Stephen A. Smith Not Sold on Ravens Pushing Chiefs in AFC: 'I Have to See it'
The new Baltimore Ravens offense has been the talk of the NFL offseason. Expectations are high with Lamar Jackson re-signing, Odell Beckham Jr., and Zay Flowers being added, along with free agent Nelson Agholor and the returning Rashod Bateman, the offense on paper is loaded.
But ... not all are sold on the Ravens' offense.
In a segment for ESPN's First Take, former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark named the Ravens as the biggest threat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. But Stephen A. Smith isn't as sold on Todd Monken's unit. Instead, he wants to see production first before proclaiming them to be anything.
"We have no evidence that those weapons are going to thrive in that system," Smith said on First Take. "[They have] a new offensive coordinator, which is a good thing. I know their defense is real; we get all of that.
"For me, I have to see it. I'm not saying Baltimore can't do it. I'm saying I'm waiting to see them do it."
Smith does have a point.
Beckham Jr. can be a difference-maker, but how healthy will he be for the Ravens? Will he be able to play 17 games? Can Zay Flowers' skill set translate over to the NFL?
Additionally, will the players get used to Monken's scheme quickly enough for it to start producing straight away?
For Smith, there are a host of questions that need to be answered when it comes to Baltimore's legitimacy to threaten the Chiefs in the AFC.
Those questions, though, will hopefully be answered sooner rather than later.
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