[News] Lardarius Webb: I'm A Free Safety Now

[law215]

Looks like Terrence Brooks and Matt Elam officially have no shot at becoming starters for us now since I don't see us benching Webb or Hill, plus who knows if we keep Lewis. Sucks to waste so much potential from those two players. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see how either of them have any chance now. Guessing we won't be spending a high draft pick on a safety now also.

I think this is a good point you made. I think Elam is just a miss , but Brooks have all the physical attributes and is a big hitter. Yes he made mistake but that every guy in that secondary. He should be given the opportunity to compete and not hand it to Webb to justify the big contract he has.

[HardKnocks]

Webb bleeds purple, he's willing to be a safety for Baltimore when he could be a corner for someone else, takes pay cut and find every way to remain a Raven. It doesn't get any more loyal than that.

[spitfire418]

I think this is a good point you made. I think Elam is just a miss , but Brooks have all the physical attributes and is a big hitter. Yes he made mistake but that every guy in that secondary. He should be given the opportunity to compete and not hand it to Webb to justify the big contract he has.

Exactly. I don't know why, but everyone exaggerates on Brooks' mistakes that he's made, which is only like 3 in his 2 years. Some people act like only he makes mistakes and nobody else in the secondary does. Our whole secondary this season made multiple mistakes in every single game. And that goes for every team. Mistakes happen. It's football. If there were no mistakes on defense then how would there be an offense in the NFL. Think about that. I think Webb will get the starting spot just because he's Webb, kind of like how Kendrick Lewis was a vet, just got signed, and counted against our comp picks which made him a starter. I say we try Webb at FS and if he does well, then great, but if he plays bad then we give a fair chance to someone like Brooks.

[stixfix69]

Because of Brooks speed they had him play the slot in a few games when we ran out of CB's...He did okay, but was coming off a injury.... I would be interested to see, since the back end looks to be getting crowded, if they work him at slot next year....

[rmcjacket23]

Looking more and more like we'll take VH3 or Ramsey if one of them makes it to us

Way too early to tell. If KO walks in FA, LT is arguably the biggest need on this team. 

 

If we resign him, there's still plenty of other positions we could target. An additional pass rusher is certainly needed, and its even possible that if a Treadwell falls to us, we take another WR. 

 

There's a good at least 5 positions I can easily see us taking with our first pick, and we probably won't even be able to start reducing that number down for at least another month or two.

 

Heck, for all we know, we may trade the pick and get more picks.

[purpledown]

Barring injury Webb will be the starting free safety in '16.

[20306cab]

Webb should be the full time PR. He was the best they've had since Lewis, and he didn't get hurt doing that.

[Crusader]

Like you had a choice Webb.

[Halshayeji]

Now that it's official Kendrick Lewis is likely looking for his fourth team. He was here primarily because we were broke and he was cheap. I think Webb will flourish once his ego heals. OTOH I don't think anyone will ask him to take another pay cut. A restructure maybe, but there's no way he reduces his pay a second time voluntarily.

Why would we get rid of Lewis? He's not starter material but still is great value for money. Hes a good experienced vet that can play backup to an injury prone webb (who I love btw) until Brooks proves he's ready.

This moves closes the door shut on FS and SS but opens 2 doors at the CB position. As things stand, we have J.smith who is still one of the best CBs in the game but no one to line up on the other side and no one at nickle.

Not a perfect scenario but at least we finally seem like we have a plan. Oh and just straight up just cut Arrington! Never has been started material and never will be able to hold up against starting NFL WRs

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Just go get em' Webby!!!! I like it guy can still cover when needed.

[EdBallhawkReed20]

Matt Elam's career was Harbaugh's fault. Elam voiced he did not like playing SS when he got here. When he played FS he was exactly as advertised. I remember those reports. I feel as though however overall this is a conflict of interest. I think if given an opportunity at the position he was drafted for FS and not SS. He would be fine. His mistakes came when he played CB as well. Terrence Brooks I agree with the idea about his mistakes also think he would be a great FS. Ladarius Webb can also be great at the position if he learns how to adjust. Get rid of Kendrick Lewis no brainer should not have gotten a 5 year deal.

