[News] Ravens Agree To Deal With Safety Darian Stewart

[Corvus]

Seven pages on this thread! Wouldn't have expected it over a guy who I wasn't even aware of, and I kind of pride myself on knowing a fair amount about all 32 teams. This seems to be a a training camp-type signing for competition due to the Spagnuolo connection so, I wouldn't buy too much into it, though seeing as he has far more playing experience than Trawick/Levine/Brown (and don't get me wrong, I love Omar's potential) Darian could wind up surprising us all. Competition almost always brings out the cream of thr crop...

[Wildabeast88]

Spagnolo coached him in St. Louis and he is a good defensive coach so I think there is potential there. Although I would love to see hat Omar can do

[flacmaster5]

That's so raven

[PolishRifle]

These new Rams uniforms are so ugly. I really wish they would go back to the blue and yellow.

[RavenManiac#7]

Never heard of this guy. If he was listed as a SS, can't quite make much sense of the move, but I guess Ozzie knows something we don't. Does seem like there were better options out there for a FS but, again, I'll trust Ozzie's judgement. Still would like to see Elam be able to move to his more natural SS slot.

[takersplace]

its insurance for now , probably cheap insurance - no worries folks

[ellicottraven]

Hey at least he wore #20 in St. Louis. I hope he knows he has no shot at that # here with the Ravens. That number must be retired along with #52 of course!

[The Beak]

Could be a Diamond ( see Pollard ) could be the rough ( See MHuff ) .

[aruba1]

still think we can get calvin pryor. dude is going to take the league by storm. hits HARD.

[Xmadraven]

He played a lot of snaps last year and wasnt graded horribly by pro football focus..... who knows at the very least he provides much needed depth behind elam.....and whoever else is on the roster at safety..... i like this but hope he doesn't start at FS....he's still good against the run.... so who knows

[Halshayeji]

Please don't even bring up pollard it still stings me how he was released over a couple of million and went into a year of mysery at safety with huff!

I loved pollards game!!!

[bioLarzen]

Please don't even bring up pollard it still stings me how he was released over a couple of million and went into a year of mysery at safety with huff!

I loved pollards game!!!

 

Pollard was a SS while Huff played at FS - so, even if Pollard stayed, we would have probably had Huff.

 

And Pollard wasn't released because of his production. First, he was a penalty magnet and second, he reportedly was a locker room pest. Apparently these two overweighed his indeed good performance on the field...

[bioLarzen]

Never heard of this guy. If he was listed as a SS, can't quite make much sense of the move, 

 

Depth behind (and pre-season competition for) Elam.

 

Probably.

[KidNme]

HE must have come cheap or this move doesn't make a lot of sense.

He has backup written all over him. It must be insurance for the draft.

[RaRaRavens]

Still believe Ravens will go for FS in 1 round. Draft is deep with WR and addressing WR in 2 round with some seasoning over the 2014 season will pay dividends next year. Unless Oz pulls a rabbit out of the hat and gets a bargain of a deal with Bailey for FS, this is the most likely scenario, mark my words.

[Ravens_Flock]

I'm not sure this signing really makes a whole lot of sense. From an "adding a veteran" standpoint? Sure. But I think that sticking with young players like Elam (who NEEDS to be SS), and Omar Brown, etc., while also perhaps drafting a FS, would be the best route to take.

[cobrajet]

It seems we have an abundance of safeties on the team but still have a question mark at starting FS. I can only assume that most of them are for special teams. The only problem I have with that is using up cap space (however little it is) before we address RT, C, FS, because you can always pick up special team guys later when teams have to get down to 53 or you can pickup undrafted guys even cheaper to fill those holes. IMHO, I just think it is smarter to save as much cap room as you can until you have all your holes on starting offense and defense players filled.

[cobrajet]

still think we can get calvin pryor. dude is going to take the league by storm. hits HARD.

