Ravens Work Out Champ Bailey With Secondary Banged Up
By Samuel Njoku
After falling to 3-2, the Ravens will focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Week 6 begins in the NFL. As preparations begin for that game, Baltimore looks at ways to improve a roster that is a bit banged up.
Former Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey works out for Ravens
It's no secret that the Ravens biggest weakness resides in their secondary. With an injured Asa Jackson and a banged up Lardarius Webb on the roster, GM Ozzie Newsome realizes changes need to be made. The Ravens decided to work out 36 year-old Champ Bailey in hopes of adding depth to the DB position. According to the Baltimore Sun, Bailey left without signing a contract. It's unsure whether that means Baltimore will pass on the veteran corner, but his sighting means the Ravens are in the market.
Baltimore did make a roster move when they signed CB Domonique Franks. He was a member of the team during the preseason but was let go. He played well during the preseason and should be a big part of Baltimore's plans this week against Tampa.
CJ Mosley having an amazing rookie campaign
When the Ravens drafted CJ Mosley from Alabama in the first round in May many assumed Mosley would be an instant starter in their defense. During training camp and preseason it was evident that he had the ability to make an impact. But with the regular season reaching its second quarter, it's clear that Mosley will be a star in this league. It's only been 5 games and he's already being compared to Ray Lewis. And the comparisons aren't being made strictly because the two players have worn similar uniforms. CJ Mosley has been flat out impressive so far.
Mosley leads the NFL with 5 pass defenses and leads all rookies with 49 tackles through his first 5 games of his career. In retrospect, Lewis only recorded 2 pass defenses and 44 tackles in his first 5 games. Of course, Ray Lewis has a much greater skill set than Mosley, but the production from CJ is unmistakeable. The Ravens struck gold with their first round draft pick.
Torrey Smith struggles coming at a bad time
There's no question that Torrey Smith is a talented receiver. The question has always been whether he was a true number 1 receiver in the NFL. So far it appears as if that's not the case. But with 2014 being a contract year for Smith, he has a chance to prove that he can be a valuable second option for Baltimore or any of the other 31 teams in the NFL. So far this season, he hasn't performed like it. This is one of the reasons why Torrey Smith has been visibly frustrated.
There's no doubt that he has the talent to make a huge impact for the Ravens offense. But every game that he struggles, more money is being left off his future contract. That's bad news for the former Maryland Terrapin.
For more Ravens news and updates, visit Ravens Central.
Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
