Ravens’ receiver Smith isn’t all talk — it just seems like it
The Raiders secondary thought they “made a statement” Sunday in a 17-10 win at Tennessee, according to safety Reggie Nelson.
Any statements this Sunday in Baltimore will again come on the field, and not verbalized, as Oakland is getting ready for Ravens receiver Steve Smith’s best. And all the trash talk that comes with it.
“I think he’s the king of that,” Nelson said.
Smith had 10 catches for 150 yards in last year’s game against Oakland, and ranks 10th in NFL history with 14,102 yards. But he is best known for cutting off defensive backs at the knees verbally.
Last Sunday, he savaged Jaguars rookie Jalen Ramsey, during and after the game and then took to social media and television interviews to finish the job. There was also the time he told Aqib Talib to “ice up, son” after the cornerback wasn’t able to finish the game against him.
When he was younger, Smith scored against cornerback Fred Smoot, he made like he was rowing a boat — a homage to the Vikings’ Love Boat scandal.
“He’s a competitor and I’m just up for the challenge and can’t wait to compete Sunday,” Nelson said. “I’m just going to stick to playing football and let my game do all the talking.”
It’s what the rookie Ramsey should have done, rather than try make an impression.
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to poke a bear, but Steve Smith is that guy,” Ravens running back Justin Forsett said. “He thrives off of that, people talking to him. As a team, we see him get sparked up, it just sparks us up. It’s good to be around a guy that’s kind of contagious like that with his energy.”
Raiders cornerback Sean Smith likes trash talking, but hopes to kill Steve Smith with silence.
“We’ve never had any issues, luckily for me,” Sean Smith said. “But it’s going to be fun going out there and competing against him. You definitely want to face a guy who’s going to bring it and if he talks, he talks, but as long as you’re doing your job, there shouldn’t be much to talk about.”
Steve Smith is all the way back from a ruptured Achilles sustained last season. At 37, he talks about making the Hall of Fame and seems well on his way. The 5-foot-9 Smith and Tim Brown are the only two players in NFL history with 900 or more catches and touchdowns scored on runs, receptions, punt returns and kick returns.
“Steve Smith, he always has a chip on his shoulder, still does all the things he’s been able to do, catch and run, playing with a lot of attitude,” Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said.
The Raiders also have to watch out for speedster Mike Wallace on the other side. All 10 of his catches this season (for 166 yards) have gone for either a touchdown (three) or first down.
“Explosive, big-play guy his entire career,” Sean Smith said. “You always have to keep an eye on him. I think their offensive coordinator (Marc Trestman) does a great job of using him, not just in the vertical game, but surprisingly enough, they do try to find him in the intermediate game and let him run after the catch.”