Is no one scared to death about our secondary?

[EricH]

Everyone is talking about our poor decision to cut Q and why Dickson and Clark are even running routes on offense...but has anyone been paying attention to our secondary? Beside Webby, they are horrid.

What is crazy is we are now starting back ups to Pollard, Williams, Reed last year. They are not improvements; they are the guys that came in when our starters were injured/winded.
And our defense was one of our worst ever last year.

I feel we will find a go to guy besides Smith and Stokley in the next game or two. But this season's secondary reminds me of the year that we had to accept Walker as a starter due to a lack of better candidates. Without a stifling pass rush, our secondary will allow huge passing yards. :(

[The Raven]

I'm currently terrified about our secondary, and nobody will be able to make me feel good about them until they play better. Completely and utterly terrified.

[rmw10]

Remember that these guys played against the best WR corps in the league.  They don't go up against that type of talent regularly.  Regardless, it is concerning, but I really don't think what you saw against the best passing attack in the league is what you're regularly going to get.

[K-Dog]

Nope.

[beanfigger]

I am nervous, but not yet terrified.  I think they will come together and play well very soon.  We have good players, but we need to put it all together.  Remember, we didn't even play our starting secondary together for more than a couple series in preseason.  I think it will be okay, especially since our LBs can cover and our pass rush should get better and better as the season goes on.

[SecretAgentMan]

Depends on who you're talking about

Webb No

Jimmy Eh

Graham Yes

Huff MEGA YES

James Idontknowhathislastnameis No, not really

[GrimCoconut]

I'm worried but but yet terrified.

[BMORE_96]

not necessarily. We had a lot of communication problems vs a no huddle offense in week 1 of a campaign with a vastly retooled defense. It was not the ideal situation to be in to measure these guys' ability in week 1. 

 

I completely expect us to dominate the browns next week defensively since their passing game is anemic and blitzing weeden will be enough to shut him down. Heck, our 4 man rush might just do the trick in that game if we stop the run(we will). 

 

Sure, huff and the rest of the secondary was dysfunctional, including webb(he almost gave up td to welker on that pick play). on the other hand, we played admirably in the first half against the best. Wait for elam to get a safety spot(probably digg even though people now detest huff) and for us to gain chemistry. 

[PuRock]

Sure.  Its a young secondary with a lot of new pieces.  But I honestly believe the talent is there to be successful.  

 

It can only get better.  They need to start working together as a team.  Communication and chemistry takes time. 

[beanfigger]

I guess every player who is loathed on this team by this board needs a supporter who will patiently wait and see before jumping on the hate train.  Even Streeter had one or two.  I'll be that guy for Huff.  I still believe in him.  He will be fine.  Sure he looked bad attempting to tackle Julius Thomas, but let's see all the players who will look just as bad this year trying to do the same to him.  He's never going to be the guy who gets 10 picks in a season, but I think he'll be solid enough on the back end this year and next (and hopefully the next, as well) to help make our secondary look good and cover up some mistakes with his speed.  I truly believe we will look back on his puny salary as a real steal.

[flynismo]

I want to know why Elam is not starting, after the preseason he had. He picked off Flacco multiple times, showed overall good coverage skills, and some serious playmaking ability. This is one of those times that I question the staff's decision making.

[ravensconvert]

This is going to sound crazy, but our defense played pretty good Thursday.  At the half manning only had 14 points and 7 were off a short field INT.

 

What happened at the end of the game was a pile on.  No defense would hold up against and offense that good when they are getting shoved out there on a couple minutes rest because your offense does nothing but go three and out.  It got out of control and spiraled, I don't think the D is that bad.

[1/28/01]

Nope.

You live in "everything is cakes and pies lala world".

[flynismo]

I guess every player who is loathed on this team by this board needs a supporter who will patiently wait and see before jumping on the hate train.  Even Streeter had one or two.  I'll be that guy for Huff.  I still believe in him.  He will be fine.  Sure he looked bad attempting to tackle Julius Thomas, but let's see all the players who will look just as bad this year trying to do the same to him.  He's never going to be the guy who gets 10 picks in a season, but I think he'll be solid enough on the back end this year and next (and hopefully the next, as well) to help make our secondary look good and cover up some mistakes with his speed.  I truly believe we will look back on his puny salary as a real steal.

You're not alone. Too many people are impulsive over one great / terrible game. I would be surprised if Huff didn't rebound strongly from this.

[Ravenslifer]

Everyone is talking about our poor decision to cut Q and why Dickson and Clark are even running routes on offense...but has anyone been paying attention to our secondary? Beside Webby, they are horrid.

What is crazy is we are now starting back ups to Pollard, Williams, Reed last year. They are not improvements; they are the guys that came in when our starters were injured/winded.
And our defense was one of our worst ever last year.

I feel we will find a go to guy besides Smith and Stokley in the next game or two. But this season's secondary reminds me of the year that we had to accept Walker as a starter due to a lack of better candidates. Without a stifling pass rush, our secondary will allow huge passing yards. :(

 

No because of two words: Peyton Manning.

[flynismo]

As for the OP, how can you not be extremely concerned over a secondary that just gave up seven TD passes in a single game?

[flynismo]

No because of two words: Peyton Manning.

More relevant two words:

Seven touchdowns

[Cville-Raven]

I want to know why Elam is not starting, after the preseason he had. He picked off Flacco multiple times, showed overall good coverage skills, and some serious playmaking ability. This is one of those times that I question the staff's decision making.

Apparently we should trade him.

