NFL
Ravens’ Jimmy Smith Suspended (Again) By The NFL
The Baltimore Ravens will begin 2018 the same way they ended last season: without Jimmy Smith. Smith missed the final four games of the 2017 season due to PED usage, as well as an Achilles tear. This is, without a doubt, a huge blow to the Ravens’ defense. Baltimore allowed 260 passing yards-per-game without Jimmy Smith in the lineup last season.
Smith is now suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Last fall, Smith was involved in a custody dispute over his three-year-old son. Micaela Sanchez, the son’s mother, accused Smith of repeated drug usage and domestic violence. While Smith was never charged with a crime, the league found enough evidence to warrant a suspension.
The Ravens will now lean on their younger defensive backs to elevate their secondary. Marlon Humphrey will fill in for Smith as the starter, opposite of ten-year veteran Brandon Carr. Baltimore will also need a strong start from slot defender Tavon Young to help mitigate the loss of Smith. Young missed last season entirely with a torn ACL, so the Ravens will be eager to see how he’ll perform through the first quarter of the 2018 season.
Jimmy Smith will miss the Ravens’ matchups against the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and division rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. Receivers Kelvin Benjamin, A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas, and Madden 19 cover star Antonio Brown are all more than capable of dominating the Baltimore secondary.
The talent of Jimmy Smith has never been a question. Smith has the size and traits that a team would love in a first-choice corner. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith only allowed a 49.2 passer rating against him in 2017 — the fourth-best among all NFL defenders.
It is the off-field issues, however, that should have Baltimore worried. The Ravens are standing by Smith and, after the Ray Rice debacle, fans must hope that history doesn’t repeat itself. Regardless, having a suspension to end 2017 and another to start 2018 isn’t a good look for the team or for Jimmy Smith.
