Corey Graham is auditioning, and it's going well so far...

**leachisabeast** · 11-28-2012, 05:38 AM

I don't want to jinx it or anything (although I am the reason that Kruger is now officially getting sacks every week because of my thread a few weeks back LOL...).

Being serious though, Corey has done an outstanding job so far filling in for Jimmy Smith, infact, he's outplayed Jimmy too. Even when Jimmy returns, I doubt he'll get a starting place in the team back until next season. While I wasn't getting my hopes up after Corey abused Bryon Leftwich, he was pretty much flawless against Philip Rivers and matched up well against their decent and big receivers. Despite having a bad year so far, Rivers is still no joke, look what he did to our corners last year.

Cary Williams will be almost impossible to retain next year, and maybe that's a blessing in disguise if we don't resign him, because he is going to cost us 5 million a year or more. If Corey can carry on playing at this level, we may as well say good bye to Cary, and hope that Webb comes back strong from his ACL, and let Corey compete with Jimmy Smith next season for the number 2 Corner position. We will probably need to draft another corner or sign a solid player just to be safe, however, Chykie Brown also had a good game on Sunday in the slot, and we have Chris Johnson who looked good against the Steelers. Asa Jackson is also someone to look out for.

**Filmstudy** · 11-28-2012, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Chykie Brown also had a good game on Sunday in the slot, and we have Chris Johnson who looked good against the Steelers. Asa Jackson is also someone to look out for.

Completely agree with your premise, Leach. Graham has been outstanding. He plays outside and slot well in the nickel.

A minor note that could be a positive for the Ravens. Brown plays exclusively on the outside (as of now) in the nickel and he was targeted just once for a 5-yard completion on Sunday. That's Danny Gorrer's 2011 responsibility (backup corner, not initially slated to play at all becomes full-time LCB in the nickel) and against Rivers, that's a terrific result.

**Random Thoughts** · 11-28-2012, 06:47 AM

Great insight, Leach.

I would be a little wary of Graham based on our history at the position at of late. I think that our situational acquired corners typically do a good job when stepping up for a starter (Fabian Washington, Chris Carr, Frank I-Shall-Not-Say-His-Name, etc.). When those corners were pressed into a regular starting position, they ended up disappointing us.

One could make the same argument for Cary Williams or Foxworth (granted, Foxworth was never a situational corner for us, am I correct?).

I think the Ravens' drafted corners usually do better in long-term than those acquired corners.

**Bufflehead** · 11-28-2012, 06:48 AM

I hope so Leach.

Still AMAZED by your Kruger timing and this one seems an easier bet.

**saintmatthew** · 11-28-2012, 07:36 AM

Jimmy had surgery so when he comes back I can see them easing him back in on the nickle which will put less pressure on him.

**Justlovemybirds** · 11-28-2012, 07:58 AM

Its really amazing to see Graham has stepped up when forced into this role. There were times Sunday where Rivers just sat in the pocket and had NOBODY open, earlier in the season those would have been long completions but not so much now.

**Tyrian** · 11-28-2012, 08:06 AM

If Graham stands up like Kruger did, can your next thread be about Flacco and how he is about to annihilate everyone's secondary?

**GOTA** · 11-28-2012, 08:06 AM

This is what Graham did for the Bears whenever given the chance. He's a balls to the wall kind of player. I love physical corners and they don't come tougher than Corey Graham.

**Bazooka Joe** · 11-28-2012, 08:17 AM

Yeah but Kruger has priced himself out of town. Thanks Leach. Lol

**JustaslowZ06** · 11-28-2012, 08:51 AM

We'll prob pick up another corner in the draft, but going forwar without CWill isn't going to make me lose any sleep. Still want to see Asa get some playing time.

**Ravenboy2003** · 11-28-2012, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Bazooka Joe

Yeah but Kruger has priced himself out of town. Thanks Leach. Lol

Huh? Two good games and he is due a big ass contract? i don't think so...

**leachisabeast** · 11-28-2012, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenboy2003

Huh? Two good games and he is due a big ass contract? i don't think so...