[Ravenslifer]

More relevant two words:

Seven touchdowns

 

They've never played together before, one of them is a rookie, one is coming off a serious injury, and I say again - Peyton Manning, who IMO is throwing to the most physically gifted receiver he's ever had - I think Thomas has a good shot of putting up more yards than Marvin Harrison ever had in a season.  It's been one game - I'll wait until week 3-4 before I decide what parts of this team I need to be concerned about.  

[K-Dog]

You live in "everything is cakes and pies lala world".

Wile I do very much enjoy both cakes and pies I find they are not the healthiest things to have in the house so I try to minimize that. So, no, not every thing is cakes and pies.

The question is "scared to death"
No, I am not.
We started last season with a d-line a penguin could have run all over.
We fixed it.
I am 99.99% sure we will not have the same defense nor the same defensive scheme this sunday.
Furthermore I will personally guarantee we will not have seven TD's thrown on our defense for the remainder of this season.

I am well confidant in our coaching staffs ability to not only spot the problems, but solve them in a way that makes sense for all involved.

[1/28/01]

Wile I do very much enjoy both cakes and pies I find they are not the healthiest things to have in the house so I try to minimize that. So, no, not every thing is cakes and pies.

The question is "scared to death"
No, I am not.
We started last season with a d-line a penguin could have run all over.
We fixed it.
I am 99.99% sure we will not have the same defense nor the same defensive scheme this sunday.
Furthermore I will personally guarantee we will not have seven TD's thrown on our defense for the remainder of this season.

I am well confidant in our coaching staffs ability to not only spot the problems, but solve them in a way that makes sense for all involved.

Just had some carrot cake...

I get the positivity and I appreicate it. Just feel we have soooo many holes. Secondary being one of them.

[K-Dog]

Ew.
Vegetables do not belong in cake.

Asa will be back.
Elam will get on the field.
Communication will happen.

[SecretAgentMan]

Ew.
Vegetables do not belong in cake.

Asa will be back.
Elam will get on the field.
Communication will happen.

Amen to that brother

 

Agree.

 

Also, Huff will prob be benched lol

[DocMartin]

I want to know why Elam is not starting, after the preseason he had. He picked off Flacco multiple times, showed overall good coverage skills, and some serious playmaking ability. This is one of those times that I question the staff's decision making.

Agreed 100%. After what Huff showed in the 1st half, I couldn't stop myself from thinking, why don't we put Matt Elam in. They eventually did in 4th quarter little too late.
To answer the question - Terrified? NO. Greatly Concerned? YES.
L. Webb I think is good, but no need to have him on ST
C. Graham had a bad game but should bounce back
J. Smith question mark. He cant play Nickel to save his life
C. Brown just a backup at this point
Our biggest problem is when playing in Nickel we keep switching Webb from corner to Nickel and have J.Smith at the corner spot and back and forfh. It causes confussion when there is not enough time. Keep in mimd, we were doing good in 1st half. But Payton figured it out and upped the tempo and all of sudden our secondary was out of sync getting trashed out there. We need full time NICKELBACK who can cover slot receivers.like Welker and right now we don't have one.
Could it be Chykie Brown? Maybe. Could we use Huff there and have Elam at Safety? Maybe. What about Omar Brown from Practice Squad? We are.thin in secondary and sooner or later we.will need to fix that.

[BMORElegacy]

My only concern is that we only have 4 corners on the depth chart. With the nature of the position injuries and fatigue are extremely common... I'm just concerned that we're too thin at such a vital position. It showed during the Denver game. Webb was GASSED but there was nobody else available to let him get a breather. 

[EricH]

As for the OP, how can you not be extremely concerned over a secondary that just gave up seven TD passes in a single game?

I am...exactly.

[ravensconvert]

As for the OP, how can you not be extremely concerned over a secondary that just gave up seven TD passes in a single game?

 

Because most of them were piled on to an exhausted unit that was getting no help on the other side of the ball.  Did you see the close ups of people gasping for air in the third quarter?  Our D did contain Manning for quite some time.  They got no help from the offense and got overwhelmed.  What happened was the equivalent of running up the score.

[mgridda]

I'm not. They need more chemistry. More time together. Need more time in the film room together, and hanging out at someone's house. Like Webb.

 

 

Honestly, Webb needs to step up and become the leader of the secondary. Huff isn't a leader. Huff is quiet. What I like about Elam is he's a leader. He communicates. He talks a lot. I hope Elam starts instead of Dig next week.

 

He can be the communicator in the backfield.

[mgridda]

Because most of them were piled on to an exhausted unit that was getting no help on the other side of the ball.  Did you see the close ups of people gasping for air in the third quarter?  Our D did contain Manning for quite some time.  They got no help from the offense and got overwhelmed.  What happened was the equivalent of running up the score.

 

I've never seen someone with such a low post total make so much sense or such a good post.

 

Please keep posting here, dude.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Everyone is talking about our poor decision to cut Q and why Dickson and Clark are even running routes on offense...but has anyone been paying attention to our secondary? Beside Webby, they are horrid.

What is crazy is we are now starting back ups to Pollard, Williams, Reed last year. They are not improvements; they are the guys that came in when our starters were injured/winded.
And our defense was one of our worst ever last year.

I feel we will find a go to guy besides Smith and Stokley in the next game or two. But this season's secondary reminds me of the year that we had to accept Walker as a starter due to a lack of better candidates. Without a stifling pass rush, our secondary will allow huge passing yards. :(

 

How about both.   Every good GM/FO makes mistakes.    Letting Boldin go for late 6th round pick was just monkey balls awful.

 

I think our secondary will do better though.  We have other players we can churn up (like Elam) this season to see if our secondary can hold up vs. receivers