Kevin Hoffman-USA Today Sports
Baltimore Ravens second year wide receiver Deonte Thompson made his 2013 regular season debut in this past Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Thompson finished the game with four catches for 50 yards on five targets. Most of the yardage came on an incredible clutch 33-yard catch by the sidelines. Thompson remarkably held onto the ball despite being concussed by Bills safety Jim Leonhard. Thompson showed why the coaches were so high on him during training camp.
The question remains, where does Thompson fit in now? The Ravens’ passing game could be very effective with Thompson opposite Torrey Smith on the outside and Marlon Brown in the slot. With Smith getting a lot of attention from opposing secondaries, Thompson could see a lot of one on one opportunities. That could lead to a lot of big plays seeing as Thompson is actually a little faster then Smith. If Thompson continues to make plays, then defenses will have to respect him as well, which would open things up in the shorter/intermediate passing game.
If Thompson wants to increase his role in the offense then he might have a very small window to do it. The reason being that Jacoby Jones could be returning soon. Jones is practicing this week for the first time since his injury in the first game against the Denver Broncos. I still believe that Jones will be out for at least a few more games, so it could be now or never for Thompson. He’ll get his chances too seeing as the Ravens seem to have no interest in getting any kind of run game going.
Dan Abeshouse is a Baltimore Ravens Writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Danabeshouse82, Like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google
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