[News] The Competition: Safeties

[BR News]

The Ravens signed Kendrick Lewis to be a starter. But who will be next to him?

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[sami]

This is a really young group with Kendrick Lewis being the "old man" of the group. I look for Lewis and Hill to be the starters unless Brooks comes on strong. Elam will have to show me he can tackle before I have all that much faith in him.

[MrRavenfan]

I have no faith in Elam yet, but I understand he was first round pick so he'll get ample opportunity. I still think Will Hill will run away with this. He played well last year so it should be his job to lose.

[mearzunkies]

Elam will benefit from some position stability. He has played all over and has not done very well.

[JetLife94]

This is my favorite battle heading into camp. I really hope they don't give Elam the starting job because he's a 1st round pick. I like will hill. Troubled but deserves a nice lil contract to keep him a raven after this year. Hill knows how to play in front of him to as Elam gets torched.

[balfan23]

Many think that Hill has a lock on the starting position. I assume that it is his job to lose, but I think the staff expects to see him work to keep it.

 

Regardless on who starts, it will be in the team's interest to get Elam enough reps to complete their evaluation (assuming he looks good enough in practice to warrant putting on the field). It is his last chance, so it would be nice to see him seize his final opportunity.

[ravens4life86]

Heres how I see it.. Kendrick Lewis is starter because they brought him in for that rrason. So unless he fails like a Michael Huff, he will be there. Then Will Hill will get then other starting job for the mean time. I say this because Terrance Brooks has the most upside of our young safeties and showed flashes but eventhough word is he is ahead of schedule he wont be back for the first month or so. He should get started time when he returns. Elam has the most to prove to the fans, the front office to himself, and Lavine is a do everything type role player.

[bioLarzen]

Sorry, but Elam has to step up big time to really make it a "battle" with Hill. Hill was evidently the better player last season - not even in the same league, so to say.

That said, I hope Elam will, indeed, step up and make it a real battle. The more real competition we have at any position, the better.

[Sami84]

Matt elam is not 5 ft 10 inch

Hes 5 ft 8inch

[Rasenshuriken84]

i don't really see this as much of a battle really, Lewis/Hill starting safety tandem. i know elam was a high draft pick but unless he fixes his tackling issues and some how relearns now to covers the battle with Hill is one sided.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I want Hill and Lewis to start. I wish Elam all the best but it's just a fact that Elam is going to be under a microscope any missed tackels or mess ups and it is going to look worse than if another player made the same exact mistake at least from most fans point of views.

[Darkraven23]

wow talk no support what so ever for a man thats know for his tackling prowess ive watched some of hill's games and they werent that great week 17 he got beat badly once by terrance west jumping over his tackle another by tailor gabriel on a short route plus he never comes across the formation at the right time besides the saints game even in the game against the pats it wasnt that good especially against gronk. Elam is young and trying to learn his position proficiently and it take time jimmy smith took 3yrs to be a starter so get off the man's back let him develop in peace

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

wow talk no support what so ever for a man thats know for his tackling prowess ive watched some of hill's games and they werent that great week 17 he got beat badly once by terrance west jumping over his tackle another by tailor gabriel on a short route plus he never comes across the formation at the right time besides the saints game even in the game against the pats it wasnt that good especially against gronk. Elam is young and trying to learn his position proficiently and it take time jimmy smith took 3yrs to be a starter so get off the man's back let him develop in peace

I think most people are on Elams side but his lack of tackling last season and blown plays means he is trying to catch -up with the rest of the guys. Hill played much better than Elam did in all aspects of the game. Just my opinion but the starters should be Lewis and Hill and Elam should hone his tackling skills on special teams.

[law215]

I hope Elam steps up but the all of the other safeties listed has played better to this point. I like Brooks and hope his games improves.

