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Is Marlon Humphrey better suited on the outside or in the slot?

By Joe Schiller

Jun 13, 2017; Ownings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (29) walks off the field after practice during the first day of minicamp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Ownings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (29) walks off the field after practice during the first day of minicamp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports /
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Where is first round pick Marlon Humphrey better suited for the Ravens, on the outside or in the slot?

The Baltimore Ravens drafted cornerback Marlon Humphrey with high expectations in the first round of the NFL draft. The pick was kind of a surprise to a lot of experts, but with the top three wide receivers gone, cornerback was another big need.

Cornerback was been an injury that’s plagued the Ravens for seasons. They always deal with a number of injuries at the position. Last season it was Jimmy Smith’s ankle and now it’s Tavon Young’s knee.

With Young out, does this open the door for Humphrey? If so, does he suit better in the slot or on the outside?

When you watch Marlon Humphrey play, the first thing that screams at you is his physicality. Right off the line he is not afraid to be physical with the receiver he’s covering

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If you watch Alabama’s NCAA playoff semifinal against Washington, you see Humphrey matched up on John Ross most of the game. Humphrey locked him down most of the game and Ross was held to just 28 receiving yards. Ross caught for over 1,000 yards last season and was a top-10 pick in this year’s draft. He’s not just your average receiver.

It’s not just the physicality in the pass game, Humphrey pursues the run unlike a lot of cornerback. He’s a very good tackler who wants to go and hit the ball carrier.

Better suited on the outside

As long as Jimmy Smith is healthy, he will be the #1 corner. I think Brandon Carr will be the #2 corner given his experience. This leaves Boykin to work in the slot, which is why the Ravens brought him in after Young’s injury. Lardarius Webb could even work in the nickel package now that he is not a starter at safety. He’s got a ton of experience at corner.

There’s no reason to rush Humphrey in to a starting role right away. The injury to Young hurt’s, but the Ravens added depth this offseason to combat these kind of injuries. This depth allows Humphrey to work in behind Jimmy Smith on the outside. I believe that’s where he’s better suited.

His size and physicality allows him to matchup with bigger receivers that guys like Tavon Young can’t. The Ravens had this problem last season when Jimmy Smith went out. Shareece Wright, Young and Jerraud Powers could not cover the likes of Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham.

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As defensive coordinator Dean Pees put it, letting Humphrey focus on one spot at corner is the best way to go. There’s no need for him to switch 50/50 playing back and forth from the outside to the slot. Having Smith and Carr allow Humphrey to get the much needed experience behind them. They are two veterans that he will be able to learn a lot from.

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