Hall of Fame inside linebacker and former Baltimore Raven legend Ray Lewis was the named as the defensive coordinator for the AFC in the 2023 Pro Bowl. One of the players that Lewis has been coaching and spending time with during Pro Bowl week is current Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith. It gives them time to get to know each other and for Lewis to coach him up.
Lewis was interviewed by Ravens director of social media Garrett Downing, and mentioned that Smith told him that he wanted to set up some time with Lewis this year and learn from him. Lewis heaped praise on Smith, and said that the two will sit down together and watch film.
“This offseason, we’re going to sit down and really go through film.”@raylewis plans to spend time working with Roquan Smith this offseason to help him take his game and the Ravens defense to even another level. pic.twitter.com/Ygy6MP3BWK
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2023
“Actually, it was the first thing I said and I said it to him and a couple other linebackers because when you’re watching the game there are so many little things and I call it equity that they’re leaving on the field, like so many big plays that Roquan could be making, Fred Warner could be making, Demario Davis could be making, but Roquan, it’s just, if he can take his game and just takes just one more step up, I just think he can be freaking phenomenal. Like I had Roquan at my camp, I do a Ray Lewis Camp every year and I had him at my first camp and I was like “What? This freaking kid” and I taught him the triangle and to see his motions, no wasted steps and so now when I’m watching him I’m saying how can I help him go better and so that’s why I think this offseason we’re really going to sit down and just go through film so I can just kind of teach him just little things right, taking that little false step out of your game, understanding where three is all gonna always be and never drop into a spot, always drop into a man, right between being able to identify what formations mean so you can get everybody playing fast, right, that’s the job of the middle linebacker and that’s the job that I think and I know it’s him being his first year getting comfortable with the guys, but him being able to take that next step of leadership and be able to get everybody playing on one shoestring, that’s why I think he can really improve.”
Having Lewis go over film with Smith will help Baltimore’s newest inside linebacker hone his game and will take his leadership skills and knowledge to the next level. Smith will then be able to help out his teammates to make sure that they will always be in the right position no matter what down and how far the other team has to go. The Ravens giving Smith a massive contract extension before the end of the season has the potential to pay off even more with the tutelage of Lewis.
