Signing Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander gives the Baltimore Ravens room to be more flexible with other personnel in their secondary, including an eight-year NFL veteran who can move from corner to safety in a position-less defensive backfield.
It’s an idea discussed by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. He focused on what Alexander’s arrival will mean for All-Pro Marlon Humphrey, and by extension, what that could mean for Chidobe Awuzie.
The latter also joined the Ravens in free agency this offseason after stints with the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans. Zrebiec believes the new pecking order in Baltimore will now involve former Green Bay Packers stud Alexander pairing with 2024 NFL draft first-round pick Nate Wiggins on the perimeter, freeing the Ravens to rely “heavily on Humphrey in the slot, a role he has grown more comfortable in over the years.”
This dynamic would change Auwzie’s job assignment. The 30-year-old “would then move into the No. 4 cornerback role and possibly even be used some at safety.”
Zrebiec pointed out how the Ravens need creative solutions at safety after last season’s breakout performer Ar’Darius Washington tore his Achilles in March. Fortunately for defensive coordinator Zach Orr, there are other flexible DBs on the roster who could join Awuzie in moonlighting some at the safety spots.
Roles Changing in Ravens Secondary
Washington’s likely absence has thrown a key part of the Ravens’ defense into a state of flux. Coaches had been using his versatility in creative ways, making replacing Washington a difficult task.
So far, a pair of unheralded thumpers have been battling for more reps, but neither would offer the same range in coverage as Washington. That would take the corner-type skills of somebody like Awuzie.
He’s proved effective in single and press-based coverage over the years, but Awuzie can also operate in space in the deep third of the field the way a safety should. An example of sorts came from this play against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, highlighted by Bengals Talk writer mike, showing Awuzie, at the bottom of the screen, bailing into a three-deep look.
This part of Awuzie’s skill-set should appeal to the Ravens, given how often they played two-deep safety looks and disguised coverage with Washington and All-Pro Kyle Hamilton last season.
That schematic wrinkle is why Orr and his staff are likely to put a cornerback at safety, and there’s a younger candidate than Awuzie for the role.
Ravens Have Other Safety Conversion Candidates
As Zrebiec detailed, “the Ravens have also had a few cornerbacks, including (Jalyn) Armour-Davis, take snaps at safety during the offseason practices to increase overall versatility.”
Orr has talked up 2022 fourth-round pick Jalyn Armour-Davis “getting a look at safety” and the former Alabama cornerback’s ability to “pick up the position,” per PressBox reporter Bo Smolka.
Finding a viable and flexible third safety to complement Hamilton and this year’s first-rounder Malaki Starks is crucial for what Zrebiec calls “a position-less defense.”
Alexander will help keep things fluid after his complicated split from the Packers, but Awuzie can be another key part of a changing picture on the back end.
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