Michael Huff agrees to a 3 year, $6 million deal

[FerrariFan87]

The Wizard of Oz is on fire! Great signing.

[PolishRifle]

Another reason why I think, that the Flacco deal is a bargain. Just look how our FO is doing in FA. Do you really think those guys would pay Joe this money, if he were not worth it? Have some faith in the greatest team EVER.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1364403459' post='1417127']
Slow down Ed Reed has the most interceptions of any player the last 3 years. Let's not discount what Ed has been to us these last 11 years just because he's no longer here. I'm extremely happy that we signed a proven FS that can also play CB which makes our defense dangerous. He's younger and we got him for the next three years at the cost of Ed for one. Ozzie is phenomenal.
[/quote]
I'm not discounting anything Reed has done for us. It still doesn't change the fact that the last two years, he has fallen off. His leadership cannot be understated and he leaves a void from that perspective but his production from the last two years can be filled. Huff fills the void from a production perspective.

[JO_75]

So if Huff plays FS, does this mean Christian Thompson is playing SS?

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1364404285' post='1417168']
So if Huff plays FS, does this mean Christian Thompson is playing SS?
[/quote]

yes or Ihedigbo

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Not a huge fan of the Huff signing but a cheap deal for a proven player can't hurt.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1364404285' post='1417168']
So if Huff plays FS, does this mean Christian Thompson is playing SS?
[/quote]
I personally think there's still a chance we draft a safety (Please give me Elam at SS and Huff at FS).

[beanfigger]

This is awesome news. I've been talking to my wife about this pickup ever since Huff was cut. It obviously became more and more of a need as our starting safeties from last year left us one at a time. Then, we met for lunch today. She was sitting right next to me when the news popped up on my phone today. She saw it first and screamed "Michael Huff, baby" in the middle of the food court. Haha, I don't even think she ever heard of him before a few weeks ago. Awesome news.

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='Miami Hurricane' timestamp='1364404519' post='1417182']
Not a huge fan of the Huff signing but a cheap deal for a proven player can't hurt.
[/quote]
What's not to like? He was an All-Pro in 2010 and 5 years younger than Reed.

[nyc9192]

Ozzie keeps making it happen.I've always liked Michael Huff and really got hype when I saw the tape of his play against us.

[Sizzlebshu]

[quote name='BOLDnPurPnBlacK' timestamp='1363698652' post='1404710']
I've been wanting the Ravens to sign this guy ever since I saw he was cut by the Raiders.

[b]He was their best cornerback [/b]when they played against us this year. He hits hard, plays the run well, and clearly has the ability to cover receivers. Awesome thing is his best position is safety and was only playing corner due to injury.

Bringing this guy in could help in both areas. He could compete to start over Ihedigbo if we resign Reed, or maybe replace him if we don't. If we do resign Reed and even draft a safety he could add to the depth/rotation at corner.
[/quote]
Except he's a safety

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

His versatility adds another element [size=4]to the defense. Discussing when he had to play corner this past year.[/size]

[size=4]"After the tough first game, Huff continued to show improvement and seemed to make the position switch official when he picked up three passes defensed and an interception (and a +2.3 coverage grade) against the Atlanta Falcons’ wide receiver duo of Roddy White and Julio Jones in Week 6. Huff finished the season at cornerback and graded at +2.1 at his new home. It was an impressive performance as he performed admirably at a position where most safeties would be exploited.[/size]

When you add it all up, opponents completed only 53 percent of passes into Huff’s coverage and he finished with nine passes defensed and two interceptions. All of this came two years removed from Huff grading at +17.2 as our No. 2 safety in the league, and one year removed from his strong play when filling in as the team’s slot cornerback. [b]He’s essentially succeeded in three different positions over a three-year period[/b].

Any team looking to sign Huff will likely put him back at his more natural spot at safety, but his experience playing in the slot and on the outside will prove invaluable. In a league that covets versatility, Oakland’s releasing Huff may have vaulted him to the top of the free agent safety rankings."

[url="https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/03/13/on-the-market-huff-and-heyward-bey/"]https://www.profootb...nd-heyward-bey/[/url]

Once again, fantastic move.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Sizzlebshu' timestamp='1364405227' post='1417218']

Except he's a safety
[/quote]he played corner back most of.last year.

[cwfRaven]

"Oooh - oh - oh - oh - oh - oh -oooh! Oooh - oh - oh - oh -oh -oh -oooh! I'm going to Baltimore!"

[Smoke]

Believe in Ozzie! He is revamping defense to be faster and younger! Great moves all around!
Huff is a good player- he isn't a leader like Ed Reed, but younger and a hitter. Has the speed to cover the tight ends
Whats next Ozzie!

[Sizzlebshu]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1364405282' post='1417222']
he played corner back most of.last year.
[/quote]
Only in Oakland...

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Smoke' timestamp='1364405345' post='1417228']
Believe in Ozzie! He is revamping defense to be faster and younger! Great moves all around!
Huff is a good player- he isn't a leader like Ed Reed, but younger and a hitter. Has the speed to cover the tight ends
Whats next Ozzie!
[/quote]

Unless a proven veteran LT hits a bad fax machine, that could be it for FA. Don't know if they're still talking to Big Mac or not.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1364404946' post='1417203']

What's not to like? He was an All-Pro in 2010 and 5 years younger than Reed.
[/quote]I wanted to see some of the young guys start

[AsianRice]

[quote name='EnVy_CaLiBeR' timestamp='1364405264' post='1417220']
His versatility adds another element [size=4]to the defense. Discussing when he had to play corner this past year.[/size]

[size=4]"After the tough first game, Huff continued to show improvement and seemed to make the position switch official when he picked up three passes defensed and an interception (and a +2.3 coverage grade) against the Atlanta Falcons’ wide receiver duo of Roddy White and Julio Jones in Week 6. Huff finished the season at cornerback and graded at +2.1 at his new home. It was an impressive performance as he performed admirably at a position where most safeties would be exploited.[/size]

When you add it all up, opponents completed only 53 percent of passes into Huff’s coverage and he finished with nine passes defensed and two interceptions. All of this came two years removed from Huff grading at +17.2 as our No. 2 safety in the league, and one year removed from his strong play when filling in as the team’s slot cornerback. [b]He’s essentially succeeded in three different positions over a three-year period[/b].

