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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens DC Zach Orr offers A1 critique of their new safety tandem
Ravens DC Zach Orr offers A1 critique of their new safety tandem Zach Orr sees something special brewing in the Ravens starting safety tandem. Pay close attention to the backend of the Baltimore Ravens' defense as mandatory minicamp and training camp ensue. How's that for stating the obvious, right? Several OTA practices have already given us so much to talk about. Rashod Bateman is set to enter another tax bracket after signing an extension. Ar'Darius Washington is in a contract season, but he is unfortunately injured. That has seemingly opened the door for the nearly-forgotten Jalyn Armour-Davis, who has since gotten some snaps and worked at the safety position. For the Ravens to take another step in the right direction and get back to the AFC Championship Game, the backend of their defense will need to take a few steps of their own. We know there isn't much to worry about with Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton. The latter has missed a few OTA sessions, but there's a lot of optimism in the tandem he will form with a newly-acquired and highly-touted rookie. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has a ton of faith in his starting safety duo. The first three seasons of Kyle Hamilton's career were good enough to inspire the potential envy of NFL stars who are five years his senior. He earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie Team in 2022. He has only gotten better since then. A member of the past two Pro Bowl rosters, he earned a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2023 before being named a Second-Teamer in 2024. One star alone, however, does not an elite safety tandem make, so Baltimore found an answer and an upgrade during the first round of this past April's draft in Malaki Starks. Saying defense coordinator Zach Orr is excited would be a massive understatement. This past week, he expressed his expectation for Hamilton and Starks as a duo. The NFL is a long way from college football in terms of level of competition, but Starks looks like a sure thing. Baltimore is hoping his skill set translates to the highest level of football. During his time in Athens with the Georgia Bulldogs, he was named a Freshman All-American and became a College Football Playoff National Champion. He was a Consensus All-American in 2023, a First-team All-American in 2024, and has two First-Team All-SEC (2023, 2024) to show for his trouble. He's used to playing in big games. He's certain to play in several this season, and fortunately for him, though the pressure to perform will come quickly, he doesn't have to do everything on his own.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cornerback battle in Philadelphia could be one of the Eagles' top offseason stories
Cornerback battle in Philadelphia could be one of the Eagles' top offseason stories The Kelee Ringo vs. Adoree' Jackson cornerback competition in Philadelphia may be one of the premier training camp battles this summer One can only imagine what's going on in the minds of the fringe players and the Philadelphia Eagles on the back-half of the depth chart. Much of the roster is set. It feels like most of the starting positions are too, so many of the men on the 90-man training camp roster have to believe their days are numbered. If they don't, they could be under the impression they're auditioning for the practice squad. Then again, there are 31 other franchises. They could embrace an opportunity to play elsewhere. There are, however, two starting spots that are still open, one on each side of the ball. One is at right guard. The other is the starting outside cornerback position on the opposite side of the formation from Quinyon Mitchell. Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson figure to duke it out in what should be must-see television. Time has flown, and though he has two years remaining on his rookie deal, this feels like 'do or die' time for Kelee Ringo. He's one of the Philly Dawgs, a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion (2021, 2022) who has now won a Super Bowl after just two seasons at the professional level. Adoree Jackson is one of the new faces. The Birds acquired him on March 13. His deal expires after a single season and will pay him $5 million. Mitchell will partner with the winner, presumably. Cooper DeJean mans the slot... we think... Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio stated, after the second day of OTAs, that "I really like him as the nickel", but he's been given a workload just about everywhere. Coop also took some reps at all three cornerback spots on Day 2. He also took snaps at safety on Wednesday, but it's only the end of May. If you remember, James Bradberry took snaps at the safety position, too. So, that places the spotlight back on Jackson and Ringo. They're the best cornerbacks on the Eagles' roster, not named Mitchell or DeJean, but there are bodies there. Mac McWilliams is a member of Philadelphia's 2025 draft class, but he feels like a backup slot cornerback based on his frame and physique. Eli Ricks, Parry Nickerson, Tariq Castro-Fields, B.J. Mayes, A.J. Woods, and Brandon Jackson round out the remainder of the preseason cornerback depth chart. The theories are that Ringo hasn't hit his ceiling yet, and Jackson's best years may be in his rearview mirror. This is the classic battle of youth vs. experience. It's a strange dichotomy in football. Allies are sometimes the competition. Early theories suggest that Jackson may have the early edge, but the winner of this competition will be better for it. Iron sharoens iron, and the goal is to reach and win another Super Bowl. Jackson and Ringo's efforts are essential cogs in a much larger machine. So, as the summer wears on, place those bets. Enjoy the show—the friendly rivalry featuring Kelee and Adoree figures to be must-see television for the best three months.
