Baltimore gives Troy Smith chance to be a successful NFL quarterback

Courtesy OhioStateBuckeyes.cstv.com

Many people pitied Troy Smith during the 2007 NFL draft.

After all, the quarterback, who led Ohio State to the BCS National Championship game last season and won the Heisman Trophy, was not drafted until the seventh round by the Baltimore Ravens.

Any pity for Smith, though, may be misguided. Being drafted late by the Ravens could be the best thing that ever happened to Troy Smith.

There's certainly no pressure on Smith to perform — unlike the pressure that JaMarcus Russell will have heaped on his shoulders as the immediate starter for the Oakland Raiders.

Smith has a chance to win the job as Steve McNair's backup. Even though McNair always plays through pain, it's not implausible to believe he could miss time due to injury.

If Smith has even half a season to learn from one of the NFL's great quarterbacks, he could be an impact player if he gets any time this season, and he should flourish in the future as Baltimore's starter.

Troy Smith has excellent mobility, a cannon for an arm and a winning mentality. In a few years, people will be wondering how so many teams missed on Smith in the 2007 draft.