But that’s a testament to your arguement, Broncoman. Coming in, I would have voted "NO’ to moving Champ to safety…but now I need to think about it some more. I don’t think I will vote “Yes”, but stranger things have happened!

He could fit in a “Tyrone Braxton” role but not for another year or two.

But a corner plays man coverage almost exclusively, where a safety is pretty much always zone (unless it’s a run or short pass play, then he covers one guy). If I’m correct in that, then read on, if not, bound me to a tree and duct tape my mouth shut.

Now, I like Champ as a safety, I really do. The fact of the matter is Champ’s been playing zone, even as a cornerback. The problem with that situation (especially in last years case) is that in a lot of cases, he has to do two jobs at once. In a weird, but very logical way, I would love to see Champ as a safety opposite of Dawkins. You could transition Renaldo Hill into a corner position, but I think Alphonso Smith is going to be a starting quality corner when the season starts. Now with that in mind, let’s just say for instance that our secondary looks like this:

FS: Brian Dawkins
SS: Champ Bailey
Strong side CB: Alphonso Smith
Weak side CB: Renaldo Hill

Now, if that were the case, I think our secondary could do some pretty mean work against the pass at all depths, as well as provide a hard second wave of defenders (when the runner breaks through the front 7). In the instance provided above, I believe your biggest asset to having Champ in the SS position is his vision. Champ has the vision of a hawk on the field, and is one of the few dominating corner’s in the league that MAKES plays happen. Granted, a lot of corners make plays, I can remember a few instances where Champ picks that ball away from a guy he wasn’t even defending (in a man coverage situation). Now because of Champ’s vision, I believe he’d make a good SS. The only issue I have with it is his size. He’s not incredibly undersized, and he certainly can make hits, I don’t know if I see Champ taking the “beating” that a safety does as opposed to a cornerback.

Again friends, if I’m wrong in all the assumptions above, spare my head!

But not until next year or the year after. He still has the goods and he can do a lot for our future by showing the ropes to our new CBs.

I’d have to agree that with Champs vision and ability to anticipate he’d be a force at FS or SS even after he loses a step. Nice post and rec’d.

Okay, my vote was meant as a goof . But your second point is why we shouldn’t do it:

two we signed two safeties in Dawkins and Hill and it would relegate one of them to an expensive bench player,

But here’s my idea (inspired by your post): on passing downs, when Dawkins will likely come out (like he did in Philly last year) let’s see Champ replace him and one of the young guys (Smith, Williams, Bell) replace Champ.

he was injured last year, and is still our best corner

But, please please don’t use last year as an analysis point for our defense. Champ got beat up partially because he was trying to make up for our tackling deficiencies.
The teams that you cite didn’t make a post season run, and perhaps the other teams in the league were stronger at the front seven making up for their lack of strength at the DB positions.
I can see moving Champ in a year or two.
As I understand (and I may be wrong) the FS is the center fielder and the SS is the run stuffer. I’m sure they could switch, however.

I think Hill will be a huge upgrade over the last couple of years and, at the very least, solid. McBath needs reps and experience. Nolan loves his corners playing off man, which should play to Champ’s peek-and-pounce game perfectly.

As for Bailey’s potential at FS— I think he’d be as good a FS as CB. I think he’d shine in both phases.

If a QB knows where he will be, chances are he won’t throw there, but if they can disguise his coverage from moving him to safety, his interception totals should increase and help the defense.

I was skeptical, at best, until I read the above statement. Then your position started to make some sense. I’m still skeptical, but your solid reasoning got me past the first hurdle…

I’ve been telling fellow fans since we got him that Champ would eventually make a fine safety a la Rod Woodson, but he’s still playing great at corner, and you don’t move him until you have someone better to cover WRs.

Bailey takes away one half of the field, and the opposing team’s best WR. He is also (by talent) a natural at CB, not at SAF.

Some lesser corners (you mentioned the Colts for example) play zone because that’s how you should use a lesser CB. Int those programs, the safeties play a different role. When you get a Ferrari, you don’t waste it in zone coverage, you use it in man. Champ is a true, man-coverage shut down corner, and his skills would be wasted in deep zone, which is a less skilled position. (I think I can say that, being that FS is my favorite position on the field, and Dawkins has always been my seceond favorite player next to Elway).

Dawkins and Hill are naturals at safety (and Dawkins is legendary). Bailey, Goodman, and Smith are naturals at CB. I wouldn’t mess up a goof thing. The last two years have been brutal on Champ and Bly, two quality pro bowlers because of the lack of a pass ruch up front and the odd use of one safety deep. I don’t think that should reflect on Bailey at all.

When Bailey does lose a step, I’ll still be opposed to Bailey moving to safety. I just don’t believe that Bailey’s man coverage skills convert to the same skill set as a safety. I doubt he will ever play safety.

A big part of my problem with Bailey moving to safety is the implied concept that the safety position is somehow just a lesser cornerback position. In my mind, the two positions are not very similar at all.

I’m giving this post a rec. I don’t have to agree with the premise to recognize when something is well written and sparks a good conversation.

:)

This was a real thought provoker of a post I must say.

What it boiled down to for me was the point you made about the opposition taking Champ out of the plays. That is exactly why he is needed in that position. It not only takes Champ out of the play, lessening risk of injury, but it also takes out the BEST receiver the opponent has. That’s a worthwhile tradeoff in my opinion.

I have to disagree on this one. I probably would have agreed last season; however, I think we’re improved at safety and Champ will hopefully be healthy and back to his former self (not the Champ of the past two seasons) and will be best utilized as a CB.