WR Steve Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

HT: 6-0, WT: 195, Born: 5-6-1985, College: Southern California, Drafted: Round 2

2013 Projections

Outlook

Smith has struggled to stay healthy since his breakout season with the Giants in 2007. He was one of the premiere possession receivers in the league at that time. Smith landed with Tampa Bay in free agency and will be a wild-card in the competition behind starters Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. If Smith can return to form, Tiquan Underwood and Kevin Ogletree would be little competition for Smith to see the field.

Latest News

Buccaneers | Several in mix for No. 3 WR job (Sun May 19, 04:10 PM) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers WRs Tiquan Underwood, Kevin Ogletree, Steve E. Smith and Chris Owusu are expected to be candidates for the No. 3 wide receiver job.

Our View: Underwood may be the frontrunner in this competition. He's worked with head coach Greg Schiano since their days together at Rutgers. Owusu may be the sleeper player here. If he can stay healthy Owusu has a nice size/speed combination and arguably the highest upside of any of these players.
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2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Steve Smith does not look to be the Steve Smith from 2008/09 with the Giants and still appears to be working his way back into an offense. Smith had one catch; a nice grab over the middle between defenders for the big first down. Smith got few looks however and he was overshadowed by teammates Amendola and Gibson. The Rams also ran the ball a lot in this game. Smith doesn’t have too much competition at WR for the Rams and could work his way back into a #2 role if all went perfectly, but he has to show a lot more for people to believe that.

Week 2 - The former Giants and Eagles slot machine showed that he is fully recovered from knee surgery and remains an NFL-quality level wide receiver. Smith chipped in three receptions for thirty-nine yards and came in a distant second to Danny Amendola in targets, with five. In St. Louis’ first possession of the third quarter, Smith turned a short out route into a twenty-five yard gain, exhibiting impressive quickness and field vision.

Week 3 - Steve Smith was used only on passing downs, and he was really more of a WR4 for the Rams in this game. He was targeted three times in the game, but his only catch came in the second quarter – a quick slant where he made a nice catch and run for 15 yards.

Week 6 - Smith did not see a big bump in production in Danny Amendola’s absence this week. Instead, it was Chris Givens and Brandon Gibson making plays in the passing game. Smith got separation on a third down slant, but his target was batted down at the line of scrimmage. His lone reception came in the final minute of the game, working his way out of bounds in the two-minute drill after a clean catch.

Week 7 - Smith came in second on the Rams after Gibson in total targets, receiving six against the Packers. While his twenty-six yards receiving are not encouraging, the target volume Smith received showed promise. On a team with a stable of nondescript slot receivers, Smith has the pedigree to stand out and be a main contributor on this offense. As long as the opportunities are present – and Sam Bradford can hit an open man – Smith should be a difference-maker for the Rams.

Week 10 - Smith was rarely used in this game. On his first catch, he ran a short out route and secured an accurate throw, but was taken down immediately. His second catch was also a short out route while Bradford was pressured, and again, Smith was taken down immediately, short of the 1st down.

Week 13 - Smith had a glaring drop in St. Louis’ two minute offense. The ball was delivered on his back shoulder, and though Smith wasn’t pressured, he was unable to secure the catch. His one reception came on a short route and the receiver was tackled immediately.