[rmcjacket23]

Matt Elam's career was Harbaugh's fault. Elam voiced he did not like playing SS when he got here. When he played FS he was exactly as advertised. I remember those reports. I feel as though however overall this is a conflict of interest. I think if given an opportunity at the position he was drafted for FS and not SS. He would be fine. His mistakes came when he played CB as well. Terrence Brooks I agree with the idea about his mistakes also think he would be a great FS. Ladarius Webb can also be great at the position if he learns how to adjust. Get rid of Kendrick Lewis no brainer should not have gotten a 5 year deal.

Think you that backwards. He played primarily SS in college and it was what he profiled as in the pros coming out of college.

He was forced to play FS in year one, and I'd point out the fact that he was the FS after being beaten out by Ihedigbo for the SS job in camp. He became FS because Huff was so terrible.

Huff has pretty much no attributes you look for in a FS, and he's struggled consistently with tackling. If you can't tackle, it doesn't matter what position you play, because you can't play.

Edited January 6, 2016 by rmcjacket23

[Tank 92]

Webb bleeds purple, he's willing to be a safety for Baltimore when he could be a corner for someone else, takes pay cut and find every way to remain a Raven. It doesn't get any more loyal than that.

 

 

Like you had a choice Webb.

[Will's Hill]

You don't like Will Hill at SS?

he better lol

[Will's Hill]

How exactly did Hill fail this year? lol. Lewis improved but I can see that. Elam is still not all the way over yet. Trawick and Levine are key contributors in special teams and do you see the size of Trawick haha. Brooks has not had a fair shot and Webb did good for being tossed in at FS.

Ravens need to just swallow their pride and admit they miss at safety. Hill, Lewis, Elam, Trawick, Levine, Brooks, and now the Webb experiment. How many saftety they want on the roster that can't make an impact. Webb has 2 bum knees putting him in space where he will have to tackle TEs and come up for run support at 186lbs. He will be injured by week 4. Webb is done. Trade or cut him. The secondary is a mess just own it.

[CapoRocky]

With all the injuries, the linebackers were the ones that looked the weakest in coverage. The secondary seemed to get it together over the last month of the season.

[GENE2407]

Seriously this is ridiculous. Just cut the man already. He's done. He misses every training camp. Misses every practice. There's no way in the world you can pay this guy anywhere near the money he makes and restructuring is simply delaying the inevitable. You cut him and take the hit. We're not in contention this year and it's time to get rid of these contracts. He was a player for a while but his body is simply not going to be able to continue.

[bmoraven]

Smart player, good leader. Makes a better defensive QB than any other option in the secondary.

[rmcjacket23]

Seriously this is ridiculous. Just cut the man already. He's done. He misses every training camp. Misses every practice. There's no way in the world you can pay this guy anywhere near the money he makes and restructuring is simply delaying the inevitable. You cut him and take the hit. We're not in contention this year and it's time to get rid of these contracts. He was a player for a while but his body is simply not going to be able to continue.

Problem is...gonna be extremely difficult to find a better player to replace him for the $3.5M in savings you get from cutting him.

Hard to see how cutting him makes this team better at this point. That could change after the draft, but right now, I don't see a valid argument for it.

[throwback2000]

Webb, sorry to say, you may be a "free agent", come March!

[cobrajet]

I can't remember, do they practice on grass at the castle?  If so, I would think they would want consistency and have the practice and game field the same. 

The outside field is grass and the inside field is turf. Webb said in an article that he can really tell the difference between the two fields. He said that he asked about the number of injuries on both surfaces and he was told that there were more injuries on the turf. I guess it would be hard to put grass on the inside field, but it should help us playing 8 more regular season games on grass and two preseason games at home as opposed to turf and I assume they practice at M&T sometimes and have their pregame warm-ups on it. That could save a knee or two during a season and maybe an achilles.....you never know. According to the article I read, less injuries occur on real grass and this team needs all the help it can get when it comes to injuries lately.

[riseNConquer81]

good decision.

We need help back there

he plays in the slot all the time anyway

Safety coverage will be be less demanding on his body

after so many years of fans trying to put him at safety, that move finally makes sense now

[riseNConquer81]

Seriously this is ridiculous. Just cut the man already. He's done. He misses every training camp. Misses every practice. There's no way in the world you can pay this guy anywhere near the money he makes and restructuring is simply delaying the inevitable. You cut him and take the hit. We're not in contention this year and it's time to get rid of these contracts. He was a player for a while but his body is simply not going to be able to continue.

for what?

and he's only making $5M next year.

[cobrajet]

Maybe I am biased because I am extremely fond of Webb. The guy worked hard to come back from injury and he does wonderful things in the community. I understand it is a business and people see his salary and our cap space, but I am really hoping he can be a great safety for the Baltimore Ravens. I guess everyone has their favorite player and Webb is my guy. I just want the best for the guy and if it is as a safety then I hope the switch comes natural to him and he can be a playmaker. I would love to see his name in the Ring of Honor some day!

[RavensDieHard21]

I love webby.i wish he never got hurt in 2012 and onward because for anyone that forgot, 2010 through 2012, webby was a lock down corner who made plays on the ball. He's still very good, but injuries have set him back and his ability to stick as tightly to WR has slipped. The positive thing is his football IQ is high and he has good instincts. I truly believe that with him at FS and Hill at SS, in addition to Jimmy returning to lock down corner status, we are one good draft away from a solid secondary. Just look at KC this year with their rookies. Peters is lock down and easily the runaway 2015 DPOY, hopefully we double down and get a pair of corners early. If Ramsey is gone take HG3, unless a freak like Bosa slides, and taking King in the second would be great because he is like Jimmy, ultra aggressive, yet not a burner, but still makes plays. We will see very soon

[gekaap]

I laugh at all the people belly aching about this. I think Webb always saw safety as more of his home base position than CB. I even remember the team experimentally lining him up at safety a few times in his rookie year. I think he always saw himself migrating back to safety at some point in his career.

Webb is a very good player. Yes, he has durability problems. But cut him? No way! Take dead money to end up with less total talent in the secondary? What would be the point? This is a very good move for both Webb and the team. Webb will perform better there. And he'll perform better than any alternatives we have. What does anyone here care how much he's being paid? We're out from under the Ray Rice dead money death sentence, so this won't create a cap issue. So unless you're name is Steve Biscotti, there's no reason to give a hoot about Webb's paycheck.

[MTRavensFan]

Maybe I am biased because I am extremely fond of Webb. The guy worked hard to come back from injury and he does wonderful things in the community. I understand it is a business and people see his salary and our cap space, but I am really hoping he can be a great safety for the Baltimore Ravens. I guess everyone has their favorite player and Webb is my guy. I just want the best for the guy and if it is as a safety then I hope the switch comes natural to him and he can be a playmaker. I would love to see his name in the Ring of Honor some day!

I agree, cobra.

Webb has also done some contract restructuring to help out the team when it was needed. Loyal, blue collar guy, and a great role model for the younger players.  I think the team wants to keep him around, at least I sure hope so.

[thieverycorporation]

I hope Webb stays as long as he can play the position extremely better then any other acquisition. I'd keep him as a safety valve with a reduced rep role. The Ravens could restructure his contract and pay him via signing bonus the true cost/length of the next contract and both could benefit. Cap savings is Cage savings, Restructure. Early buy outs happen all the time. It doesn't have to be acrimonious but a mutual parting of the ways. No way should they use sentimental value as your jump off point. Leverage = F/O.

Fans complain yearly about over valuing said player and this a prime candidate. 

[Crusader]

Webb missed almost 2 1\2 years of his contract of course he restructured. If he didn't he would have been gone. Well most teams anyway. Ravens gave another broke horse a big contract that is now second to Joe. Somebody at the castle has lost their mind.

[smiley4660]

That's fine provided Webb reacquaints himself with good tackling technique. When Webb first arrived in Baltimore I noted what a pure tackler he was. Now, after some injuries, he's got no where near the form he once had. Granted, tackling is a lost art.