Rebuilding the secondary Who do you want to see stay and Who do you want to see leave?

[Alaska Alaska!]

When you see players like CJ, B-Williams, and TJ... you realize that this Bmore DEF is gonna be sick in the future. Like...monstrously good. To know that Jimmy is gonna be a part of that is beyond ecstatic for me! 

[GrimCoconut]

That's true. The celebration of this signing is about securing him for the future and knowing we won't be dealing with a nail biting event next post season, trying to see if we can keep him. 

 

This year's secondary really comes down to Jimmy's health and Webb's health and ability to bounce back. Hopefully Lewis will be a solid contributor and some of the guys we brought in last year can improve. Perhaps even add a little young talent in the draft and there is reason for some cautious optimism. 

Let's just look at the Ravens from the playoffs of last season to the projected starting lineup this year.

 

CB - Injured, still rehabbing, L.Webb vs a potentially healthy Webb

CB - undrafted free agent with no experience R.Melvin vs J.Smith

SS - Matt Elam/Jeromy Miles vs Kendrick Lewis

FS - Will Hill vs Will Hill 

 

Let's be flat out honest.  If we played the Pats with Jimmy and Kendrick over Melvin and Elam/Miles, we'd have most likely won and probably beaten Indy also.  Keeping the good players isn't always a bad thing.  Getting players healthy is always better than playing with your 3rd stringers at starter.  Look at the 2012 playoffs vs the 2012 regular season after week 8.  It was definitely nice getting those injured players back.  Even though they didn't dominate, they played better than their backups

You know, I understand why you guys responded like this and it's probably my fault. I didn't explain myself fully, figuring and assuming that it was implied but I'll just spell it out for people in case there's any confusion: I'm not down on this secondary at all. Since last year, I felt like we needed depth and a better starter at the FS position. I'm hoping Brooks is that guy, but you can never truly be sure with any draft pick and he hasn't yet settled my concerns. Lewis, well, I'm a fan of the addition and I hope he can be that FS for us. I actually feel/hope that Tramain Jacobs can become a more important player, and I'm optimistic on the future of Asa Jackson with Jimmy Smith and Webb as full-time starters. I think those three are likely the day-1 starters unless we get someone who just adapts and learns quickly and is immediately ready to contribute in the NFL, which is possible but rare at CB. 

 

I really meant to say that there's nothing new with this team since we added Lewis. This implies that I felt like the secondary was good after we added Lewis, and yet I don't recall people being generally this optimistic about the secondary as they are now after we signed Lewis but now that we re-signed/extended Jimmy, everyone is talking up this secondary. It's almost like we signed a new player, of which I found a little amusing but I get it, believe me. As a fan of Jimmy Smith since before day 1, in the draft process up until we took him, hanging with him through everything and all the criticism people unfairly threw his way, I stuck by him so I am beyond thrilled we retained him. I already know how good this team would've been if we had Jimmy in the playoffs. 

 

I hope that makes it a bit clearer for some of you who didn't read between my poorly-illustrated lines. 

[PurpleCity5]

Remember, our safeties were the worst duo in the league at the start of the season. Our safeties, not CBs were the main problem at the start of the season. When our safety play improved, the CB group went down. Now with a better safety duo and hopefully healthy CB group, this secondary will improve. With this DLine, you could see a top 5 defense. Call it bold if you want.

Man, I can't wait to see Jimmy and Will.

[redrum52]

Nothing has changed with our secondary except Jimmy is now a long time fixture. Lol. This is the same secondary we had last year. I'm not trying to be a Debbie downer here. On the contrary, I agree that it's a good secondary on paper that still needs work. I just find it funny that people are acting like our secondary just improved when all we did was extend a guy who would've played on the team this year regardless. I'm a huge fan of Jimmy, just saying.

Healthy Jimmy.

Webb was regaining form down the stretch.

Melvin isn't a starter and we should actually have all the starters on the field at the same time this season. Hill was suspended and Webb missed games early. We never got to see all the pieces together at the same time. Even at the end, people were throwing away from Webb's side of the field and going at practice squad player 1 or 2. Last year's defense would've been dominant if not for injuries, I think.

Have faith....

As long as guys stay healthy.

[balfan23]

You know, I understand why you guys responded like this and it's probably my fault. I didn't explain myself fully, figuring and assuming that it was implied but I'll just spell it out for people in case there's any confusion: I'm not down on this secondary at all. Since last year, I felt like we needed depth and a better starter at the FS position. I'm hoping Brooks is that guy, but you can never truly be sure with any draft pick and he hasn't yet settled my concerns. Lewis, well, I'm a fan of the addition and I hope he can be that FS for us. I actually feel/hope that Tramain Jacobs can become a more important player, and I'm optimistic on the future of Asa Jackson with Jimmy Smith and Webb as full-time starters. I think those three are likely the day-1 starters unless we get someone who just adapts and learns quickly and is immediately ready to contribute in the NFL, which is possible but rare at CB. 

 

I really meant to say that there's nothing new with this team since we added Lewis. This implies that I felt like the secondary was good after we added Lewis, and yet I don't recall people being generally this optimistic about the secondary as they are now after we signed Lewis but now that we re-signed/extended Jimmy, everyone is talking up this secondary. It's almost like we signed a new player, of which I found a little amusing but I get it, believe me. As a fan of Jimmy Smith since before day 1, in the draft process up until we took him, hanging with him through everything and all the criticism people unfairly threw his way, I stuck by him so I am beyond thrilled we retained him. I already know how good this team would've been if we had Jimmy in the playoffs. 

 

I hope that makes it a bit clearer for some of you who didn't read between my poorly-illustrated lines. 

Its cool. I was agreeing with you, by saying that the euphoria around this signing should really be about the fact that we won't have to agonize at the end of next season as to whether the only way to keep him would be to franchise him. It has nothing to do with suddenly thinking the 2015 secondary is now unstoppable. 

 

I had a fear that Jimmy might roll the dice and bet on himself - go out, get recognized as being a top 5 CB in this league and command a 5 yr/65M contract. We've tied him up and don't have to worry about him being FA at the end of the year and got him at tier 2 CB price. In that way, this is really great news ... with the oft stated caveat that doesn't need repeating. 

[bertopr]

I always felt that we had a gem of a CB yes a CB in Brooks. It sucked to see him go down on ST. I never agree with coach when he puts high drafted players with pretty large contracts on ST. Especially when we run with 7 safeties 4 being undrafted smh.