With all of the attention in Baltimore on the tackle and wide receiver positions, it’s easy to forget how different their secondary is going to look compared to the group that played in last year’s playoff loss to Pittsburgh.
Gone are starters Josh Wilson and Dawan Landry. It appears that Tom Zbikowski will take over Landry’s old starting job at safety.
Much more interesting: Baltimore’s youth movement at cornerback.
Cary Williams is expected to start at one cornerback spot. The fourth-year player has one career start in 2009. It looks like rookie Jimmy Smith will probably start at the other cornerback spot, according to both Baltimore area newspapers.
That would leave Chris Carr as a nickel defender and Domonique Foxworth as an expensive insurance policy as he tries to get healthy. Lardarius Webb is also in the mix.
All of the above is subject to chance, but there’s no denying the Ravens are making an interesting gamble by getting younger and faster through the roster. The same is true at wide receiver and tight end.
We think the youth movement will pay off in the long run, but it could lead to some growing pains early in the year.