Three games actually. If you count the raiders game, he had an. Int and 2 sacks in that one.

**wickedsolo** · 11-28-2012, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by GOTA

This is what Graham did for the Bears whenever given the chance. He's a balls to the wall kind of player. I love physical corners and they don't come tougher than Corey Graham.

Agreed. He wasnt a good fit for their D, but when he did get on the field he was always a good player.

Folks underestimate how important it is to have corners who can actually tackle.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Forum Runner

**steelerhater** · 11-28-2012, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by saintmatthew

Jimmy had surgery so when he comes back I can see them easing him back in on the nickle which will put less pressure on him.

So far Graham seems like a steal. I don't see the Ravens easing Jimmy smith back into anything. Nobody wants to see him chasing down receivers that blew past him. Graham is a legit corner, not a first round bust like Smith.

**bacchys** · 11-28-2012, 09:22 PM

It's too early to call Smith a bust. Like receivers, it can take 3 years for a corner to get the hang of the NFL.

**JustaslowZ06** · 11-28-2012, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by steelerhater

So far Graham seems like a steal. I don't see the Ravens easing Jimmy smith back into anything. Nobody wants to see him chasing down receivers that blew past him. Graham is a legit corner, not a first round bust like Smith.

Wow you really don't watch much football do you? Smith is far from a bust. Is he Nmandi or Revis or even our fav cAllister? Nope, and prob never will be. But corners need PLAYING TIME which he really hasn't had much of. He has all the tools and physical gifts to be a damn good corner. Give him a actual full season as a starter before calling him a bust. Next year will be the most telling.

**NjRavensFan** · 11-29-2012, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by Random Thoughts

Great insight, Leach.

I would be a little wary of Graham based on our history at the position at of late. I think that our situational acquired corners typically do a good job when stepping up for a starter (Fabian Washington, Chris Carr, Frank I-Shall-Not-Say-His-Name, etc.). When those corners were pressed into a regular starting position, they ended up disappointing us.

One could make the same argument for Cary Williams or Foxworth (granted, Foxworth was never a situational corner for us, am I correct?).

I think the Ravens' drafted corners usually do better in long-term than those acquired corners.

Those particular cornerbacks have no bearing whatsoever on this particular cornerback

**houstonravensfan** · 11-29-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by JustaslowZ06

Wow you really don't watch much football do you? Smith is far from a bust. Is he Nmandi or Revis or even our fav cAllister? Nope, and prob never will be. But corners need PLAYING TIME which he really hasn't had much of. He has all the tools and physical gifts to be a damn good corner. Give him a actual full season as a starter before calling him a bust. Next year will be the most telling.

Would love to see him play a full season without being injured.

**BigPlayReceiver** · 11-29-2012, 09:55 AM

Jimmy was developing well in 2011 and I think the injury to his core (back/hernia/groin) was a big problem for him this season.

We can all recall when it happened in camp...when he went down to his knee inexplicably and walked off the field during skeletons. The DAL game was essentially a reinjury, but from August to October, I think his core problems were screweing up his peddle, shuffle, hip-flip and break-step...all of it. He'll be back in the mix big time in 2013.

Otherwise, Graham's $1.8M in 2013 will be ridiculously cheaper than even what Ozzie floated to Cary this past summer. And with Webb (most likely still) rehabbing this summer, the coaches will get good looks at Chykie and Asa.

**Bhcforlife** · 11-29-2012, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by JustaslowZ06

Wow you really don't watch much football do you? Smith is far from a bust. Is he Nmandi or Revis or even our fav cAllister? Nope, and prob never will be. But corners need PLAYING TIME which he really hasn't had much of. He has all the tools and physical gifts to be a damn good corner. Give him a actual full season as a starter before calling him a bust. Next year will be the most telling.

You have to be healthy to get playing time and he has been injured a lot in his short time here. He couldn't beat out Cary Williams when he was struggling earlier this year and unless Graham bombs out the remainder of the season, he's probably going to end up being #3 again next year behind Webb and Graham.

I'm not going to say he's a bust at this point but it's leaning more that way than it is of him being a long term quality contributor for the Ravens.