Free Agents To Consider: Defense

[The Raven]

If we resign Digs and move Elam back to FS I am done.

 

Why, exactly? They didn't make a lot of plays but they were pretty far from terrible. I'd be A-okay with seeing that duo again.

[Tank 92]

It would be great if we could somehow resign Digs and keep him in the Flock. If nothing else, he provides depth and character to the D squad.

[sflegend89]

Don't bring back digs unless it's depth/ST. Elam needs to move back to his natural position, digs isn't the answer as a starter and we learned that last year. Go after Decoud or Clemons with that money, digs played his heart out for us but it just feels like his run here is up.

[display name]

If we resign Digs and move Elam back to FS I am done.

Who do you mean by Digs?

[Inqui]

Who do you mean by Digs?

Ihedigbo. It's a reference to his name, and he has that cool shovelling dance as his celebration.

[Tank 92]

I think a lot of the pass coverage issues last year were magnified by the lack of a consistent pass rush. Suggs/Doom started out well, but the pass rush was disappointing most of the season, especially after the anticipation that they would live on top of opposing QBs.

 

All in all, Elam did OK considering he was a rookie playing out of position.

[Kev0825]

Why, exactly? They didn't make a lot of plays but they were pretty far from terrible. I'd be A-okay with seeing that duo again.

 

Are you joking? Elam is a SS not a FS. We didn't spend our first round pick for his talent to be wasted at FS.

[Jon_21]

If James would re-sign for the vet minimum I think he would be a solid backup to have with the potential to step in to play at any moment.

 

Dare I say it ... what about bringing back #20 to patrol centerfield?  Pairing him with a 2nd year Matt Elam at SS might make him look a lot better.  He still puts fear in the eyes of opposing QB's who avoid his side of the field and I think he picked up 3 INT's in his last 4 games so clearly still has the ball skills.

 

I wouldn't mind a rotation of Elam, Reed, Ihedigbo, Omar Brown ... and maybe a mid-round FS prospect battling it out for 4 roster spots.

[The Raven]

Are you joking? Elam is a SS not a FS. We didn't spend our first round pick for his talent to be wasted at FS.

 

Let me bring you into 2014. It's not 1955 anymore. Safeties aren't exclusively FS or SS. More and more teams are expecting their safeties to play both S positions. Fact. The Ravens are one of them.

[ravensdan]

My prediction has all along been to bring back ihedigbo. There are no options that are a huge improvement in fa or the draft. If a better fs option drops late we could always pounce. Better to have ihedigbo as a safety net. You can then draft one if the players who were more of a corner but could be transitioned to safety and brought along slowly. Just gives the team more flexibility.

I could also see a pass rusher added to the mix. A young gun who could relieve Suggs and doom throughout. Keep the rotation fresh and have the ability to have more of a max-rush package on passing downs. Then move McPhee back to de where he is a difference maker. I think this would be more likely a drafted player though. Not sure there is a fit in free agency. But the draft in rd 2-3 is full of players like fee ford, atouchu, marcus smith and Demarcus Lawrence to name a few fits.

[BmoreBird22]

Let me bring you into 2014. It's not 1955 anymore. Safeties aren't exclusively FS or SS. More and more teams are expecting their safeties to play both S positions. Fact. The Ravens are on of them.

While I do agree that hybrid safeties are becoming more of the norm, you can't reasonably expect every single safety to be equally skilled in run defense and coverage. Can Matt Elam play the pass deep? Sure, but he's much better suited to play closer to the line. Can Devin McCourty play the run? Yeah, decently, but he showed that he's much more fit for coverage. You wouldn't want a guy like Donte Whitner or Kim Chancellor manning your single high safety looks

[The Raven]

While I do agree that hybrid safeties are becoming more of the norm, you can't reasonably expect every single safety to be equally skilled in run defense and coverage. Can Matt Elam play the pass deep? Sure, but he's much better suited to play closer to the line. Can Devin McCourty play the run? Yeah, decently, but he showed that he's much more fit for coverage. You wouldn't want a guy like Donte Whitner or Kim Chancellor manning your single high safety looks

 

Elam is definitely better off as a traditional, run stopping, near the LOS SS. But today's NFL just requires both safeties to have coverage abilities. Harbs and Pees seem to prefer having two balanced safeties instead of a FS and a SS. 

 

Elam is capable of playing the deep pass, and, overall, he improved a lot in that area as the season went on. 

[Kev0825]

Let me bring you into 2014. It's not 1955 anymore. Safeties aren't exclusively FS or SS. More and more teams are expecting their safeties to play both S positions. Fact. The Ravens are one of them.

