Ronde Barber playing some at Safety

[Be Weary of Query]

An aging CB making the transition to Safety?!

I've never heard of such a thing.

Ronde Barber plays some safety at Bucs workouts | ProFootballTalk

 

[Cincyfan78]

An aging CB making the transition to Safety?!

I've never heard of such a thing.

Ronde Barber plays some safety at Bucs workouts | ProFootballTalk

That's foolish. That would never work.

 

[cincygrad]

The dude is 37. He'll be one of the worst safeties in professional football.

 

[flamingrey]

I'm not sure where I read he was making a "transition" to safety.

He took some reps to see if he could play some snaps there. To expect him to make any kind of full time transition to safety is at this point beyond reason.

Here are Barbers thoughts on playing safety:

Shortly after signing a one-year, $3 million contract last month, the five-time Pro Bowl selection indicated that at 5 feet 10, 184 pounds, he might be too small for safety.

"I'm tiny," he said. "I'll fit in where I fit in. They know that I'm here to help this team win, no matter what role I'm in."

Not a guy that is exactly exuding confidence himself in a "transition".

 

[bengaldoug]

The dude is 37. He'll be one of the worst safeties in professional football.

He's way too small......

 

[vancelot23]

I think the point here is that the team is acknowledging that Barber's skill at CB are deteriorating and think, if possible (probably not in his case) a move to safety could extend his career. I would try it with aging CBs, especially ones who played physically at CB anyway. It's always worth a shot and can add a few extra years onto the career of a good player.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I think the point here is that the team is acknowledging that Barber's skill at CB are deteriorating and think, if possible (probably not in his case) a move to safety could extend his career. I would try it with aging CBs, especially ones who played physically at CB anyway. It's always worth a shot and can add a few extra years onto the career of a good player.

Yep. If a guy is a good player, but is slowing down, putting him in more positions where he's playing an area instead of direct coverage can only help. Especially if they have good instincts and ball skills.

Never hurts to have your best ball skill/instinctive players on the field in clear passing downs...even if you have to have a few of them play out of their normal position. Having a CB learn 5 plays at Safety for passing downs would allow more teams to put better hand guys/ball reaction guys in positions to make big plays.

Not saying every down, or every 3rd down...but when it's 3rd and 8 or more...you are pretty sure they are passing.

 

[cincygrad]

I think the point here is that the team is acknowledging that Barber's skill at CB are deteriorating and think, if possible (probably not in his case) a move to safety could extend his career. I would try it with aging CBs, especially ones who played physically at CB anyway. It's always worth a shot and can add a few extra years onto the career of a good player.

It's not that I'm arguing that this concept is never thought of, because it is.... For precisely the reasons you suggest - Teams think they can extend the careers of aging corners by moving them to safety. But for as much as it's discussed, the actual number of cases where it works is low.

 

[Cincyfan78]

It's not that I'm arguing that this concept is never thought of, because it is.... For precisely the reasons you suggest - Teams think they can extend the careers of aging corners by moving them to safety. But for as much as it's discussed, the actual number of cases where it works is low.

I do wonder how often it is thought of, though. Most CB's are smallish dudes, and are not your "ideal" fit for safety in terms of physical stature. You would have to have a CB that is a "tall" CB, but would be about average at Safety...so, that would preclude a lot of CB's from making the switch, especially later in their career.

Also, I wonder how many teams approach a CB about a change (later in their career) and the CB rebuffs the move completely. Later on they are cut/retire, but potentially could have at least given the switch a try to play an additional 1-2 years, but since they cut that opportunity down up front, chances are no one else is going to take a shot of signing a CB that wasn't already on your team to move them over to another position.

 

[DanBengalfan]

I'd play safety, but I hurt my back running a cultivator and lifting logs in my back yard.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I do the safety dance

 

[DanBengalfan]

well, this is your chance.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Funny, Joe Reedy in his chat today mentioned Allen (just signed at CB) playing some safety as well.

Didn't really go in depth, but said he is versatile enough that he'll get looks there.

Probably doesn't mean anything, but funny since we've been beating this dead horse for about 2 weeks now it seems.

 

[vancelot23]

Allen does have some size and he plays a physical style CB, using a lot of contact at the line. I read when we signed him a few places saying he was versatile enough to play safety too. That's one of the reasons his signing got a solid grade

 

[flamingrey]

Funny, Joe Reedy in his chat today mentioned Allen (just signed at CB) playing some safety as well.

Didn't really go in depth, but said he is versatile enough that he'll get looks there.

Probably doesn't mean anything, but funny since we've been beating this dead horse for about 2 weeks now it seems.

Another Bengal blunder!

Clements is destined to be an All-Pro Safety if only they would try!

 

[Cincyfan78]

Another Bengal blunder!

Clements is destined to be an All-Pro Safety if only they would try!

As usual, this is obvious to EVERYONE except Bengal management!