carolina's all-time leader in receptions (836), yards receiving (12,197) and touchdowns (67). The move to get rid of one of Carolina's most admired players wasn't welcomed by its fans. A seven-year-old fan named Gavin was seen crying upon learning of the news of Smith's release in a YouTube video that became so popular that Smith eventually met the child in person to console him. Smith said he has moved on. "I think for every man that tries to earn a living despite the amount of money, you always try to go to work doing (more), always trying to give them more than they pay you," Smith said. "And when things don't work well, unless you obviously hate your job, nobody walks out going, 'Yay, I just got fired!'" One of the reasons Smith chose Baltimore is because it's about a one-hour flight to Charlotte, where his family continues to live. Carolina first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin has been spectacular in supplanting Smith as the team's No. 1 receiver with 253 yards and two scores. The Panthers could also get back Jerricho Cotchery from a one-game absence due to a hamstring injury. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said in the offseason that the 35-year-old Smith had lost his "top-end speed." Rivera didn't take too kindly to questions Wednesday about facing Smith. "We all know who Steve is and we know what Steve's done," Rivera said. "He's had a great career, he's assimilated very well to Baltimore, he's doing a great job for them. But after that, we're playing the Ravens." Rivera has his own concerns since his team's rushing attack is the fourth-worst in the NFL with 72.3 yards per game. The Panthers turned in their worst rushing effort in two seasons with 42 yards in last Sunday's 37-19 defeat to Pittsburgh. Cam Newton has 26 yards rushing in two games since missing the opener due to a rib injury. He hasn't looked very mobile and is on pace to rush for 384 yards, well behind his career average of 677. "We know he is a big part of what we do," Rivera said. "The thing it shows is we can't rely on him all of the time. Now we have to find other answers and other ways to (run the ball) - and the coaching staff is working on that." The running game should get a boost with the expected return of DeAngelo Williams, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and is back at practice. Baltimore (2-1) is yielding 89.7 rushing yards per game for the league's eighth-best mark, but it's wary of the threat that Carolina poses. "They're physical, they want to run the ball," coach John Harbaugh said. "They're a big challenge for us, they're probably going to watch the tape and think they can run the ball on us." The Ravens will be without tight end Dennis Pitta, who is out for the year due to a dislocated right hip suffered in last Sunday's 23-21 win at Cleveland. Owen Daniels, who has a team-best two TD catches, takes over as the starter. Baltimore has been solid with 137.0 rushing yards per game after rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro had 91 with a TD last weekend. The Panthers played last weekend without defensive end Greg Hardy, who has been removed from the roster in the wake of his domestic violence case, and they allowed 264 rushing yards to the Steelers for the highest total by any team this year. Flacco will have a new blocker on his blind side in rookie James Hurst, who replaces Eugene Monroe at left tackle. Monroe will be sidelined for several weeks following knee surgery. The Panthers are without All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert, who will miss at least eight games with a hairline fracture in his left leg suffered against Pittsburgh. Source: Hosted.Stats.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 26, 2014 I want to see if the Panthers can bounce back against a chippy Ravens squad. It's gonna be a tough call for sure, but I think Baltimore has the pass rush to keep Cam uncomfortable, and Joe Flacco has not been impossibly bad so far. 23 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) I hope Steve Smith goes off for 160 yards & 2 TDs. Currently 8th most receiving yards this year with 290. Edited September 26, 2014 by BC 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted September 26, 2014 I simply can't go against the rage and passion of Steve Smith 24 21 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) The rookie on the Ravens O-line protecting Flacco better do his job. Mario Addison and Charles Johnson are going to start switching up, it could make things interesting trying to pass-block for Baltimore. Forgive me if for, just this one game, I want to see an opponent go ham. I hope Smitty destroys the Panthers secondary. If we had had Smith + Benjamin, just imagine that receiving setup. Smith could have gone to the slot, like he wanted, and Benjamin could have been his replacement as the #1 WR. 13 28 Smith catches all four touchdowns. Edited September 26, 2014 by Thanatos19 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Omerta+ 1,206 Posted September 28, 2014 A lot of people forget that Hurst was a 1st round prospect before injury and some had him as the best LT in the class. Now Robinson blowing away the underwear olympics would have put him out of 1 most likely but still top 3 for most I would presume. I am worried considering his opposition, but not as much as I would be with a typical backup. 17 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 28, 2014 Ravens declared CB Lardarius Webb inactive for Sunday's Week 4 game against the Panthers. Webb is not known to be injured, so this looks like a healthy scratch. Coming off a back injury, he managed just four snaps in Week 3 anyway. Look for Jimmy Smith to shadow Kelvin Benjamin. In good news for the Ravens, Chris Canty (knee) is active. The rest of their inactives: WR Michael Campanaro (River Hill), ILB Arthur Brown, G John Urschel, DL Lawrence Guy, DT Timmy Jernigan and OT Eugene Monroe. Panthers declared RB Jonathan Stewart (knee) inactive for Sunday's Week 4 game at Baltimore. Stewart surprisingly got back in a limited practice Friday and was listed as questionable, but he wasn't moving well and was never expected to play. The Panthers will roll with Darrin Reaves and Tauren Poole behind DeAngelo Williams in this difficult matchup. The rest of their inactives: QB Joe Webb, S Tre Boston, RB Fozzy Whittaker, LB Thomas Davis, OL Andrew Norwell and TE Brandon Williams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted September 28, 2014 Panthers defense isn't enough to carry this team without Hardy. Yay for political correctness. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted September 28, 2014 Steve Smith- 6 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs. But yeah, he was done. Fuck Gettleman for that move. Our receiver corps would be at least in the top half of the league with him. Saved very little money to cut a guy just because he had a personal dislike for him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted September 28, 2014 Steve Smith almost identical line to my projection sorry Than Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted September 28, 2014 Steve Smith almost identical line to my projection sorry Than Forgive me if for, just this one game, I want to see an opponent go ham. I hope Smitty destroys the Panthers secondary. If we had had Smith + Benjamin, just imagine that receiving setup. Smith could have gone to the slot, like he wanted, and Benjamin could have been his replacement as the #1 WR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
