After Ravens wideout Torrey Smith popped off for 152 yards and three touchdowns last week, most of the football world was abuzz.
That is, except New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie.
Cromartie was nonplussed about Smith’s stellar performance, telling New York reporters, “He had one big game, that’s it. He has five catches for his whole career. He has a three-game career.”
Smith humbly agrees.
When asked about the Pro Bowler’s comments, Smith replied, “What Cromartie said about me is the truth. He shouldn’t be scared of me. He’s been in the league a long time.”
The second-round draft pick is preaching patience when it comes to his career.
He’s excited that he torched the St. Louis Rams in the most live action he’s seen all season, but he is also keeping his head down and continuing to work hard.
“I’m not really concerned with trying to top what happened last week,” Smith said. “I know that’s tough to do. I just want to keep getting better. I know I’m not going to play like that every week. There’s still going to be ups and downs. Just because I played well that one game doesn’t mean I don’t have to continue to work and get better.”
Still, Smith’s Week 3 explosion demonstrated that opposing defenses must account for his speed over the top.
He logged touchdown receptions of 74, 41 and 18 yards last Sunday, repeatedly getting behind the Rams’ secondary. The Jets will likely have an eye on No. 82 this weekend.
“Obviously, he’s proven that he can do it,” Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s something we had seen in practice. It’s exactly what we saw at Maryland. That’s why we drafted him, because we knew he could go get a deep ball. He can go up and get a ball and he can go chase a ball downfield. He proved that.
“To see him do it in a game – nobody would have expected three in the first quarter – but teams are going to have to defend that. And that’s real. And, if they don’t defend it, then we’ll complete it over their heads.”
