"For Better or Worse" is a series that will look at various position groups leading up to the 2019 preseason. Instead of a regular position break down, this series will compare how position groups look between now and this time last year.
This article will explore what has been touted as the deepest position group on the roster, the secondary. Recently the group was hit with the team's biggest loss of the preseason with rising nickel corner Tavon Young likely being ruled out for the season. However, the group is still poised to be one of the NFL's best secondaries in 2019 so lets look at how they've gotten here with changes that have occurred at the group over the past year.
2018
Heading into the 2018 season, the group's success was mainly predicated on the progression of Marlon Humphrey in his second year. The squad also featured the return of veterans Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr at corner and Eric Weddle, Tony Jefferson and Anthony Levine at safety. Younger veterans like Maurice Canady and Chuck Clark rounded out the secondary but it was uncertain whether the group would be world-beaters in pass coverage with aging starters in Smith, Carr and Weddle who all had decreased coverage range.
Most concerning were the safeties whose coverage liabilities were exposed in 2017 with Eric Weddle struggling to be in the right place against faster and more agile talent on the offensive side of the ball. Tony Jefferson also showed why he is considered an "inside the box" safety as he consistently got burned by tight ends in the passing game and often saw plays being made against him among bigger-bodied receivers. The safety duo was hyped up as one of the better tandems in the league at the time of Jefferson's signing but it didn't live up to what fans had hoped for as deficient back-end coverage dashed the team's playoff hopes in both 2016 and 2017 on last minute plays.
The team also possessed youth with potential, acquiring Deshon Elliott and Anthony Averett in the 2018 draft although they were viewed as developmental pieces in 2018.
2019
High hopes have been set for the group in 2019 and they will likely be challenged as they face a hard schedule and will be playing behind what is looking to be a deficient pass rushing unit. The group this year is headlined by the addition of Earl Thomas who is a true ball-hawking free safety that the team has lacked since the days of Ed Reed. His addition as the center-fielder of the defense allows the team to be less reliant on Tony Jefferson in the passing game which bolsters the value of the secondary as a whole. The team also has better coverage options with the emergence of Deshon Elliot and Chuck Clark who will be plugged in on obvious passing downs.
Compounded with the emergence of Marlon Humphrey who was the sixth best corner back in the league last year in terms of allowing pass completions, the group is noticeably improved. Jimmy Smith, who was suspected to be released prior to the season, sticks around to prove if he has anything left in the tank and might also be platooned with Brandon Carr to keep both of the veterans fresh. He has been serviceable but shows that he is susceptible to staying with receivers down the field after his achilles injury. It is clear he has lost a step and will most likely require Earl Thomas to favor Smith's side of the field.
Young cornerbacks Anthony Averett and Cyrus Jones are looking to make an imprint on the defense as well, although Jones has gotten the bulk of the opportunities at nickel corner. Other notable players include Justin Bethel and Maurice Canady at corner but they will more than likely be relegated to special teams and defensive depth roles. Bennett Jackson and Brynden Trawick look to be on the outside looking in when it comes to securing a roster spot in a crowded safety group as the group has more than enough supports with Chuck Clark, Deshon Elliot and Anthony Levine. Overall the group should likely improve under the talents and leadership of Earl Thomas and Marlon Humphrey when the group surrendered only the fifth most passing yards in 2018.
Conclusion
Although the injury to Tavon Young is a blow to the defensive coverage in the slot, I think it's too early to get worked up over concerns of depth.
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