How Do You See Our CB's?

[T-ray]

How do you all see our CB's in terms of ability?? I think we have one of the most underrated secondaries in the NFL, if not the most underrated, and I'd even go so far as name them in the top 5 to be honest with you. Of course, pass coverage is moot if you have no pass rush (a la 2010), but this is a new year; we have a crushing pass rush who can get to the Quarter seemingly at will. So props to them, but this is not a topic to discuss that.

CB's:

Cary Williams- How about Cary?? He went from a guy struggling to make it in the NFL on Practice Squad, all the way to potential shutdown corner. I think we have our Player Personnel guys to thank for that, but also our coaches such as Pags/Austin to thank as well. This dude has great size for a corner, and speed to go along with that. He is a very physical player. He is a guy who loves to get in your face,as noted against the Jets. I really think this guy has all the tools to be an 'A' corner in this league, but he's still learning the game (thats pretty scary) so I'm giving him a 'B+' right now.

Ladarius Webb- Most versatile player in our secondary. Can play pretty much any DB spot you ask. Not truly a shutdown corner per se, but he doesn't need to be when we already have 2 potential ones in our corps. He is a very good tackler, excellent blitzer, an explosive game changing ballhawk, and a threat to take it all the way when he gets his hands on the ball, much like Reed. Decent size for the position, not a 6'2" freak, but he's still there physically. Only getting better at play recognition as noticed by his pick against the Jets which got the score to 34-17. He has potential to be an 'A' corner, but I'm going to give him a 'B+' for now.

Jimmy Smith- This dude was supposed to be our numero uno corner, but he may be fighting with Webb to make it to numero dos when he comes back due to unexpected great depth/play at the position. He still has learning to do, like when to know that the ball is arriving and such, but he'll get there with playing time. Freak size/speed combo. Shutdown corner in college who has all the makings/traits to carry that to us in the Pros. He'll need to learn zone coverage, but we can use him in just man to man shutdown situations until he does. Nnamdi hardly ever played Zone with Oakland, and still was considered a top corner due to shutdown ability. He has 'A+' potential, but he needs to learn before I put him anywhere close to that. I'm giving him a 'B-' until he shows what I expect to be shown out of him once he gets to playing full speed.

Chris Carr- Solid, underrated corner. Very experienced in not only nickel, but also starter as well (last year). He is the epitome of a nickel/dime corner. Undersized for a starter position. Personally am not very sold on him, but he's adequate and can teach the other corners some tricks, since Foxy can't stay healthy enough to do so. Zone coverage is good, but man to man is kind of lacking. I'll give him a 'C+'

Danny Gorrer- A potent threat with good size, but needs to learn the position more before I'm sold on him. He definitely impressed with physicality and man to man coverage in the Jets game. He is a player to look at in the future once he gets some more practice under his belt/possibly play time if an injury occurs. He has 'B+' potential, but I can't give him that grade based only on one game in which our D overall dominated. I'm giving him a 'C-' for now with a ton of potential to upgrade that standing.

Chykie Brown- Not much known on him, other than he was decent in college and came from a Cornerback U (Texas). He has potential, I'd say, but I haven't seen enough of him to give him a grade yet. Grade: Inconclusive.

Overall, I'd give this unit a solid B+ or A-. Injuries have already taken a toll on the corps, so its almost crazy to see this unit faring so well while being decimated with injuries. I said before the season when we first got him, but I'll say it again: Austin is a very underrated DB coach and will bring this corps to new heights with the help of Pags.

[The Raven]

When Smith comes back, we'll have a top 5 secondary easy. Smith, Webb, Williams, Carr, Gorrer. Aside from Carr, they all have a ton of upside. They all have so much potential.

Next year, our secondary will be rediculously good. Our defense has been reloaded and is absolutely stacked at every position except ILB and safety imo. At least as far as young guys go obviously.

[Free Agent]

Before we drafted Jimmy Smith, we had a lot of corners who could start. Foxworth, Carr, Webb, Josh Wilson, and Fabian Washington all started at one point for the Ravens in 2009 and 2010. But we never had a clear #1 corner. I think we have that guy in Jimmy Smith now. Not necessarily at the present, but he will definitely be our top #1 corner in the near future.

