May 16, 2012

NFL Free Agents: Safeties

February 14, 2012 By 17 Comments

League-wide free agency begins March 13th. The Browns have stated all along they prefer to build the team through the draft, but will take a look at the players available in free agency. Previously we looked at the receivers available. Then a glance at the linebackers. Next, we stared longingly at offensive tackles before finishing last week with quarterbacks. We started this week by looking at defensive ends. Today, we look at the available safeties.

Safety has been a strange position for the Browns of late. In the last 3 years, the Browns have drafted 4 safeties. And every year Mike Adams ends up starting at one of the safety spots eventually. Maybe it just seems like the Browns have been trying to replace him for years. They have not been successful.

They appear to have the free safety they want in T.J. Ward. The strong safety spot has been in constant flux. Usama Young, Eric Haag and Ray Ventrone are all still on the roster. Will the Browns settle on one of these? Will they bring Mike Adams back? Would they consider dipping in the free agent pool again? Here’s the list of potential candidates-

SS Hamza Abdullah (ARZ)

SS Sean Considine (ARZ)

FS* Rashad Johnson (ARZ) – Restricted

FS* Thomas DeCoud (ATL)

SS James Sanders (ATL)

FS Haruki Nakumura (BAL)

SS Tom Zbikowski (BAL)

FS* Bryan Scott (BUF)

SS Brandon Meriweather (CHI)

SS* Craig Steltz (CHI)

SS Jeromy Miles (CIN) – Exclusive Rights

FS* Reggie Nelson (CIN)

FS Gibril Wilson (CIN)

FS* Mike Adams (CLE)

SS* Abram Elam (DAL)

FS Erik Coleman (DET)

NL Chris Harris (DET)

NL Randy Phillips (DET) – Exclusive Rights

NL Dominique Barber (HOU)

FS Quintin Demps (HOU) – Restricted

FS* CC Brown (JAC)

NL Courtney Greene (JAC)

SS* Jon McGraw (KC)

FS Sabby Piscitelli (KC)

NL Husain Abdullah (MIN)

NL Tyrell Johnson (MIN)

FS Jarrad Page (MIN)

SS* James Ihedigbo (NE)

NL Nathan Jones (NE)

NL Bret Lockett (NE) – Exclusive Rights

SS Jonathon Amaya (NO) – Exclusive Rights

FS Deon Grant (NYG)

SS Derrick Martin (NYG)

NL Jim Leonhard (NYJ)

SS* Brodney Pool (NYJ)

SS* Tyvon Branch (OAK)

SS Jerome Boyd (OAK) – Exclusive Rights

FS Matt Giordano (OAK)

SS* Steve Gregory (SD)

FS Paul Oliver (SD)

NL Bob Sanders (SD)

SS Atari Bigby (SEA)

NL Tramaine Brock (SF) – Exclusive Rights

FS* Dashon Goldson (SF)

SS C.J. Spillman (SF) – Restricted

SS Reggie Smith (SF)

FS Madieu Williams (SF)

SS Craig Dahl (STL)

SS* Darian Stewart (STL) – Exclusive Rights

SS* Sean Jones (TB)

FS Corey Lynch (TB)

SS* Jordan Babineaux (TEN)

FS* Michael Griffin (TEN)

SS Chris Hope (TEN)

NL Anthony Smith (TEN)

NL LaRon Landry (WAS)

The ‘NL’ instead of a position distinction means no listing, meaning they were not listed on the team’s depth chart for one reason or another. Obviously, some of these players are not limited to the position distinction given. Mike Adams has played every defensive back spot there is for the Browns.

Interesting that there are 3 former Browns on this list (Sean Jones, Brodney Pool and Abe Elam). All of them were starters on their respective teams at some point last season.

This list doesn’t overwhelm. In fact, I’d much rather the Browns keep the versatile Adams and see what a full offseason’s worth of instruction can do for Usama Young and Eric Haag.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Hurst/680697039 Josh Hurst

    I couldve sworn that Ward was our SS. I always thought the difference was the FS was the outfielder helping out coverage most of the time where the SS was the hitter and one that creeps on the line and is in run support. In that sense I would think they drafted Ward for such hard hitting duties. Then they put these ‘ball hawks’ and crappy tacklers at FS (Adams, Young, etc). I am very aware that I could be wrong though. If I am I really don’t understand the safety position haha.

  • Anonymous

    Brodney Poole  and Sean Jones were both SECOND-ROUND draft picks by the Browns. More wasted picks.

  • Anonymous

    that’s standard 3deep safety responsibilities (where the SS comes closer to the line and possibly even as a “monster”).    in 2deep, their roles are pretty much the same though just on either half of the field (SS usually gets the TE side, but some teams just have a “left” and “right” safety like we did under Rob Ryan).  

    we ran some 3deep, but usually it was 2deep as this is the type of defense Jauron prefers.

  • Anonymous

    at least they have had a starting career post-Browns.  shows talent even if we didn’t get enough out of them here.

  • Anonymous

    LOVE Goldson (as I did last year).  no way he leaves SF though. 

    Michael Griffin is another I like alot (young, ballhawk). 
    Tyvon Branch is not a ballhawk, but is young and has potential.  I wouldn’t mind signing him.

    still want Adams back, but as a backup, not a starter.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Hurst/680697039 Josh Hurst

     Thank you! I knew I had to be missing something here. This makes more sense to me now. So in essence when it comes to the draft I can more or less ignore whether a player is listed as a FS or SS, and just focus on their all around coverage and tackling skills when evaluating if it would be good or not for the Browns to draft ?

  • Ezzie Goldish

    Thanks. I was about to write the same thing as Josh, and this is a good explanation.

  • Jaker

    Zibi or Goldson, if they aren’t expensive. Either of them might pair well with TJ.But honestly, I’d rather see them spend big on Mario Williams and get Jared Gaither and roll with who’s already here at Safety and a late draft pick (again) rather than get a FA

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_I6423N7UCT3SVURBC55JGXFYAU Bobby

    You forgot Sabby Piscitelli as a former brown!

  • Anonymous

    for the most part, yes.  though I would like to get a ball-hawk in our secondary as too many catchable INTs have popped off the chest of Ward, Usama, Adams, etc. (or they haven’t quite had the speed to get too).

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_I6423N7UCT3SVURBC55JGXFYAU Bobby

     Tj is definitely a SS in this D. Did you see how often he was at the LoS breaking up the run? Also he was primarily covering the TE (thats when healthy).

  • Co811809

    Haruki Nakamura! I admit its because he went to St. Edward HS but hes a solid safety for sure who has just been sitting behind Reed and Zbikowski

  • Ctowndawgpound

    Didn’t Nakamura also return some kicks?I remember before he was drafted being turned on to him by his brother calling up a local talk show and saying that you should go check his youtube videos.He knew he wasn’t going to be drafted high. I just thought that was a cool way for a sibiling to look out after one another!

  • Henry Brown

    They’re only wastes when you let them leave. Browns need to retain their good players when they can. HillisJackson

  • Brooks

    His brother was also a State Champion Wrestler (one of the most fun to watch in Ohio High School History) and a national Judo Champion…A true stud in his own right.  I second taking a look at Nakamura even if its for depth.  I watched him a few games rooting against the Ravens and when he got a chance to play he made the most of it.

  • Anonymous

    Would love to get michael griffin obviously. Goldson would be great to get as well. Haruki Nakumura and Reggie Nelson might be all right to get because it weakens the teams in the division.

  • Anonymous

    he was a SS when paired with Usama and a FS when paired with Adams from what I saw.