Special teams for James Ihedigbo as Baltimore Ravens OK Ed Reed, Bernard Pollard as starters – NFL News
The Baltimore Ravens are most likely to position the newly signed safety James Ihedigbo at the special teams place while leaving veteran safety Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard on the starting line.
James was released by the New England Patriots on past Friday and it took him only a couple of days to arrive in Baltimore on unknown contractual terms. He spent the past four years with the Patriots and was re-signed to fresh contract in June this year
but let go last week in the team's post-preseason roster cleansing.
After signing with the Ravens, he tweeted to confirm his arrival. He wrote:
"Fresh start. God is good.honoured to be a Baltimore Raven!!!! #blackandpurple."
Both sides did not disclose terms of the deal, including its value and tenure. Some analysts have hinted at it to be a year-long contract valuing around $3 to $3.5 million. These claims are not confirmed independently by the team yet.
Some commentators have expressed surprise over the signing given the Ravens already have a pair of top-notch safeties, but could see the move coming to serve the team’s need at the special teams position, which has always been a weaker link in their defensive
scheme.
Although it is difficult to ascertain or anticipate success of the player at the position, his record as safety has been notable. He has 82 tackles to his credit during his tenure with the Patriots. The Patriots selected him as an undrafted free agent rookie
in 2007 and since then he had managed to stick with them.
His success in the special teams will certainly serve the cause of the Ravens, who recently have been affected in the overall defence strength due to injury scares. The Ravens have always been a strong unit on the defensive positions, a major contributing
factor in their wins.
The lacking strength this year may not affect them as much as feared earlier because the team has recently shifted some focus on the offence. They maintain the right balance at both positions. The offensive line has rather improved this season and can compensate
the defence’s weakness, if there is any.
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