Safety Competition

[varaven]

Hello, it has been a very long time since I posted but I frequently read this forum and haven't seen much discussion about the competition at safety. Before camp started I think the consensus among fans and the media was that the starters would be Huff and Elam. The first depth chart just came out stating Diggs is in front of Elam and I have seen a lot of reports of Diggs doing well in camp (despite the fact that he knocked out our TE for the year). Will he see playing time as a starter in the season? Personally I think he played pretty well last year, especially on that sack against the Steelers.

[5aiah]

Yeah he is a beast on special teams, always has been. That being said, he can be a good starter but i think they just want him to push Elam and have a fallback plan at the same time.

[beanfigger]

I just think they want their rookies to earn their starting spot rather than just giving it to them.  None of them are listed as starters, at the moment.  Heck, Arthur Brown is listed behind a guy who may not be able to get on the practice field before Halloween.  I like all three of our safeties who are competing for the starting spots, but I think Huff and Elam will end up getting the nod.  They clearly have a higher ceiling than Digs, as far as I'm concerned, and they will give us the best chance to succeed.

[jdynamite]

Ihedigbo did fill in well last year, but i believe beginning the preseason Huff & Elam will run 1st team....
I think Omar browns playing making ability could have him in the mix before the preseason is over....

[TonyTone1192]

Elam is a physical specimen!!
According to Peas and Harbaugh he's still adjusting and not mentally ready. Also, they each have agreed that he's getting smarter, which equates to him playing faster, each day. So if he's mentally ready he'll be out there week 1, if he isn't I wouldn't expect Harbaugh to throw him in the water if he hasn't finished his swimming lessons.

[Fred Sanford]

Hard to say whether it's sending a symbolic message to Elam and Brown that they have to earn it even though the coaches clearly see them as starters, or the coaches genuinely believe that Ihedigbo and Smith/Bynes/McClellan/McClain or whoever are better at this immediate point because of their experience.

 

In either case, it's probably a good thing.  I remember Pagano saying "are you ready to shut down all these other teams' number ones?" to Jimmy Smith right after we drafted him.  Jimmy let his easy dominance at Colorado get to his head and just assumed he would have it made.  He got humiliated in San Diego by Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson, guys you would think of anyone he'd match up with.  He even admitted getting ahead of himself his rookie year and not starting humble and working hard from the bottom up. 

 

Whether it's serious or symbolic by the coaches, having Elam and Brown lower on the depth chart will probably be good for their mental makeup.  The only possible backfire would be some "I got drafted higher, I didn't come here to play special teams and sit behind a bum" kind of pettiness, but I doubt we'd draft that kind of guy and if we did, he wouldn't deserve to start anyway. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I think its honestly going to depend on the situation, scheme and how we match up with the other teams' receivers and TE's. Diggs can play and I don't think this is just symbolic. My guess is at this point he truly is ahead of Elam. He's more of a pure, in the box SS than Elam.

 

I think Elam will end up seeing more snaps in the long run, with his versatility and with teams spreading out and putting more WR's on the field... but I wouldn't be surprised to see Ihedigbo start Week 1.

[rmw10]

Expect to see all 3 on the field at times with Huff's ability to play CB.  Elam could slide over to FS with Ihedigbo at SS.  We have the versatility to be very creative in getting our best guys on the field.

[beanfigger]

Expect to see all 3 on the field at times with Huff's ability to play CB.  Elam could slide over to FS with Ihedigbo at SS.  We have the versatility to be very creative in getting our best guys on the field.

 

That's interesting.  Are you referring to our dime package?  I would assume both Jimmy Smith and Corey Graham would be on the field, along with Webb, in the nickel.  So you think Ihedigbo and/or Elam would be our dime guy over Chykie Brown?  I'm not arguing, I just think it's an interesting idea I hadn't considered.  I think it's great to have options.  Or were you referring to something else altogether, like some kind of extra safety run defense?

[izvoodoo]

That's interesting.  Are you referring to our dime package?  I would assume both Jimmy Smith and Corey Graham would be on the field, along with Webb, in the nickel.  So you think Ihedigbo and/or Elam would be our dime guy over Chykie Brown?  I'm not arguing, I just think it's an interesting idea I hadn't considered.  I think it's great to have options.  Or were you referring to something else altogether, like some kind of extra safety run defense?

I doubt Chykie starts, or even plays in nickel sets.  But he's the best depth we've had in a while.

[rmw10]

That's interesting.  Are you referring to our dime package?  I would assume both Jimmy Smith and Corey Graham would be on the field, along with Webb, in the nickel.  So you think Ihedigbo and/or Elam would be our dime guy over Chykie Brown?  I'm not arguing, I just think it's an interesting idea I hadn't considered.  I think it's great to have options.  Or were you referring to something else altogether, like some kind of extra safety run defense?

