Dean Marlowe, Trenton Robinson, Colin Jones, & Marcus Ball

[davos]

Those are our current safeties outside of Coleman and Boston.  Last year, we used (3) Harper, Coleman, and Boston for the bulk of our defensive snaps.  We had some nice looks with Coleman at SS and Boston at FS in the playoffs and at parts during the season.  Kurt is a strong type to have capable of playing either spot (as he's shown).  So, with Harper gone, is this going to primarily be a two man crew with Coleman at SS and Boston at FS, or could you see one of the other guys beginning to contribute on defensive snaps as a SS? 

-Dean Marlowe is a guy we got as a UDFA and was a surprise player that made our 53 last season.  Only played in like 4 games but has been mentioned here and there to have a good amount of upside and seems to obviously impressed our staff to make the 53 as a UDFA and still be here.  A 'yout at 23. 

-Trenton Robinson is that smaller safety we signed early this offseason; very little has been mentioned about him and I honestly forgot we signed him haha.  He was the captain of Michigan State as their FS with Kirk Cousins.  Has played both spots in the NFL, only 26.  He did grade poorly last season as a SS in DC but wasn't playing behind a front like ours. 

-Colin Jones has filler experience in our nickle packages, strong ST player and very fast.  He's been solid depth to have. 

-Marcus Ball...he's there somewhere.  Has dreads and knows how to rile up OBJ. 

-Oh...and Travell Dixon...he's a name listed on the roster page. 

 

Just to note: There's virtually no UFA safeties worth a damn.  Maybe Bacarri Rambo but not much outside of ex-Falcons/Lions types so let's refrain from "sign blah blah" talk.  Yes, bla blah had two good seasons back in the early 2000s and is probably better off on his beet farm in Arkansas.  

So how do you see this rolling out?  Anyone with decent info (Zod?) have any word on what we may look at package wise? 

 

-Onion Knight

[Ivan The Awesome]

Didn't we pick up more safeties? So these are our back ups? Marlowe and Jones are fine. The other two I'm not sure about. If Boston or Coleman go down though.  :/ not looking good. This area is concerning. Marlowe doesn't have enough experience along with ball and Robinson. Jones does but he's hit or miss on the field. This is concerning. 

[davos]

9 minutes ago, Ivan The Awesome said:

Didn't we pick up more safeties? So these are our back ups? Marlowe and Jones are fine. The other two I'm not sure about. If Boston or Coleman go down though.  :/ not looking good. This area is concerning. Marlowe doesn't have enough experience along with ball and Robinson. Jones does but he's hit or miss on the field. This is concerning. 

I'm in agreement.  Outside the offensive trenches, safety is the spot I'm slightly worried both depth and role wise.  If Boston becomes a full time starting FS then sweet but I think that's the better position for both him and Coleman (Though Coleman is good at SS as well per last year; just would like a guy better in run support/more consistent) 

The thing is though with our front 7, maybe a stout SS against the run isn't as important? I dunno but the depth/expected roles is very interesting at safety.   

 

[SmashNDash]

They seemed to see a lot in Marlowe, I wouldn't be surprised to see him be that third, heavy rotation guy.   Also, I can see us picking up a vet during cuts in August.

[davos]

2 minutes ago, SmashNDash said:

They seemed to see a lot in Marlowe, I wouldn't be surprised to see him be that third, heavy rotation guy.   Also, I can see us picking up a vet during cuts in August.

Yeah once cuts roll along that's another story.  The market right now/for camp however is light so I'd like to hope someone steps up.

Who knows, maybe there will be a little Marlowe train coming to the boards this summer.  I find this as interesting as the battle for the 4th/5th receiver spots.   

[KB_fan]

Agree that our depth at safety seems a bit thin.... but hoping Boston & Marlowe ball out.  Only problem is that as I understand it Coleman, Boston & Marlowe are all most naturally suited for FS.  Not sure how hard it would be for one to transition to SS??

[KillerKat]

I'd like Rambo

[davos]

8 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Agree that our depth at safety seems a bit thin.... but hoping Boston & Marlowe ball out.  Only problem is that as I understand it Coleman, Boston & Marlowe are all most naturally suited for FS.  Not sure how hard it would be for one to transition to SS??

Coleman played a lot of snaps at SS last year.  Kurt and Boston have both been considered tweeners capable of both.  I guess the question is maybe transitioning to a full-time SS spot since they seem more suited for FS if you had to choose.  Good at keeping the play in front of them, acting as a center fielder, and ballhawking.

[The_Rainmaker]

IMO Boston can play SS with coverage ability of a FS, he had some big hits against AZ , and Seattle game 

[ColumbusCounty]

Love Marlowe...Love his upside.  He'll "tag your fanny"

Many people (along with myself) aren't too comfty with the thought of Boston starting.

Maybe with another NFL offseason of conditioning & training he'll be ready to step up. He's much faster and better in coverage than Harper...  if he can get his run support up, we should be ok. That's not even taking into consideration upfront pressure. 

Depth is a concern but Marlowe should shine if the opportunity is there. What scares me is the idea of possibly 2 rookie corners starting(if bene is not ready) infront of the said safety combo.

 A wise man once said, "Sometimes the answer is already on the roster"...

[the_philosopher]

As long as I don't have to see Harper standing flat-footed in front of a ball carrier, I'll be fine with any of these guys. 

[CWORS]

I have a feeling DG might be waiting until post June 1st cuts to add safety depth. Because I really don't see any of these guys making an impact.

[ShutDwn]

Someone enlighten me on how Tre is such an untrustable player.

 

Not hyperbole like "he missed a tackle", give me proof that when he plays the defense isn't the same. 

[Soul Rebel]

3 minutes ago, ShutDwn said:

Someone enlighten me on how Tre is such an untrustable player.

 

Not hyperbole like "he missed a tackle", give me proof that when he plays the defense isn't the same. 

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, I like Boston as a rotational guy.  As a starting calibre safety that we are to rely on for 16 games as Coleman's partner-in-crime, I'm hesitant.  That's not to say Boston can't be 'that guy', but as of now, he hasn't been consistent enough for me.  IMO, he's somewhere between Godfrey and Mitchell.  Not as bad as Godfrey's bad times, but not as consistently good as Mitchell's.  

I too think we add a vet that gets let go this summer.  Nothing appeals to me on the FA market currently, but I could see a camp casualty or two that DG goes after. I think he would prefer another vet presence on that backend to help the youngsters in front of them.

Marlowe is a guy I'd like to see more of and could be talented enough to stick, but haven't seen enough of him yet.