Should we move Lardarius Webb to FS?

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='DMH_in_WA' timestamp='1364409950' post='1417443']
What I found funny about this whole thread is how the vast majority of the people mocking the OP and saying "no" kept saying the SAME thing "He's a shutdown corner" ("shutdown corner" is about as overused a term as "elite QB") without acknowledging that after having surgery now on -both- knees, he may not be the corner he once was.

What is it that teams often do when a corner is no longer able to cover his position the way he could but still can play at a high level? They usually shift them to safety where there is less physical strain on the legs and far less one on one. So I'm not sure why the sarcasm and making fun of the OP when Webb actually played Safety in college and was good at it.

The point is mute now with Huff being signed. That probably means that if Webb ends up not being able to perform at Corner the way he did after having the surgery then he probably just gets cut. Although, Huff can and has played CB I don't see them flip-flopping those positions.
[/quote]
I don't think Huff confirms anything about Webb, unlike others. Huff provides insurance, same as Graham who could play FS as he said last year when Reed did his drama. Both can play CB & S (Huff obviously being proven; Graham being speculated from his comment). Webb played S in NCAA, and could probably play it well here.

You don't move a CB unless he can't cover like he used to before, whether it's injury or age. Sure, Webb could be injured and moved to FS. I doubt it, but it's certainly possible. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if we still moved Webb to FS even with Huff, and had a CB corps of Huff, Graham, Smith.

With that said, I feel like Webb will be on this team. We picked up his 5M bonus. He's going nowhere. I believe the team has been closely following his injury. If his injury was severe he would've been cut or restructured by now.

I expect the Ravens to have Webb, Graham & Smith as CBs this year, with Huff & Thompson at S. Ihedigbo could start as well & rotate with Thompson much like before with Zibby & Landry.

[redrum52]

Flacco to db. He's tall and athletic. Since he's played qb he knows the route patterns and combinations. We should move Webb to wr since he plays so well in the slot. Quick and has good hands.

@grim. Huff is a natural FS who was moved due to need at corner.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1364410404' post='1417460']
Flacco to db. He's tall and athletic. Since he's played qb he knows the route patterns and combinations. We should move Webb to wr since he plays so well in the slot. Quick and has good hands.

@grim. Huff is a natural FS who was moved due to need at corner.
[/quote]
Please read my entire post. I knew someone would say that. Yes, I know. I was merely speculating on the possibility. I clearly stated that I expect Huff & Thompson/Ihedigbo to be the starting S on this team, with a CB corps as Webb, Graham & Smith (starters, of course).

[redrum52]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1364410596' post='1417471']

Please read my entire post. I knew someone would say that. Yes, I know. I was merely speculating on the possibility. I clearly stated that I expect Huff & Thompson/Ihedigbo to be the starting S on this team, with a CB corps as Webb, Graham & Smith (starters, of course).
[/quote]

Yea didn't read the full post til after. My bad.

[The Raven]

[quote name='BMOREHAWAII' timestamp='1364409384' post='1417407']
He just tore his ACL and haven't had physical football activity for months.
Im sure he will get plugged in to the CB position right away and expected to resume being elite...

And who's playing next to Huff?
[/quote]

He tore his ACL before and came back. Yeah, there will be some set backs, but we'll ease him in. Whether we ease him in at safety or corner, he will still need to be fast and physical. Do you think less would be expected of him if he was moved to safety?

Who's playing next to Huff? Ihedigbo, Thompson, Brown, Levine? I think it's obvious Ihedigbo is the top contender, but we'll have a competition for the spot. We have numerous in-house safeties who can fill the void. Including Brown, who the players rave about, and Anthony Levine, who Harbs is very high on. Thompson has potential to be a good safety, and Ihedigbo started three games for us last year. Honestly, I barely noticed Pollard's absence when Ihedigbo was in.

[DMH_in_WA]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1364411746' post='1417508']
He tore his ACL before and came back. Yeah, there will be some set backs, but we'll ease him in. Whether we ease him in at safety or corner, he will still need to be fast and physical. [b]Do you think less would be expected of him if he was moved to safety?[/b]
[/quote]

That's kind of the point of this speculation I think. Less is required, physically on the legs/knees, at Safety than it is at CB. And, said it a few times, there is less one-on-one with a receiver. So yes, in a way less is expected there .. but you then have to deal with more open field tackling of running backs.

I don't think it's going to be necessary. ACL surgery is no longer what it use to be. Now there's something like a 95% full recovery rate from it (and some of the newest techniques they are saying guys are actually coming back even stronger than before). But that still leaves a ~5% window where guys don't come back 100% and will never be back at 100%. I don't see why people in this thread are throwing a huge amount of ridicule and scorn at the OP on what is a reasonable discussion of what the Ravens COULD do if Webb falls in that 5%.

