The Maryland product appeared to have good timing on several out routes with Flacco and looks more comfortable and fluid in running routes than he did last season. Williams has worked to improve his strength and quickness after admitting he hit the proverbial “rookie wall” last season, and his work is evident in practices this spring.
By no means is Williams guaranteed a roster spot, but we learned last season that the undrafted free agent from Baltimore will take advantage of every opportunity sent his way.
Speaking of wide receivers from Maryland, Torrey Smith made a leaping catch in the corner of the end zone over veteran cornerback Corey Graham in one of the highlights of Wednesday’s practice. Smith is 100 percent after undergoing sports hernia surgery earlier this off-season, and the difference in how he looks now compared to last year’s training camp is night and day.
Smith may never master the entire route tree and become a bona fide No. 1 receiver, but he clearly has the potential to be a great No. 2 option and one of the best deep-ball threats in the NFL after an impressive rookie season last year.
> With Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard absent from Wednesday’s practice, rookie Christian Thompson and veteran Sean Considine lined up at the safety spots with the first defense.
A fourth-round selection from South Carolina State, Thompson picked off Flacco in a red-zone drill on a pass thrown to the middle of the field. Despite not having a chance to hit the practice field with Reed as of yet, Thompson resembled the All-Pro safety by lateraling the football to cornerback Chykie Brown following the interception, which is news that will surely give some Ravens fans headaches.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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