We'll probably never know how things would have played out had Troy Smith not gotten a tonsil infection when he was fighting for, and possibly winning (depending on whom you believe), the Ravens starting quarterback job. Let's be fair, though. Some players develop differently. The NFL is often as much about luck and opportunity as it is ability, and maybe it would have unfolded differently had Smith not gotten sick and conceded the job to Joe Flacco by default.
But we can only evaluate the reality of the situation, and with respect to Smith, this is the harsh truth: He is a very average backup NFL quarterback. This was his chance to showcase his talents, and it was fairly uninspiring, especially against the Rams' first-team defense, which is really the measuring stick that the Ravens' coaching staff has to use to evaluate him.
Smith has a strong enough arm to play in this league, but he still holds the ball too long on some plays, or dumps it off too quickly on others. His accuracy, his greatest strength in college, isn't consistent enough, especially when he drops back and tries to throw the ball with timing. (He's more accurate on the move, when he doesn't think too much about things.) His footwork, even after three years, is subpar. He has agility, but he seems almost reluctant to run most of the time because he wants to prove himself as a passer. Cam Cameron seems to be a big believer in Smith, so it's possible that the Ravens will keep him. (They did keep three quarterbacks last year, after all.) But fewer and fewer NFL teams are keeping three quarterbacks these days, and it's going to be a difficult decision for Ozzie Newsome, Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh. Is there a linebacker who could occasionally be active in games and help this team more than Smith being inactive? Is there a cornerback or a defensive lineman? I think there is, but we'll have to wait and see. I'd lean toward Smith making the team.
The suggestion that the Ravens trade Smith is, and has always been, a message board, blog comment fantasy. Teams do not trade anything of value for third-string quarterbacks, period. Smith did make several nice throws in this game. In the first half, he moved well in the pocket, avoiding pressure, and hit Demetrius Williams on a nice crossing route. He followed it up with another nice throw to Williams where Williams went high in the air to make a great catch. But the interception right before halftime showed you Smith's limitations. When you're not very tall, you have to create passing lanes and you have to be decisive. On that play, Smith hesitated on his throw, then spiked it right into the pass rush.
If this was his "Showcase Game" then I'm not sure what exactly was showcased, other than some very average to below-average quarterback play.
--Ravens Insider
Great!
