Steve Smith will be the center of attention when his new team -- the Ravens -- hosts his old team -- the Panthers -- on Sunday afternoon.
With two 100-yard games over the first three weeks, Smith has become central to Baltimore's passing game, but his team-leading 32 targets has left another Smith -- Torrey -- out in the cold.
In a run-heavy offense that stresses safer passes for quarterback Joe Flacco, Torrey Smith was never a strong bet to repeat last year's production. After leading the team in 2013 with 65 catches and 1,128 receiving yards, though, he's on pace for just 453 yards and 32 grabs in 2014.
"You can't get any closer than we've already been," Torrey said of his chemistry with Flacco, per The Baltimore Sun. "I have folks tweeting me how terrible I am, and I could very easily have had three touchdowns and 300 yards the past couple weeks. That's how the ball rolls. I'm not used to it, but we'll get over it soon. We were as close as you can get to touchdowns. We just have to be on the same page and get it done."
Said Torrey: "It'll happen. It has no choice but to happen. The way we've been practicing, it has no choice but to happen. I can't say when. I hope it's Sunday, but it'll happen soon."
Steve Smith's outrageous work over three weeks confirms that Baltimore's passing game won't channel through Torrey, but losing tight end Dennis Pitta for the season with a hip injury will force play-caller Gary Kubiak to lean on all his weapons.
We preview and pick every Week 4 game in the latest Around the NFL Podcast.
