Ebony Bird
FanSided

Analyzing Baltimore Ravens safeties post Earl Thomas release

By Chris Schisler

CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 10: Chuck Clark #36 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 10: Chuck Clark #36 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: DeShon Elliott #32 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Jarvis Landry #80 of the Cleveland Browns in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: DeShon Elliott #32 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Jarvis Landry #80 of the Cleveland Browns in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Weaknesses:

The concerns almost write themselves. The Ravens just released a seven time Pro Bowl safety. In two years with the Ravens, Elliott has played in just six games.  Elliott’s injury history is a major concern. The Ravens are not going into the season with the starting secondary that they expected. They probably need to make at least one roster move now, to keep the defense fully stocked in the secondary.

This isn’t Plan A and while it may prove to be addition by subtraction the Ravens defense now has a lot of proving to do. Instead of walking into the season with a non debatable best secondary in the NFL, the Ravens have a major void to fill. On a side note, the fact that the Ravens are willing to take the hit both financially and from the football side, shows you that they had no choice. Cutting Thomas was the only decision they could make.

Inexperience is a huge issue here. Clark is a player the Ravens feel comfortable with however he’s only going into his first full season as a starter. Levine Sr. is the only truly experienced player at safety and he’s not a natural middle of the field deep safety. The Ravens may have to go by a free safety by committee approach which isn’t exactly orthodox.

With one of the most creative defensive coordinators in the NFL, this could work. The thing is though, that with less than a month till the season opener, the Ravens probably don’t have everything figured out. Inexperience and uncertainty is a theme here. It may be an overblown concern but it’s one that stares right at you when you look at this depth chart.

Next. 4 best replacements for Earl Thomas. dark

The Ravens don’t have a player at Thomas’s level They are losing a player who took away a lot of big plays down the field. Even if Elliott works out it could easily be a downgrade. Thomas is arguably in line for a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Ravens may have cut ties with him because the headaches weren’t worth it, however Thomas was incredibly talented. He was also the most different player the Ravens had. The Ravens don’t have a true middle of the field free safety That’s going to take an adjustment.

Home/Ravens News