3. Will cornerback Jimmy Smith be tested again?
Smith doesn’t have a public Twitter account, which is probably a good thing after Monday and Tuesday’s joint practices. During a one-on-one drill Monday, Jaguars wide receiver Chris Conley twisted Smith’s footwork into a pretzel with an in-breaking route. Even onlooking Ravens fans gasped in surprise. On Tuesday, Smith allowed a long touchdown pass in 11-on-11 play to Conley, the first of two downfield completions the starter surrendered.
The 31-year-old has a month to get himself ready for the regular season, but Smith should be able to hold his own Thursday against a mediocre Jaguars receiving corps. The last time Smith played in a scrimmage at M&T Bank Stadium, rookie Miles Boykin ran past him a few times for big plays. He needs to show he’s starting to get up to speed.
Because the Ravens employ Justin Tucker, the NFL’s all-time leader in fieldgoal accuracy, it’s easy for a backup kicker to become an afterthought, just another name on the 90-man roster. But Vedvik became something far more valuable last preseason: a potential asset.
As an undrafted free agent, Vedvik made eight of nine field-goal attempts, including a 56-yarder against the Washington Redskins in the Ravens’ preseason finale. He also punted 19 times, averaging 46.8 yards per kick and a net of 40 yards. (Starting punter Sam Koch’s regular-season marks last year: 47.4 yards per punt, 39.8-yard net average.)
But before Ravens officials could trade Vedvik, he was assaulted in East Baltimore. Vedvik’s injuries were significant enough that he was placed on the reserve nonfootball injury list, ending his season and ensuring at least one more summer with the Ravens.
Vedvik hasn’t looked like a future pro in training camp, but that will be forgiven if he drills kick after kick in the preseason. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton said early in camp that Vedvik is “right on schedule,” that he would “get better every day.” A kicker-needy team like the Chicago Bears wouldn’t mind parting with a lateround draft pick if that’s the case.