Z. Smith trying to earn new contract
Canady, Dixon absent again from practice; Flacco keeps eye on brother at Towson
Za’Darius Smith appears to be backing up his coach’s claim.
Last Thursday, Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale was effusive in his praise of the outside linebacker, saying, “‘Z’ had the best training camp I’ve ever seen him have since I’ve been here.”
Smith followed up Martindale’s comment by tying middle linebacker C.J. Mosley for the team lead in tackles with five and adding a sack of Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen in the third quarter of Sunday’s 47-3 pummeling at M&T Bank Stadium.
“We all have had a great preseason, but I just think for myself, I’ve been going hard each and every day because this year is big year for me, and we all know that,” the 6-foot-4, 272-pound Smith said Monday. “It’s contract season. So for me to go out there and take every snap like it’s my last and go all the way out, you’re going to see that a lot this year from me.”
This is a pivotal time for Smith, who is playing out the final year of the $2.7 million contract he signed after getting selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has 11 career sacks, including 5 ½ as a rookie in 2015, the fourth most for a Ravens rookie.
Part of a group that includes starters Terrell Suggs and Matthew Judon and backups Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser, Smith acknowledged feeling some pressure about cementing his NFL future.
“Somewhat there is, but it’s all for the good,” he said. “There are a lot of guys that wish they were in this situation of being in a contract year. They say a lot of guys don’t even make it to Year 3 or Year 4. So I’m blessed to have the opportunity to go out there and fight and be in a contract year.”
Even if the Ravens allow him to test the free-agent market, Smith, who turned 26 on Saturday, figures to draw suitors. But he insisted that his objective is continuing his employment with the Ravens.
“I wish I could stay here forever,” he said. “I wish I could stay here as long as [Suggs] has been here. I know that’s something my agent asked me. He said, ‘Z, do you want to stay a Raven?’ And I said, ‘Man, once a Raven, always a Raven.’ So hopefully, Coach can get something going, and I hope [general manager] Ozzie [ Newsome] and [team president] Dick Cass can make that happen. That’s a big birthday wish though.” Canady, Dixon out again: Cornerback Maurice Canady and running back Kenneth Dixon missed their second straight Za’Darius Smith of the Ravens flattens Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman in the first quarter of Sunday’s season-opening victory. practice, increasing the likelihood that both players will sit out Thursday night’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals.
The absences of Canady (thigh) and Dixon (knee) from what was a walkthrough Tuesday are not an encouraging sign that they will be able to suit up.
If Dixon can’t play, the offense will feature only two healthy running backs in Alex Collins and Buck Allen. Undrafted rookies Gus Edwards and De’Lance Turner are on the practice squad.
The loss of Canady would leave the defense with only four outside cornerbacks in Brandon Carr and Marlon Humphrey and rookies Anthony Averett and Darious Williams. Cyrus Jones and Robertson Daniel are on the practice squad.
Defensive tackle Willie Henry (hernia surgery) and rookie tight endHayden Hurst (stress fracture in foot) did not practice again and are not expected to play in Cincinnati.
The Bengals upgraded two starters in defensive end Carlos Dunlap (calf ) and middle linebacker Preston Brown (ankle) from no practice Monday to limited participation Tuesday. Brother on brother: After just two games, Towson redshirt junior quarterback Tom Flacco leads the Colonial Athletic Association in completions (53), passing yards (590) and total yards from scrimmage (628), and one of his biggest fans is a certain quarterback for the Ravens.
Joe Flacco got a chance after Tuesday’s practice to discuss his youngest brother playing just several miles away from the team’s headquarters in Owings Mills.
“It’s kind of unique that he’s right here,” the elder Flacco said. “I’ve been waiting to see him play for the last three years. I’ve been really itching to watch him play college football, so I had a big smile on my face the last two weeks. I was able to get to the game at Morgan State, and then I was able to get [the Wake Forest game] on the computer, stream it on the TV this past Saturday. It was a lot of fun. I had fun watching him.
“He’s a really good player, great athlete, can really throw the ball. Obviously, he’s my brother, so I have some bias, but yeah, I would say he’s got a lot of similarities to me. But he’s 6 foot. He’s got to get things done in a lot of different ways. He probably doesn’t get credit for some of the things that big, tall guys do, but he can do a lot of things. I mean, I’ll go all day. I had a lot of fun watching him.” Extra points: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is one of the few people who witnessed Suggs’ growth from an early stage, having attended Suggs’ pre-draft workouts at Arizona State. But the former Ravens defensive coordinator said Suggs, who is now tied with former Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Derrick Thomas for 16th in NFL history in sacks with 126 ½, should be recognized more for his mental acumen. “There’s no question about it that he doesn’t get enough credit for that,” Lewis said Tuesday. “Believe me, I make our people well aware of his football intelligence because I’ve witnessed [it] year after year. I see him play 16 games a year because even if we’re not preparing for them, I’ve seen their tape throughout the season looking at our other opponents. So I see how football smart he is and as he applies what they do to the opponent week in and week out.” … Although all three running backs totaled only 74 yards on 24 carries against the Bills on Sunday, each player found the end zone, and Allen said all three backs are willing to share snaps and touches. “We all eat,” said Allen, who gained 17 yards on four attempts. “No matter who it is, when you go in there, you’re that guy. So this is your opportunity to go in there and make something happen, which we all did. I’m excited for what the future holds.” … Former Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday after working out for the team, according to the agency that represents him. Two more former Ravens players in wide receiver Breshad Perriman and linebacker Albert McClellan reportedly worked out for the Eagles.