 

Do you want Elam to thrive or to be just average? I know he can play FS, but that is not where we can get the most out of him. We all know digs can't play FS so that automatically puts Elam back there at FS. 

[BmoreBird22]

 

Elam is definitely better off as a traditional, run stopping, near the LOS SS. But today's NFL just requires both safeties to have coverage abilities. Harbs and Pees seem to prefer having two balanced safeties instead of a FS and a SS. 

 

Elam is capable of playing the deep pass, and, overall, he improved a lot in that area as the season went on. 

I would actually prefer two hybrid safeties myself. That's a huge problem I saw in Pollard and Reed and a big reason why I supported moving on from them. It's also a reason that I want Chris Clemons. 

 

I'm just saying we can't expect safeties to not be more suited for one role over another.

[PolishRifle]

Do you want Elam to thrive or to be just average? I know he can play FS, but that is not where we can get the most out of him. We all know digs can't play FS so that automatically puts Elam back there at FS. 

 

I think, I care less about Elam's development than Flacco's protection. Getting the safety position out of the way in FA would give the Ravens the ability to invest heavily into the OL. I'd rather take Zack Martin, who will improve our OL than Clinton-Dix, who will make our top 10 defense (well almost top 10) slightly better.

[BmoreBird22]

 

I think, I care less about Elam's development than Flacco's protection. Getting the safety position out of the way in FA would give the Ravens the ability to invest heavily into the OL. I'd rather take Zack Martin, who will improve our OL than Clinton-Dix, who will make our top 10 defense (well almost top 10) slightly better.

I'm still torn on whether I'd want Zach Martin or a receiver in the first round. I think if we drafted Zach Martin, he'd be better suited to play left guard for us, which would be fine because of Kelechi's back. That shores up two positions at once. But, if we have that train of thought, there's a chance we could be looking at guys like David Yankey or Xavier S-F (can't exactly remember what the name is) who can play both guard and tackle, but are better suited at guard. That would leave us open to get a guy like OBJ or Lee, long term solutions to the number two receiver spot beside Torrey, or potentially the number one receiver if Torrey walks. This is the defense thread, though, so I'm going to stop there.

 

I really do care about having Elam develop more and having a play maker back there. With how athletic some of the tight ends are in this draft and the prevalence of three receiver sets that attack deep, having a good free safety back there is almost becoming a necessity to having a top notch defense. Having someone who can just get the job done (Elam) is becoming less and less of a viable option.

[PolishRifle]

 

 

I'm still torn on whether I'd want Zach Martin or a receiver in the first round. I think if we drafted Zach Martin, he'd be better suited to play left guard for us, which would be fine because of Kelechi's back.

 

I can't deny, that drafting a WR would be tempting (I bellyached over this for a long time), since there is so much great talent at this position in this draft, but I think great OL play is much more important for a QB, than great WRs. Give Joe time in the pocket and he'll manage with what he have right now.

 

Also, our offense needs high draft picks far more than our defense. Just my opinion.

[BmoreBird22]

 

I can't deny, that drafting a WR would be tempting (I bellyached over this for a long time), since there is so much great talent at this position in this draft, but I think great OL play is much more important for a QB, than great WRs. Give Joe time in the pocket and he'll manage with what he have right now.

 

Also, our offense needs high draft picks far more than our defense. Just my opinion.

I'm calling for our first two picks to be offense (WR and TE). I really don't see tons of defensive talent that makes me jump out of my chair where we pick. Scratch that, I wouldn't mind Kyle Fuller at all.

 

Still really pulling for Chris Clemons, even if it is just one year.

[PolishRifle]

 

 

I'm calling for our first two picks to be offense (WR and TE). I really don't see tons of defensive talent that makes me jump out of my chair where we pick. Scratch that, I wouldn't mind Kyle Fuller at all.

 

Still really pulling for Chris Clemons, even if it is just one year.

 

 

Flacco = Our only 1st round draft pick still playing on offense.

 

The market is oddly silent about Clemons. He's a solid player. Maybe I'm not the only one, who kept mistaking him for the Seahawks DE.

[BmoreBird22]

 

Flacco = Our only 1st round draft pick still playing on offense.

 

The market is oddly silent about Clemons. He's a solid player. Maybe I'm not the only one, who kept mistaking him for the Seahawks DE.

Yeah, isn't that pitiful? I think this is a hard year not to hit on a first round offensive prospect. There are a few you can miss on, but it'd be pretty hard this year.