 

More of Huff sliding up to play nickel or dime back in certain packages.  He also has the ability to play outside and force Webb or Graham in.  It definitely wouldn't be a full time thing, but it gives us another slew of options.

[beanfigger]

I doubt Chykie starts, or even plays in nickel sets.  But he's the best depth we've had in a while.

 

No, I was saying Chykie was a possibility for Dime situations.  For Nickel, I'd assume we would just add whoever doesn't start between Smith and Graham.

[beanfigger]

More of Huff sliding up to play nickel or dime back in certain packages.  He also has the ability to play outside and force Webb or Graham in.  It definitely wouldn't be a full time thing, but it gives us another slew of options.

 

Got it, so Huff would be another option other than Smith at corner, and bring in another safety.  Do you think that would be preferable in Dime situations than adding Brown?  I heard he's done pretty well this summer, so far.

[rmw10]

Got it, so Huff would be another option other than Smith at corner, and bring in another safety.

 

Yes, exactly.  If Smith doesn't perform as well as we hoped or even if someone needs a breather, we can easily find a way to get all 3 safeties on the field.

[beasy2487]

Yes, exactly.  If Smith doesn't perform as well as we hoped or even if someone needs a breather, we can easily find a way to get all 3 safeties on the field.

 

The other option is to slide Dig down to LB in rush situations. He's a great blitzer and Pees even said that he loves that he can play in that LB spot.

[BMORE_96]

all in all, this is the most depth on defense we've had in a while. Then, there is the versatility of all the players.I can remember that our only good safety was ed and we had guys like dawan landry and zibby. Now, we may not have an ed, but this is much better depth. They are able to all cover, play the run, and be aggressive. That is raven football. Caw, Caw!!

[varaven]

Speaking of depth, check out his digging celebration after this great play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMubiWIHos

[Alexir]

I wonder if we keep 4 or 5 safeties since Huff is versatile and can play corner. Not saying he will start at corner but he would be a better guy in a pinch than some of the younger dudes.

[Tank 92]

Speaking of depth, check out his digging celebration after this great play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMubiWIHos

 

 

James is a gamer and brings "Ravens Intensity" to the field. No matter his shortcomings, he is a valuable piece.

 

Deep depth in the secondary.  Gotta love it!

[The Oakland Cathedral]

I wonder if we keep 4 or 5 safeties since Huff is versatile and can play corner. Not saying he will start at corner but he would be a better guy in a pinch than some of the younger dudes.

I was thinking about that earlier and definitely wouldn't be surprised if say, Elam, Huff, Ihedibgo, Thompson, and Omar Brown made the team.

[rmw10]

I was thinking about that earlier and definitely wouldn't be surprised if say, Elam, Huff, Ihedibgo, Thompson, and Omar Brown made the team.

Thompson is suspended. So for the first 4 weeks at least, no lol.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Thompson is suspended. So for the first 4 weeks at least, no lol.

I meant in general lol. I know he's suspended for 4 weeks, but after that I wouldn't be surprised if he was on the team with the other 4 listed safeties.

[rmw10]

I meant in general lol. I know he's suspended for 4 weeks, but after that I wouldn't be surprised if he was on the team with the other 4 listed safeties.

Then I totally agree haha. It will be interesting trying to piece together this roster. Good players are going to have to go.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Then I totally agree haha. It will be interesting trying to piece together this roster. Good players are going to have to go.

Very bittersweet situation.

[Cville-Raven]

I posted this many months ago during last pre season but I'll post it again.....

[varaven]

So what do you guys think now? Ihedigbo has been announced starter week one.

[beanfigger]

So what do you guys think now? Ihedigbo has been announced starter week one.

That's no surprise to me. It seemed that had always been the plan, and nothing has really occurred that would make the coaches change their minds.

[SecretAgentMan]

I fully expect Elam to have the starting job by the seasons end

[beanfigger]

I fully expect Elam to have the starting job by the seasons end

 

That is probable, I'd say.  I'd be surprised if it doesn't happen by the time we get back from our bye week, unless Huff and Ihedigbo play lights out.

[redrum52]

Expect to see all 3 on the field at times with Huff's ability to play CB. Elam could slide over to FS with Ihedigbo at SS. We have the versatility to be very creative in getting our best guys on the field.

This. Also, the defense should get a lot of pressure with the versatility so many of our guys offer. McPhee will be playing outside, but I assume he can still play interior on the d line. With the backers able to blitz or play coverage, and the safeties being able to fall back and plplay deep or cover (Huff), Pees should love the kind of disguises he can use to confuse qbs. We should see a pot different looks this season since Pees won't need to cover up for Pollards lack of coverage skill, Reeds tackling (I don't blame him), Lewis's speed, or Cary " 15 yards off and still get beat" Williams.