[Purple Dawg 96]

I like them all and wish them all the best! Wanted to see Matt And Terrace back there together but I like Will Hill as well! Got a good feeling about Kendrick, Trawick and Levine reppin big time as well so I will be satisfied with whomever back there because the Ravens were in a position to win it all and just threw it all away! If Torrey scored the TD against the pats it would have put too much pressure on the "BANGED UP" secondary to stop brady with a "MINUTE PLUS" remaining on the clock! Smh the secondary will be fine and stand tall! Bird Gang Stand Up! AWK

[Legendary Ravens]

Recently I just played a few games of Madden after a loooong layoff and Elam is incredible on the game. He's making plays all over the field..... It also feels strange playing for the first time without Ray Lewis... I cheated, I created him I can't let go yet LOL

[Fastynart]

Elam flat out stinks. How many more times are the Ravens going to put him on the field and watch him miss tackles, blow coverages, and give up touchdowns? How can they not see what we all see? Ridiculous that he is still on the team.

[hen826957]

We can't call Elam a bust just because he had one bad year. If he still have the same problem this year then maybe but I think Elam will improve big time this year and prove people wrong. He might not be a starter but he will contribute this year like on run situations along with brooks for passing situations as well. Year 3 will be big for his career this year.

[Nick04263]

As others have stated, I think the two top spots are determined baring some injury in training camp. Having said that I hope the best men make it on the field. We have a much better collection of talent than last year back there. We started with Elam and Stewart back there week one due to hill's suspension. I expect much better play this time around. I want Peyton surprised when he throws those mid-range passes (Don't know he can launch the down the field passes anymore).

[Nick04263]

hen826957, your comment is true. He did have a bad year last year but he wasn't lighting it up the year prior either. I think the problem is he is being given more chances to succeed than others because he is a 1st round investment. He admitted poor performance last year and has said this year would be different. My issue is he put together several bad performances in a row and had to know at the time it couldn't continue while it did, week after week. He has a lot to prove to the fans, his teammates, and the front office that showed faith in him. Will he even get the chance now? I think injuries will be the only way.

[huntrgathrr]

Are you guys even serious? Will Hill is a potential pro bowl safety. Elam is a back up now if he even makes the team. Brooks, Hill and Lewis are locks for the 53 man roster, the rest is up in the air.

[stampedehero]

Trawick and Hill at least have size as an asset.  Hill should be in second position and Trawick back to special teams.  I really do not care where Elam lands, perhaps PS (an expensive PS player) .  

[stampedehero]

This is a really young group with Kendrick Lewis being the "old man" of the group. I look for Lewis and Hill to be the starters unless Brooks comes on strong. Elam will have to show me he can tackle before I have all that much faith in him.

Sami....I agree. To be a Ravens safety a player must tackle and Elam could not correct his awlful routine for several games last season.  I think they should put Elam on PS and make him earn a backup position. 

[DrinkmoreBeer]

There is a question mark who starts -- Will Hill or Matt Elam? Surely, you jest.

[Arch Mage]

We know the off season is slow but that would seem to mean that an article like this might be filled with useful information, like "the Ravens like his speed..." Or "Trawick is being kept around because....." All I remember about him is injuring another Ravens player.

[RRRRRavens]

Matt elam is not 5 ft 10 inch Hes 5 ft 8inch

Official player roster website lists him as 5 ft 10 inches.  What other information do you have?

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster.html

[Nick04263]

Sami....I agree. To be a Ravens safety a player must tackle and Elam could not correct his awlful routine for several games last season.  I think they should put Elam on PS and make him earn a backup position. 

He probably doesn't see the PS simply because he is a 1st rounder and the front office doesn't seem quite ready to give up on him. However, I feel he should be inserted as a backup and play mainly on ST to practice his tackling and angles.

[757RavensFan]

Barring an injury, there's no way at all Elam starts over Hill. 

[MYTH420]

Is this a joke? Hill graded out as a top 10 safety (I think he was 8), and Elam graded out as the worst. There's no competition there, there's no battle. Now Lewis graded out as one of the worst Safeties last year, close to Elam. There would be a better competition between this two. But I agree, the Ravens are hoping Lewis seizes the job. A lot of players improve their game when they join the Ravens. But Hill is our best DB after J. Smith, there's no way he doesn't start.

[Ravens_Flock]

Here's hoping that Elam shuts everyone up, and takes his starting job. Play him at SS where he belongs, and not at FS or CB, and we'll see what cooks. Unlike some folks around here, I don't care about Hill one iota. I simply care that our secondary quit sucking.