Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Steve Smith thinks chemistry is overrated

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- If the Ravens want to improve the efficiency of their passing game, quarterback Joe Flacco has to build a rapport with new wide receiver Steve Smith.

So, as Baltimore Ravens training camp opens Thursday, Smith was asked where the chemistry stands with Flacco.

"Do you want me to lie to you or tell you the truth?," Smith asked.

When the reporter said the truth, Smith said, "Honestly, for me, I’ve been catching passes for quarterbacks for a lot of years, and I’ve been running routes for a lot of years. If you throw me the ball, there’s no chemistry. You throw me the ball [and if] it’s catchable, I’m going to snag it. That’s what practice is going to be there for. Practice is there to make mistakes, to understand what I need to do and how Joe operates. Then, my job at the end of the day is to make him look good.”

Where Smith needs to make Flacco look good is on the intermediate routes.

Since 2011, Smith has caught 99 passes of at least 15 yards, which is the third-most in the NFL over that span. Last season, the Ravens had 77 completions of at least 15 yards, which was the seventh-fewest in the league.

Flacco said he's been most impressed with Smith's ability to catch the ball.

"He catches everything with his hands, and he does a great job doing it," Flacco said. "He is strong to the ball, even though he’s not very high in stature. He is just strong to the ball and his hands are really, really good.”

Steve Smith's effectiveness in the intermediate routes should compliment Torrey Smith's ability to catch passes deep downfield.

When asked what type of combination he makes with Torrey Smith, Steve Smith said, "I think you can call us, ‘The Law Firm: Smith, Smith & Associates.’”

Did Steve Smith just come up with that nickname?

“I’m pretty quick-witted, so I did actually come up with that."

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