Without Wilson or Washington, we have Smith, Webb, Cary Williams, Carr, and good depth with Chykie Brown and Danny Gorrer. I'm liking this CB corps, and I cannot wait to have Jimmy back.

[Militant X 1]

i wanna see Jimmy Smth on the field!!!! can't wait until he returns!

~Mili

[nk02442]

With a good pass rush finally, i feel our corners are good enough to win with. Pagano looks like hes fixing some of the bad habits and its helping us jaming up WR at the line.

[SnOoPy]

I love our CBs! Can't be spoil on all position on Defense...but we're getting there! lol

[TDubbs]

I love our group of corners, we have such quality depth and easily a Top 5 secondary in the league despite lacking big time names.

IF everyone is healthy our Corner situation should be as such:
1. Cary Williams - 6f1 press corner with great speed. Hes been our best since training camp, he hasnt faltered and he has been very durable to this point.
2. Jimmy Smith 6f2 press corner who can be physical and run with any receiver in the league. His potential is sky high when he can get on the field and start his progression, I have high hopes for him.
3. L. Webb Speedy Versatile Ball Hawk who is excellent in zone coverage, very solid and willing tackler for his size. With 2 tall press corners hopefully shutting down teams top WRs Id love to see Webb in the nickel position, he would excel there.

[PurpleReign92]

Pags worked very closely with this secondary he coached up guys like Ed Reed, McAlister, Landry, Rolle and many others.. Now he went on to over see not just the secondary but the defense as a whole. That being said, he shifted the focused secondary responsibility to Terryl Austin. I still think that the Corners to some degree play with confidence knowing that they have a stud Free Safety coming over the top. Ed Sees the pig skin as it leaves the Qb's hand... QB's flat out say we don't like throwing in his direction so no matter what the scouts say about our young Corner line up. We have seasoned vet watching over them on the field!

[ravens rule]

I like our Cb's a lot and to add to that our defense is awesome so far except for one game.

[blitzking33]

I <3 the DBs

[marylandmike12]

we have the future and the now our cbs might not be be beat but ngata and suggs are gonna make qbs look horrrible

[SideStep77]

I think we definitely have some strong CBs this year. I was really excited for Cary Williams hearing how excited he was to finally start and I've also always liked Webb. I think when Smith and Carr come back they will all be rotated with Williams and Webb to see who the strongest ones are since we have not yet seen Jimmy Smith play an actual game yet. But this is our year for defense and I have full faith in all of our CBs. Also, any thoughts on how the Ravens plan to use Bryan McCann?

[PurpleReign92]

[quote name='SideStep77' timestamp='1318122712' post='819055']
I think we definitely have some strong CBs this year. I was really excited for Cary Williams hearing how excited he was to finally start and I've also always liked Webb. I think when Smith and Carr come back they will all be rotated with Williams and Webb to see who the strongest ones are since we have not yet seen Jimmy Smith play an actual game yet. But this is our year for defense and I have full faith in all of our CBs. Also, any thoughts on how the Ravens plan to use Bryan McCann?
[/quote]
I have a feeling that Pags may donate McCann to the Special teams... It is to late in the season for a new guy to come in and learn the complexity and intricate design of the "[u][b]Ravens Defense[/b][/u]."

[codizzle]

[quote name='PurpleReign92' timestamp='1318177519' post='819268']

I have a feeling that Pags may donate McCann to the Special teams... It is to late in the season for a new guy to come in and learn the complexity and intricate design of the "[u][b]Ravens Defense[/b][/u]."
[/quote]
he's not donating him lol.. The whole reason he was signed was for his special teams play

[colljb9]

My favorite thing here is with the exception of Carr, our cornerbacks are all really young with not a lot of experience. This may seem opposite but because theyre young theyre all competing against each other because as we've seen they all have a chance to be on the field at any one time. Pagano may "name" starters but he substitutes so well that if you're not ready to play you're gonna get burned. Our entire defense seems hungry and with the veteran leadership of guys like suggs, johnson, lewis, reed, and ngata...the young guys are only going to get better