Any team looking to sign Huff will likely put him back at his more natural spot at safety, but his experience playing in the slot and on the outside will prove invaluable. In a league that covets versatility, Oakland’s releasing Huff may have vaulted him to the top of the free agent safety rankings."

[url="https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/03/13/on-the-market-huff-and-heyward-bey/"]https://www.profootb...nd-heyward-bey/[/url]

Once again, fantastic move.
[/quote]
I know how good he is at safety but didn't look deep into his versatility; your info just makes me drool.....

[Tiz]

[quote name='Sizzlebshu' timestamp='1364405361' post='1417230']

Only in Oakland...
[/quote]

He did it because of injuries at the cb position in Oakland
This is why I like the signing
He is able to contribute at any secondary position so it gives flexibility

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='EnVy_CaLiBeR' timestamp='1364404223' post='1417165']
I'm not discounting anything Reed has done for us. It still doesn't change the fact that the last two years, he has fallen off. His leadership cannot be understated and he leaves a void from that perspective but his production from the last two years can be filled. Huff fills the void from a production perspective.
[/quote]

I agree he has fallen off but when you're the best safety him declining is still better than the next best safety. The good thing about Huff is he's a better tackler now than what Reed is due to his shoulder and nerve problem. I think with our system, players, and organization as a whole he'll do better for us than he did in Oakland. So I'm just as happy as you are. Now with our 12 picks we can trade up and down to get a few more pieces.

[quote name='EnVy_CaLiBeR' timestamp='1364404538' post='1417184']
I personally think there's still a chance we draft a safety (Please give me Elam at SS and Huff at FS).
[/quote]

That would be nice but instead of using that 1st on Elam because he wouldn't be there by the time our second pick comes around get an ILB or WR because we could still get D.J. Swearinger either late 2nd or even possibly 3rd. With Omar Brown, Thompson, and Ihedigbo one of them can be a very capable starter. Ihedigbo did a good job when he had to replace Pollard for a game or two last year with no drop off. I love the potential our defense has now. Ozzie had Kim Herring, Dawan Landry, and Zibs. SS is Ozzie's specialty we may already have a stud in Christian Thompson and not know it yet.

[bMore Heathen]

Nice!!!!!! Versatile, good football player. Another great pick up by Oz!!!!

[TheMadRaven]

Great signing - anyone know what kind of cap space is left after this is inked?

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='Miami Hurricane' timestamp='1364405643' post='1417243']
I wanted to see some of the young guys start
[/quote]
The better player will start. But I don't see any way that Omar Brown is better than Huff, and Thompson and Ihedigbo are better suited to SS.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1364406125' post='1417264']

The better player will start. But I don't see any way that Omar Brown is better than Huff, and Thompson and Ihedigbo are better suited to SS.
[/quote]I think Omar could definitely be better than Huff if he was given a chance to start. Just my opinion though.

[Sizzlebshu]

[quote name='TheMadRaven' timestamp='1364406122' post='1417263']
Great signing - anyone know what kind of cap space is left after this is inked?
[/quote]
Around 2 mil. We may have to cut some guys to free up room for draft picks and such tho.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1364405859' post='1417250']
I agree he has fallen off but when you're the best safety him declining is [b]still better than the next best safety[/b]. The good thing about Huff is he's a better tackler now than what Reed is due to his shoulder and nerve problem. I think with our system, players, and organization as a whole he'll do better for us than he did in Oakland. So I'm just as happy as you are. Now with our 12 picks we can trade up and down to get a few more pieces.

[size=4]That would be nice but instead of using that 1st on Elam because he wouldn't be there by the time our second pick comes around get an ILB or WR because we could still get D.J. Swearinger either late 2nd or even possibly 3rd. With Omar Brown, Thompson, and Ihedigbo one of them can be a very capable starter. Ihedigbo did a good job when he had to replace Pollard for a game or two last year with no drop off. I love the potential our defense has now. Ozzie had Kim Herring, Dawan Landry, and Zibs. SS is Ozzie's specialty we may already have a stud in Christian Thompson and not know it yet.[/size]
[/quote]
Not necessarily. Reed still covers well but his run defense and his tackling ability as you stated has been underwhelming for the past couple of years. Huff isn't as big of a playmaker as Reed can be but he's solid on all fronts and offers more versatility being five years younger.

And I wouldn't mind that plan either. I just love Elam but I do get we're probably going WR or ILB with the first pick. Might even trade up since we have 12 picks in the draft.

[ClintLB8]

Before I pass any judgements on him... I must hear him sing "Two tickets to paradise!" (Joke)

[T3hRaven]

We got a solid player at great value. Smart move, but now I bet Ozzie stands pat until the draft.

[jimmypowder]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1364406942' post='1417290']
We got a solid player at great value. Smart move, but now I bet Ozzie stands pat until the draft.
[/quote]

Yeah i agree except maybe Mckinnie gets signed