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Ravens seek improvement from Smith, Jones
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As the Baltimore Ravens try to get on track after a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, they hope that two of their big-play threats shake off slumps Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wide receiver Torrey Smith was so upset by his uneven performance that he took to social media Sunday night to declare himself sickened.
A day after Smith dropped an accurate fourth-down throw from quarterback Joe Flacco behind Colts cornerback Greg Toler in the final minute, coach John Harbaugh said the team wants to get Smith more involved in the offense.
In the final year of his rookie contract with no deal imminent, according to sources, Smith has just 11 receptions for 176 yards and one touchdown on 30 targets. He has drawn an NFL-high five pass interference penalties, but he is on pace to finish with just 35 catches for 563 yards and three touchdowns.
“No harsher critic of Torrey than Torrey, and that’s maybe too much,” Harbaugh said of Smith, who caught three passes for 38 yards on eight targets with two dropped passes Sunday. “He’s very conscientious, very hard worker, really wants to do well. We need him to do well and want him to do well, too. It is a focus to get Torrey going. We get Torrey going, it’s going to be a big plus for us.”
Meanwhile, Pro Bowl kick returner/wide receiver Jacoby Jones is dealing with struggles of his own.
Jones has dropped five passes this season and while making only four catches for 50 yards, including a season-high 30-yard reception against the Colts. Jones muffed a 45-yard punt in the first quarter Sunday. He was unable to get out of the way in time as the football glanced off him, and the ball was recovered by the Colts.
“He got a late start on it,” Harbaugh said. “If we go catch that ball, it might score. That’s the thing that Jacoby is just kicking himself about.
“He must not have seen it come off (the punter’s) foot because he just got a late start. Then, he got in that no-man’s land and tried do the smart thing and the safe thing and get away from it, and he was just too close.”
NOTES: CB Asa Jackson was placed on injured reserve-designated to return due to a severely sprained toe. … OT Eugene Monroe (arthroscopic knee surgery) is out for a month. … DE Chris Canty (wrist surgery) is out two to three weeks. … DT Timmy Jernigan (meniscus) is out for a month.
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