Where The Roster Stands: Safety

by Sean Yuille on Sep 6, 2010 11:51 PM EDT in Comcast Sponsored Posts

Previously: Quarterback, Running Back, Fullback, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, Center, Defensive End, Defensive Tackle, Outside Linebacker, Middle Linebacker, Cornerback

Returning from last season: Louis Delmas

New to the team: C.C. Brown, Randy Phillips, John Wendling, Amari Spievey

You know that movie that came out last month entitled The Other Guys? That's basically what the Lions' safety position is -- Louis Delmas and the other guys. Delmas is the only player on the roster last season that is back this year and rightfully so. Delmas is an impact player on defense and if he can stay healthy, some believe he can make the leap to a Pro-Bowl caliber player in only year two of his career.

The other safeties on the roster are, well, much less talented than Delmas. One of the things the Lions spent the offseason doing was trying to find a safety that comes close to matching Delmas' talent level, which is why they were often linked to a potential deal for Jarrad Page. A move of that sort never developed, however, so the Lions decided to move forward with C.C. Brown as the starter opposite Delmas. He should be serviceable for sure, but I imagine many fans were hoping for a move to be made.

One of the bright spots at safety is the emergence of Randy Phillips during the preseason. When camp opened, he wasn't even on the team, yet just days after signing he worked his way to the top of the depth chart with Delmas sidelined because of an injury. Phillips looked awesome during the preseason and played his way onto the roster after being brought in as an undrafted free agent. He should be a solid backup for Delmas.

The other safeties on the roster are John Wendling and Amari Spievey. Wendling was signed at the end of August and is a solid special teams player, as revealed in this profile of him. Spievey, on the other hand, is still transitioning to safety from cornerback. The Lions still list him as a corner on their roster, likely because he is practicing at both positions and only recently started getting work at safety.

Need going forward?

I think the ship has sailed on a move to acquire a starter, otherwise I think the Lions would have traded for Page, who was shipped to New England over the weekend. Could there be some changes to the position if someone like Brown struggles? Sure, but for the first few weeks I would bet on the Lions standing pat with what they have and letting Spievey show what he can do at safety before going out and making a major type of move.

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Comments

The Predator

Louis Delmas is gonna be on of the next great nfl safteys he is the Samuel L jackson to Phillips and Spiveys Ferrel and Wahlberg.

I had a dream were the Lions let me sign a 1 day contract they let me practice with them running drills and catching passes from Matt…At the end of the day I was called into Mayhews office. I was told I had just been traded to seattle for a 5th round draft pick.

by The Profiler on Sep 7, 2010 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

Delmas was one of the earliest bright spots on the new-look lions, and he's undeniably a leader of the lions' revolution.

Cannot wait to see him back

I don’t want add player does not have blue collar mentality,
even if he is great player. Piston should not quit your job. - OK from J

by Skylar on Sep 7, 2010 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

The Other Guys

If you’ve seen it you’ll get this.

"It's time everyone took a breath, shut their damn yaps for a second, and think about what they're saying."---Al Beaton from waynefontes.com

by Enforcer on Sep 7, 2010 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

Did somebody call 91- HOLY SH*T

by The Profiler on Sep 7, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice :)

I noticed earlier when scouting the Bears for my write up they have some safeties listed as a DB too. I think we are seeing a change in the NFL where some of the more physical corners and some of the better safeties are going to be out there in a kind of roamer mode. Similar to the concept of the Tampa 2 uses a fast, athletic linebacker to cover tight ends and slot guys on the middle seam routes. The way I see us, and other teams going in the future is to use a faster and more athletic guy hence the safety / corner tweeners. Guys like Wes Welker, and Dallas Clark are forcing this kind of adjustment, the Tampa 2 line backers are just not fast enough, or athletic enough to perform the necessary coverages.

Conversely the defensive back still needs to be able to come up and run support because if you drop 3 in deep coverage the opponent will just run the ball on you for 6+ yard gains all day. So your hybrid defensive back has to be physical enough, and a good enough tackler to be effective as run support in the box, and still quick enough and good enough in coverage for guys like Dallas Clark, Vernon Davis, Tony Scheffler and in some cases even running backs like Kevin Faulk, Brian Westbrook, and LaDanian Tomlinson.

Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 50's football back to Motown!

by Evilsmurf on Sep 7, 2010 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

Yes, the change may be coming faster than people think. Me especially.

The Jags for instance dumped their starting Safeties from 2009, trading Reggie Nelson, a former first round pick, and cutting Gerald Alexander, the former Lion second round pick and who they traded Dennis Northcutt for last year.

A number of other teams are going with young Safeties: KC, Seattle, Cleveland, Green Bay, and Philadelphia are all starting rookies Week One; Carolina, Buffalo, Detroit, Miami, NE, and Oakland are starting second year players. A number of other rookies may get a lot of playing time at Safety especially here in Detroit.

by NorthLeft12 on Sep 7, 2010 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Exactly, and that’s also the reason for a lot of injuries occuring to these players due to the demands of the position forcing then to take on players well bigger then themselves.

Not complaining, just pointing out how the change takes a toll. Reed and Polamalu are starting to crack from the pounding.

by delusional on Sep 7, 2010 9:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Well said

RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.

by Hyperion Ecta on Sep 7, 2010 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Randy Philips

will start 1/2 the season.

by BtotheLT on Sep 7, 2010 12:44 AM EDT reply actions

+1

by rom3o on Sep 7, 2010 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Phillips

I like Phillips. I think he should backup both spots with an eye on starting him if he performs. Speivey was drafted to be a corner and he will need time adjusting to the safety slot. In the meantime, Phillips can get game experience and get better. Speivey was a high draft pick, so his position on the team is pretty assured as long as he doesn’t do anything stupid, while Phillips has had to play his way onto the team and needs to constantly prove himself just to stick around. I say put him out there, let him sink or swim, and when Speivey is ready to compete at the spot then let the best man win.

Go, Sparty, Go!! Deeeeeeeeetroit Baaaasketbaaaaaaaal!!

by Mr. Big Shot on Sep 7, 2010 4:05 AM EDT reply actions

+1

I agree phillips needs to start next to delmas right now because he is a saftey. When spivey has learned the position and is ready to play saftey full time. let him fight for the job.

by The Profiler on Sep 7, 2010 8:42 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions