Looking Ahead: Is Strong Safety a Dangerous Weakness?
- Thread starter Super Nomario
- Start date
As someone who has advocated this "use a CB as a safety" thing all summer long, I have to say...week one was not encouraging. Greg Bedard said today on Felger & Mazz (on 98.5 The Sports Hub, so no link) that Darrelle Revis lined up as the strong safety on a play or two.
As a fan, I have no idea what they are doing back there. Tavon Wilson looked shaky, Patrick Chung looked like Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon seems more like a FS than a SS to my (untrained) eye.
Is finding a two good safeties really this hard?
As a fan, I have no idea what they are doing back there. Tavon Wilson looked shaky, Patrick Chung looked like Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon seems more like a FS than a SS to my (untrained) eye.
Is finding a two good safeties really this hard?
Per PFF they gave hard-hitters Chung and Wilson 48 and 22 snaps respectively, while the rangier Harmon got just 5. That might have been gameplan-related, though. They may have wanted the run-stuffers to help combat Miami's ground game. I wouldn't be surprised if they mix-and-match much of the season, with Harmon getting more time against pass-heavy teams and Chung / Wilson against rush-heavy squads.soxfan121 said:
What about Browner? Are you convinced he's getting the CB position opposite Revis? As Collins appears to struggle against the run, I'm wondering if maybe the best option is Browner at Strong Safety with Collins dropping into coverage. Of course, a lot of it will be match-up driven, based on the size of the opponents' receivers and TE, but against teams like Miami, I think Browner makes the most sense back there.Super Nomario said:
Yeah, Browner is safety-sized but he's not safety-style. The knock on him is he's not good in zones or space; but he can use his size to disrupt and funnel routes and his speed/length to stay with a receiver.
I think it is more likely that every other CB on the roster plays safety before Browner does.
I think it is more likely that every other CB on the roster plays safety before Browner does.
This is something i've been thinking about for a while. Aren't we really talking about a position that is somewhat disappearing around the league anyway? More teams are using a LB that can cover or a Corner that can hit. That's basically what a SS is anyway, right? I think the fact that it's so difficult to find a good one is because in today's NFL the SS has to be a hybrid kind of player because of the difficult assignments that position draws. I think its getting to the point where we'll end up seeing a lot more one deep "Safety" with either a LB or a DB playing the extra position depending on the situation. Wesley Woodyard would have been a great addition as a SS.
While true, I don't think Bill would be taking full advantage of Revis if he wouldn't consider using Browner in this role. Part of the reason Revis is so valuable is that you don't need to be sending two safeties deep, as I believe Reiss reported we saw a fair amount against Miami, and you can afford to have a guy like Browner roaming around the box more often. If Bill is desperate enough to line up Joe Vellano along the DL, he's going to need a guy like Browner manning the box to help out the linebackers.Stitch01 said:
Ed, I think you're missing that Browner A.) has never done that in the NFL, B.) doesn't have the skill set to play in zones or off the LOS, and C.) isn't the best tackler among the CBs. Yes, he has SS size. And that's it. None of the other skills for the role are in Browner's tool box.
Ryan and Arrington are better choices, even though they lack ideal size. Both are stronger in zones and Arrington is terrific in run support and tackles very well for a CB.
Ryan and Arrington are better choices, even though they lack ideal size. Both are stronger in zones and Arrington is terrific in run support and tackles very well for a CB.
I could see situations this makes sense, like Browner playing the role Talib did against Jimmy Graham last year. For the most part, I think you want Browner on the outside. It's harder to press inside because slot receivers don't have to line up on the LOS and can be in motion prior to the snap. You don't want Browner trying to cover Welker-type receivers.Ed Hillel said:
Just use Browner at corner and let one of the corners play that robber/underneath role or live with the coverage limitations of Wilson. They played plenty of single high last year with worse personnel. Not going to do a lot of good do have Revis take away an outside guy while they get killed with underneath routes because they have Browner doing something he's bad at.Ed Hillel said: