OWINGS MILLS – Torrey Smith is learning the finer points of his game, upgrading his knowledge of how to play wide receiver in the NFL.

The Baltimore Ravens’ speedy rookie is starting to expand his repertoire, incorporating shorter and intermediate routes to go with his fly patterns.

Smith has caught nine passes for 237 yards, doing most of his damage in his first NFL start when he hauled in three touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams.

During a 29-14 victory over the Houston Texans, Smith caught a 51-yard pass as well as two shorter receptions to finish with three receptions for 84 yards.

“Just tremendous growth,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said. “Torrey, I think it has been obvious. Everybody can see it. You can see that he can see coverages now. He is not getting surprised by coverages. He is pushing the defense, he is playing fast. I think you can see the mental growth. The physical part pretty much speaks for itself.

“He is really good on shallow crosses and a lot of those things. The wide receiver screens, you have seen him get a little taste of that. He is really expanding his route tree. As I told him, now there is more tape for other guys to study. So, people are going to start looking at his stance, looking at his shoulders, looking at his hands, looking at his eyes. He has to improve. He has to get better. I think he understands that.”

The primary target for quarterback Joe Flacco remains former Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

However, Smith is beginning to assert himself. He leads the Ravens with a 26.3 average per catch.

“It doesn’t affect me much knowing they have more film on me because they know what kind of routes we have,” Smith said. “I’ve been able to work on my technique. In college, being able to get open is based on your athleticism and not as much technique. You need to have good technique in the NFL. Here, there are little things you have to learn to help yourself out.”

With improved awareness and confidence, Smith is beginning to make more of an impact.

Opposing cornerbacks are showing him more respect, particularly guarding against deeper routes.

“Torrey is improving each week on his different routes,” Flacco said. “Whether it’s coming across the middle or starting to run comebacks, they look better. The more comfortable they get with what they’re doing in this offense, the more they can focus on getting open and the little nuances of those routes, how to get open, not just run them to run them.”

Despite veteran wide receiver Lee Evans still out with a left ankle injury, the Ravens now have the 13th-ranked passing game in the league.

When Smith dropped a pair of throws against the Washington Redskins, people were quick, too quick, to label the second-round draft pick from the University of Maryland as a bust.

“For me, it was not wanting to press,” Smith said. “The turning point was the Redskins game. I was definitely pressing. I wound up dropping the two balls. You got to worry about people saying, ‘The kid can’t catch a cold. When I first got here, coach [John] Harbaugh sat me down and told me, ‘Don’t get too high or too low.’ I’ve been on both sides of the equation.”