Emmanuel Cook runs with the #1's in place of Ed Reed

**wickedsolo** · 06-20-2012, 03:51 PM

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/...r_Ed_Reed.aspx

Cook, 24, said he’s working to improve in his deep coverage. He’s been watching tapes of Reed, who is one of the best in the business at tracking down long passes.

“I’m a hard-hitting safety,” said Cook, who wears the same jersey number as former Ravens big hitter Dawan Landry. “I’m trying to turn my game around so I can have better ball skills. It’s a lot of hard work.”

Can't hurt to get the guy experience. He's only 24.

Maybe another diamond in the rough?

He's a decent ST'er at this point, so that's always a plus.

**Rxdoxx** · 06-20-2012, 08:11 PM

I really don't know what to think.
Yes, good to give him reps/experience.
Pollard is making the calls so no demands on him there.

Don't really know why the Jets cut him last Nov and we claimed him (releasing Bynes to make room), rumblings of a bonehead play on ST but he did recover, could have been a Darren Stone reaction thing. Or maybe just needed a different position player.
Still have Christian Thompson to also see what he can do,
Can't hurt though to get him reps and see what kind of pass coverage he is capable of providing... we'll know soon enough in preseason games, so this is prepping him for it.

**wickedsolo** · 06-21-2012, 05:43 AM

Jets released him when they signed Patrick Turner (WR/TE) I believe.

**The Excellector** · 06-21-2012, 10:26 AM

With the depth that the Ravens have at CB, he'll just need to play his assignment, rather than try to emulate Ed Reed.

**Tucker: M&T Sec 527** · 06-28-2012, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

With the depth that the Ravens have at CB, he'll just need to play his assignment, rather than try to emulate Ed Reed.

Deep[er] secondary period. Sean Considine and the ST gunner from Chicago also have NFL experience behind Reed & Pollard. Got the 2 draftees plus Brown and Gorrer to look at behind Webb, Smith, & Williams. Not going to miss Zibby, Nakamura, or Carr when it comes to depth.

**JustaslowZ06** · 06-28-2012, 03:31 PM

Our secondary is def not one of the question marks going into the season thats for sure.

I still say Webb is Reed's replacement when he hangs them up. Everyone else is vying for that SS spot.

**esmd** · 06-28-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by JustaslowZ06

Our secondary is def not one of the question marks going into the season thats for sure.

I still say Webb is Reed's replacement when he hangs them up. Everyone else is vying for that SS spot.

IMO, no way they move Webb off corner. He's developing into an all-pro caliber CB. I could see them moving Cary Williams to safety eventually, with Webb and Smith at CB. Williams is solid, but he has to play off of WR's because he's just a touch slow. He's got the size to move to safety where that speed difference would be covered.

**Rxdoxx** · 06-29-2012, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by JustaslowZ06

I still say Webb is Reed's replacement when he hangs them up. Everyone else is vying for that SS spot.

I thought that would be a potential pro-bowl caliber switch last camp, really like Webb's skill set as a FS. Had no idea Webb would emerge as an exceptional CB and up in pro-bowl conversations.

But now I've swung to esmd's thinking, no way Webb comes off CB, at least no way while he can still be thought of as Reed's replacement. Webb may eventually be a pro-bowl FS, but it will be a path like Rod Woodson, a later carreer shift. The contract we have just given him just screams that. Still remains to be seen, but we have possibly the best Raven CB ever.... at least no one will think people crazy for even suggestion that thought.

**bensmotorcyclehelmt** · 06-29-2012, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by esmd

IMO, no way they move Webb off corner. He's developing into an all-pro caliber CB. I could see them moving Cary Williams to safety eventually, with Webb and Smith at CB. Williams is solid, but he has to play off of WR's because he's just a touch slow. He's got the size to move to safety where that speed difference would be covered.

No way they move either Carey Williams OR Webb to Safety.
Not hapening.
They will draft or find someone to play back there.

**Paintballguy** · 06-29-2012, 11:09 AM

Why do people keep suggesting to move Webb to corner? That is like moving Revis to play safety. The only time you move a really good CB to play safety is if they get too old/slow. It's much easier to find a safety than a corner.

**bmorecareful** · 06-29-2012, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

Why do people keep suggesting to move Webb to corner? That is like moving Revis to play safety. The only time you move a really good CB to play safety is if they get too old/slow. It's much easier to find a safety than a corner.

I'm not advocating Webb playing at FS in 2012, but I have said in the past that his skill-set is exactly what you would want in a center-fielder FS. In terms of coverage instincts, lateral speed, range, ability to play the ball in the air, and man-to-man and zone coverages in the deep middle, Webb is IMO the closest player this team has had to Ed Reed in his prime outside of #20 himself.

I think an All-Pro CB is generally speaking worth more than an All-Pro S, so if Webb's future is truly that of an All-Pro CB, then he should stay there. But this team has to prepare for the day when the greatest FS to ever play the game decides to hang up his cleats. There's a chance that Webb could be that guy, maybe not a great one, but as I said he's got the best skill-set on the team for it at this point and what other options are out there?

People underestimate the extent to which this team has relied on Ed Reed to stabilize the back end and give teeth to their pass defense. I would argue that our system even moreso than a lot of other elite defenses is dependent on having a dominant center-field FS. Maybe generally speaking an All-Pro CB is worth more than an All-Pro S, but maybe not in our system--we already have 2 other high-upside CBs while we have only journeymen (at best) behind #20. You have to make a decision about the team as a whole, not simply one position grouping.

I still don't think it ever happens but just on pure speculation it's not an unworthy thought.

**houstonravensfan** · 06-29-2012, 04:56 PM

Webb did play S in college, didn't he? I could see him moving to S in a couple years but not immediately. As far as CB more important than S and S being a place where CBs go when they get old . . . Ed Reed's level of play puts him beyond any such discussion.

**wickedsolo** · 06-29-2012, 06:13 PM

I don't get why everyone seems to think that Webb is going to drop back to safety...

He's already playing CORNER at an All-Pro level. Let's not re-invent the wheel here folks. He's 185lbs...and I'm sorry, but when you're smaller like that and part of your responsibility is taking on ball carriers head-on it takes a bigger toll on your body. If he bulks up into the high 190's/low 200's, then I could see it, but it just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

They've extended Pollard and if he continues to play well (he's only 27) then I can see them extending him again. Secondly, they drafted Christian Thompson (who may or may not pan out) and he can play FS. You need at least 2 or 3 good starting caliber corners in this league and if Cary Williams doesn't sign long term here then they're down to Webb and Jimmy as guys who can start. That's not a bad thing, but who behind Webb, Cary, and Jimmy could really step in a start and be effective at this point? Gorrer has been ok in limited play, Chykie has done well in practices, and Asa Jackson is an unknown at this point.

**Irish Raven** · 06-29-2012, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

They've extended Pollard and if he continues to play well (he's only 27) then I can see them extending him again.

I keep forgetting how young Pollard is, seems he's been around forever

I remember him on Hard Knocks with the Chiefs

Sorry, bit offtopic

**wickedsolo** · 06-29-2012, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Irish Raven

I keep forgetting how young Pollard is, seems he's been around forever

I remember him on Hard Knocks with the Chiefs

Sorry, bit offtopic

Yea, I think he came into the league right after he turned 21. So, he's been in the league for like 6 years now, which is a pretty long time for a SS. He wasn't a good fit in KC's defense, but he's a good fit in Baltimore.