Expectations for Tommy Streeter This Season

The most publicized positional battle heading into training camp for the Baltimore Ravens is at wide receiver, where there is a whirlwind of uncertainty at the position.

Third-year wide receiver Torrey Smith has one starting job locked up, but it is a wide open race for the second starting job. Even when the other starting role is set, there still needs to be several contributors, as the Ravens will likely rotate their receivers more this year than in recent years. 

One player who is in a prime position to prove that he can be a key piece in Baltimore's offense moving forward is second-year wide receiver Tommy Streeter. Selected in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, expectations were low for Streeter last season, as he was the definition of a "raw" player. 

His physical attributes (6'5, 215 pounds) make him the most physically imposing receiver on the Ravens roster, however his physical skill set hasn't translated to success just yet. After an up-and-down 2012 preseason in which Streeter caught just four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, the Ravens placed him on injured reserve. Perhaps Streeter's season-ending foot injury wasn't too serious, though, as the Ravens placed him on injured reserve because he simply wasn't ready and wasn't worth the time for him to heal on the active roster.

But now with a year in the NFL under his belt - albeit without any game experience - Streeter could be ready to finally have his desirable skill set translate to on-field success. His biggest struggles in the 2012 preseason came from his inability to excel at the basics of being a wide receiver, such as crisp route running and being aggressive when the ball is in the air. 

According to BaltimoreRavens.com, Streeter was a common face at the Ravens' offseason program and is determined to assert himself as a legitimate candidate for a starting role in Baltimore. 

"I want to be unstoppable," Streeter told Garret Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com. "I want to be one of the top receivers in the NFL. Period."

Streeter's renewed mindset and focus is a positive for the Ravens, and if he can play at a high level like he did in his final season at the University of Miami (46 receptions, 811 yards and eight touchdowns) he could be in line for a breakout season.

Realistically, Streeter's expectations should be tempered to him being able to simply make the final 53-man roster and crack the regular rotation at wide receiver. Both of those goals are easily in reach, and it isn't out of the ordinary to believe he can become one of the Ravens' primary contributors at wide receiver, even if he doesn't win the starting job.

Streeter's potential and physical skill set both give him an advantage over the likes of Deonte Thompson and Tandon Doss, and Streeter could easily finish above at least one on the final training camp depth chart.

In 2013, Streeter should finally burst onto the scene in Baltimore, both as a red zone and deep threat. His 4.4 40-yard dash speed will give him the opportunity to stretch the top end of opposing defenses much like Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones last season. With no inherent go-to player in the red zone, though, inside the 20-yard line is where Streeter could make his living this season.


(sports.yahoo.com)