 

If you just google Chris Clemons, the defensive end comes up. You actually have to put in safety as well if you want to find Chris Clemons the safety. He's really underrated. Speaking of googling, if you google Blake Bortles, more pictures of his girlfriend show up than him.

[display name]

Ihedigbo. It's a reference to his name, and he has that cool shovelling dance as his celebration.

Alright thanks. Come to think of it it's a pretty cool nickname.

I would like to bring back Ihedigbo for depth. He was a really great player for us last year.

[PolishRifle]

Alright thanks. Come to think of it it's a pretty cool nickname.

I would like to bring back Ihedigbo for depth. He was a really great player for us last year.

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider 46 Min.

Healthy market starting to emerge for James Ihedigbo following 101-tackle, three interception season

 

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider 11 Min.

Sources: James Ihedigbo drawing offers from NFC teams, Ravens not expected to match: http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-sources-james-ihedigbo-drawing-offers-from-nfc-teams-ravens-not-expected-to-match-20140321,0,7373950.story …

[rmw10]

Chris Clemons is visiting with the Lions.  For some reason, I don't see them letting him walk out without a contract.

[bMore Heathen]

As far as I know all they asked him to do was sign an extension so they could lower his cap hit - that I think was according to Aaron Wilson. Now I think what's going on is simply that Ngata has been thinking retirement for a while and didn't want to extend his deal any further. As far as I know, this isn't like the Boldin thing last year (which I still don't get) where they outright told him to take a paycut or he'd be gone.

It's the exact same situation as Boldin. They wanted to extend him to lower his cap hit. Q said no way, and the Ravens dealt him. If they were unable to trade him, we would have cut him. There were the same concerns about how long Q would even play.

The difference is the size of the contract. Haloti has a HUGE amount of guaranteed money, making it impossible for us to make a move with him this year. After this year we can get out of the contract for something in the ballpark of 7M as opposed to 14M this year. So next offseason he will get the same option Q got... Take less money or your no longer a Raven.

[Ravenatic20]

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider 46 Min.

Healthy market starting to emerge for James Ihedigbo following 101-tackle, three interception season

 

Aaron Wilson ‏@RavensInsider 11 Min.

Sources: James Ihedigbo drawing offers from NFC teams, Ravens not expected to match: http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-sources-james-ihedigbo-drawing-offers-from-nfc-teams-ravens-not-expected-to-match-20140321,0,7373950.story …

 

I actually liked James Ihedigbo for run support, not so much in the passing game.  If the Ravens can't replace him they should bring him back!  He might not be that good but better than his replacement.

[BmoreBird22]

Kendrick Lewis is officially off the market

[PolishRifle]

Kendrick Lewis is officially off the market

 

Texans signed FS Kendrick Lewis, formerly of the Chiefs.

Those snickers you hear are coming from Chiefs fans who badly wanted Lewis to leave Kansas City after four unsuccessful seasons as a starter. Lewis, 26 in June, would be better off as a third safety and special teamer. In Houston, he's reuniting with old Chiefs DC and head coach Romeo Crennel. The Texans are believed to be mulling the release of longtime FS starter Danieal Manning. Mar 21 - 4:39 PM

 

Source: Rotoworld

[BmoreBird22]

Texans signed FS Kendrick Lewis, formerly of the Chiefs.

Those snickers you hear are coming from Chiefs fans who badly wanted Lewis to leave Kansas City after four unsuccessful seasons as a starter. Lewis, 26 in June, would be better off as a third safety and special teamer. In Houston, he's reuniting with old Chiefs DC and head coach Romeo Crennel. The Texans are believed to be mulling the release of longtime FS starter Danieal Manning. Mar 21 - 4:39 PM

 

Source: Rotoworld

I was wondering if Daniel Manning was on the market

[SecretAgentMan]

I was wondering if Daniel Manning was on the market

Time to get a Texans Steal... We've been long overdue(not named Gary) for one of those

[rmw10]

 

 

Texans signed FS Kendrick Lewis, formerly of the Chiefs.

Those snickers you hear are coming from Chiefs fans who badly wanted Lewis to leave Kansas City after four unsuccessful seasons as a starter. Lewis, 26 in June, would be better off as a third safety and special teamer. In Houston, he's reuniting with old Chiefs DC and head coach Romeo Crennel. The Texans are believed to be mulling the release of longtime FS starter Danieal Manning. Mar 21 - 4:39 PM

 

Source: Rotoworld

 

 

That's a little harsh from Rotoworld.  Lewis was quality in his first 2 seasons, then the injury bug hit him, and he hasn't been the same since.  4 unsuccessful seasons is just untrue.