How does going "LALALALALALALALA he's a shutdown corner I can't hear you" have anything to do with the reality of injuries in pro sports? (not directed at you Raven)

[The Raven]

[quote name='DMH_in_WA' timestamp='1364413228' post='1417548']
That's kind of the point of this speculation I think. Less is required, physically on the legs/knees, at Safety than it is at CB. And, said it a few times, there is less one-on-one with a receiver. So yes, in a way less is expected there .. but you then have to deal with more open field tackling of running backs.

I don't think it's going to be necessary. ACL surgery is no longer what it use to be. Now there's something like a 95% full recovery rate from it (and some of the newest techniques they are saying guys are actually coming back even stronger than before). But that still leaves a ~5% window where guys don't come back 100% and will never be back at 100%. I don't see why people in this thread are throwing a huge amount of ridicule and scorn at the OP on what is a reasonable discussion of what the Ravens COULD do if Webb falls in that 5%.

How does going "LALALALALALALALA he's a shutdown corner I can't hear you" have anything to do with the reality of injuries in pro sports? (not directed at you Raven)
[/quote]

True, it could affect his coverage ability. However, he still has to run and cover at safety. He still has to be able to tackle. If his knee is not full strength, he will be exposed at either position.

[MsMarvel73]

I guess the signing of Huff makes this question and thread kinda a moot point now, doesn't it?

[RavensDE]

Indeed.

[mgridda]

We have so much depth at corner. Oakland was skinny at cornerback, so they moved Huff to corner. That's not a knock on his ability to play safety: that's a testament of what kind of athlete and competitor he is. Not many safeties can move to cornerback. I think we'll be able to use Huff extremely well and he'll benefit from the pass rush trio of Suggs, Dumervil and Ngata collapsing the pocket. If QBs scamper around to avoid those three they'll be pressured by canty or McPhee on the only other lanes available.

So, Huff is probably going to have a monster year.

As far as cornerback is concerned, Graham has demonstrated that he can play extremely well. It's really Graham that made Williams expendable. Asa Jackson and Brown provide excellent depth as these guys would love to start. But, the main guy is Jimmy Smith. If he has the off-season he's expecting to have, and demonstrates what he can do in training camp Lardarius Webb could be completely done and we'd still look good with Smith and Graham, backed up by Jackson, Brown and the inevitable rookie/udfa/new/next-man up rotating in.

This topic perhaps could be considered before we signed Huff. But Huff coming in really means we need a box safety like Thompson or Ihedigbo or hell even Matt Elam if a guy can dream.

[The King]

I wouldn't count on Smith surpassing Webb's skill level this offseson. Webb quietly had one of the best CB seasons in the league in 2011 when he didn't allow a single TD all year and held opposing QBs to passer rating around 55 when they threw it his way. Smith, even when he showed flashes of the potential we drafted him for, doesn't play at that level because most corners don't play at that level.

Cary Williams made himself expendable with his level of play. He wanted to be paid like a top corner when he gives up too many yards and first downs for that. He's an okay no. 2, but you have to know that the opposing team will target him and that he'll need some help.

As for coming back from injury, Webb's game is based a lot on knowing how to use his body and box out opposing WRs. He does rely on quickness, but what we saw with Jamaal Charles and AD this year is that rehab has gotten to the point where coming back from an ACL tear is a lot easier than it used to be. What was once career-ending is now just season ending. If Webb's knee weren't back to 100% we'd be better off just keeping him on the bench than moving him to safety because then we aren't putting him at risk for a lower value.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='The King' timestamp='1364448607' post='1418206']
I wouldn't count on Smith surpassing Webb's skill level this offseson.
[/quote]

Yeah, dont think anyone is.

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='DMH_in_WA' timestamp='1364348568' post='1416630']
I think the point he's trying to make and some are ignoring is, "What if Webb is not back up to his level of production when the season starts because of the injury?" What if he isn't what he was. Safety would be an easier position for him to play while he's coming back up to speed. A healthy Webb, no chance you touch him. But what if he's not back to that level when the season starts? Or what if he -never- gets back to that level?

[b]Healthy Webb was a top CB ... we don't know what he will be coming off the injury.[/b]
[/quote]

absolutely! due to his knee surgeries, i see nothing wrong with moving Webb to FS. he played safety in college and i think that he would be a serious "ball hawk" in the secondary. he needs to bulk up a little though to drop the hammer in the run game but other than that either way...CB or FS...i'm good!

~Mili

[Legacy_0f_52]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1364349273' post='1416640']
Oh boy.
I think Hawaii has helped me get my sanity back.

Hmmm. If I was on a computer, this would be the perfect time for Steve Carell.

While we are at it, lets move Suggs to MLB, Rice to Slot, and Flacco to LT as he is big enough .

Lets also move Pitta to FB, and Dumerville to DE.

Ngata is also out of position, I heard once he could play FS. Lets move him there.
[/quote]The fact that you come online and you're in Hawaii shows you have no sanity!! Unless your parents are still sleeping and haven't let you out of the cage yet...

[Sizzlebshu]

Requesting Thread be closed.