I actually like him also, but when I brought his name up most opinions were that Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (if available) would compliment Elam a little more with his better coverage skills, and many said that Pryor would get us in trouble with penalties the way he hits, but I love those hard hitting guys. Unfortunately the NFL is heading toward limited contact for safety reasons. It is just not the kind of football I remember. I still love the way guys like Ronnie Lott used to play. To me, Pryor seems like that kind of old school player.

[Chili8]

A new (March 20, 2014) Bleacher Report ranks Darian as #68 out of 75 NFL safeties. Ozzie may want a play maker, but the criticisms suggest otherwise.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1993497-br-nfl-1000-top-75-safeties/page/9

[slowboater]

I'm not sure this signing really makes a whole lot of sense. From an "adding a veteran" standpoint? Sure. But I think that sticking with young players like Elam (who NEEDS to be SS), and Omar Brown, etc., while also perhaps drafting a FS, would be the best route to take.

Yes, yes...and yes. And don't forget the Ravens are always trying to add depth. Darian adds depth and if he is not the starting FS, is an insurance policy if one of the starters goes down. Do we know the exact terms of the deal? I don't, but suspect he is on the cheap and a good value. I'll leave it at that.

[balfan23]

Depth behind (and pre-season competition for) Elam.

 

Probably.

That's my thinking as well. I'm quite sure the FO isn't viewing this as the answer for the FS position in 2014 ... I think the only thing this signals is that we've decided to move on from Ihedigbo. 

[The Real 52]

A new (March 20, 2014) Bleacher Report ranks Darian as #68 out of 75 NFL safeties. Ozzie may want a play maker, but the criticisms suggest otherwise. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1993497-br-nfl-1000-top-75-safeties/page/9

This ranking also has Ihedigbo at 69. We are improving!

[Jon_21]

Was Stewart a UFA?  Trying to figure out if he will factor into our comp pick equation for next year. 

[bmorepizzy]

I think this means we are going to draft Jimmie Ward in the second round, just a security blanket in the event he takes time to come along, much like what Huff was suppose to provide for Elam.

[FastEddie]

Yea....lets sign this guy when we could have brought our man Ed back before retirement. Poor move in my opinion.

[Ravenslifer]

I'm thinking we are still going to draft a young safety early, and this guy was brought in partially to bring some experience because they don't want a rookie and a second year player playing the majority of snaps at both safety positions in the same year.

[Stephenjr]

I think this means we are going to draft Jimmie Ward in the second round, just a security blanket in the event he takes time to come along, much like what Huff was suppose to provide for Elam.

Jimmy Ward is not worth a 2nd round pick. I wouldn't draft him before the 4th! We don't reach for players when we draft!

[DomMcRaven]

 

 

A new (March 20, 2014) Bleacher Report ranks Darian as #68 out of 75 NFL safeties. Ozzie may want a play maker, but the criticisms suggest otherwise. http://bleacherrepor...safeties/page/9 

And Chris Clemons is rated number 15! Hmmmm..............................

[BmoreBird22]

 

A new (March 20, 2014) Bleacher Report ranks Darian as #68 out of 75 NFL safeties. Ozzie may want a play maker, but the criticisms suggest otherwise. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1993497-br-nfl-1000-top-75-safeties/page/9

Just try to remember that this is indeed Bleacher Report and what they say must be taken with a grain of salt. They had Jacoby Jones with a 47/50 for hands, but Torrey and Steve Smith at 42/50, if that tells you anything. 

 

Also, look at how they have a category for speed. They could have done much better with these rankings, so don't use them as a reference point.

[Mystigo_Dragon]

So, we sign a SS to play FS or to back up Elam at SS?

 

I'm more comfortable with the moves made this off season than last year's but there's still some stuff that makes me scratch my head!

 

Drafting "Juice" at FB, a dying breed then not using him beyond S/T "meat" and drafting Matt Furstenberg and nary a mention since!

Now this year, resigning Trawick who has only been a S/T player!

Are we merely building a "Super" Special Teams unit or a whole football team?