WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -L.J. Smith felt as if he wore a target with the Philadelphia Eagles last year.
This season, the sure-handed tight end intends to be an attractive target for Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Coming off an injury-laden 2007 season, Smith received the franchise tag from the Eagles in 2008. Another round of injuries ensued, forcing him to miss four starts and dropping his numbers far below expectations.
“There were some times when I felt last year there was a microscope on me. I felt like I had a bull’s-eye on my back because I got franchised,” Smith said this week.
He finished with 37 catches for 298 yards and three touchdowns – hardly worthy of his $4.52 million contract as a franchise player. Smith readily concedes missed time was a factor, but believes he would have been more productive with a larger role in the game plan.
game yardage total by an Eagles tight end in a regular-season game since Pete Retzlaff gained 148 yards at St. Louis in 1965.
“I felt like there were some opportunities I could have capitalized on, and they could have used me a little differently,” Smith said. “But I’ll say I had a good time there. I became a man in Philadelphia and I learned a lot. I just felt like it was kind of, well, we’re not going to bring him back so let’s bring up the other guy a little bit.”
Soon after becoming a free agent, Smith signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract following a meeting with Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
“Cam said, ‘You can make us better,”’ Smith said. “They embraced me. They wanted me to be here.”
Working in tandem with former Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap, Smith hopes to display the form he showed in 2005 and 2006, when he totaled 31 starts, 111 receptions for 1,293 yards and eight touchdowns.
“I’m definitely excited because I see I’m going to be able to contribute. I’m another weapon on offense,” Smith said. “Coach Cam is going to get me involved. At the same time, if I don’t master this offense it’s going to be tough. That’s my job right now, to get this offense down. Once I do that, I’m good to go.”
ason without getting hurt.
The 29-year-old Smith played in only 10 games in 2007 because of the lingering effects of a sports hernia, a groin injury and a sore knee. His misfortune continued last year, when he missed time with a shoulder injury, a concussion and a bad back.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a 10-year vet or a second-year player who had a great rookie season, you always have something to prove because they’re always looking to replace you. That’s just the nature of the game,” Smith said. “But in my position, personally, I think the No. 1 thing is to stay healthy. Sharing time with Todd, that’s going to give me a chance to do that, and that’s going to give me a chance to be fresh during the game and make an impact.”
Heap played 16 games last season, but took a pounding in the process. He welcomes the notion of lining up on the opposite end of the line from Smith or splitting time with the newcomer.
“I don’t think we’re vying for playing time. I think we’re both going to be on the field a lot,” Heap said. “If you watched our offense last year, there were two tight ends out there quite a bit. It just expands our offense with L.J. on the team.”
lented tight end in practice.
“One of L.J.’s biggest assets is his athletic ability, how smooth he is putting moves in and out of breaks,” Beck said. “When you look at tight ends, you want to find somebody that creates a mismatch on the linebacker, somebody that can win. I think he has that.”
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