Who's on the roster?
#29 Keion Carpenter (5'11" 205, 4th yr., Virginia Tech)
#35 Johndale Carty (6' 196, 4th yr., Utah State)
#42 Corey Hall (6'4" 203, 2nd yr., Appalachian State)
#39 Corey Harris (5'9" 197, rookie, Arkansas)
#41 Keith Lyle (6'2" 210, 9th yr., Virginia)
#22 Gerald McBurrows (5'11" 208, 7th yr., Kansas)
#47 Kevin McCadam (6'1" 219, rookie, Virginia Tech)
Projected starters: Lyle (free), McBurrows (strong)
Top backups: Carpenter (free), Carty (strong)
Newcomers: Carpenter (free agent/Bills), Harris (undrafted rookie), Lyle (free agent/Redskins), McCadam (fifth round pick)
This position was one deemed to be amongst the most in dire need of an upgrade this off-season. The team certainly did address it by adding two free agents and a middle round draft pick. But questions remain if that will be enough to strengthen a position that not too long ago was strong.
McBurrows is the returning incumbent starter at the strong safety position. He took over at mid-season when the team released veteran Marty Carter. McBurrows was productive, but not great as the starter. Since joining the Falcons, McBurrows had always been on the cusp of starting. But now it seems that was less of his good ability, and more of the starter's weaker ability. McBurrows can play both free and strong safety, so he is a valuable reserve, but it remains to be seen if he can take the reins and lead this safety position. He is excellent on special teams, further reiterating his reserve abilities. It's pretty sure bet that McBurrows will start this year. Most likely it will be at strong safety, but if the free safety candidates are less than impressive, then he may move there. That move could be further cemented if Johndale Carty steps up this summer.
Carty has more talent and potential than the rest of the unit. He has good size, speed, and a nose for the football. He started twice at the end of 2001 in place of McBurrows, and performed well. The coaching staff that progress continues into this summer and regular season. Carty will just have to show that he's ready to become a better force in coverage and has developed enough mentally to start. In his three years as a Falcon, Carty has gotten little opportunities on defense, distinguishing himself rather on special teams.
At free safety, the team hopes they found one player amongst its two signings in Lyle and Carpenter. Lyle is past his prime and played last year as a dime safety for the Redskins. But the team hopes he still has a year or so left in him at age 30 to be a decent starter. In his better days, Lyle was a good pass defender, evident from his combined 17 interceptions in 1996 and 1997 with the Rams.
Carpenter lost his starting job in Buffalo last year with the introduction of Gregg Williams' 4-6 defensive scheme. Williams' scheme uses both its safeties as extra linebackers who play almost exclusively in run support. That is not Carpenter's forte, rather him being better in pass coverage than defending the run. He started under Phillips in Buffalo in 2000, where he played well. Due to his experience Phillips' defense, he may have the advantage over veteran Lyle. It will be a close battle between both players.
Kevin McCadam was not a star at Virginia Tech, but has some skills. He most likely will be competing for a role on the special team's coverage units. It's very unlikely he will crack the defensive lineup as a rookie. McCadam is good vs. the run and has shown enough skills to be decent in coverage. Corey Hall spent much of 2001 on the teams' practice squad after being a 7th round pick. Hall has good size and has been a force vs. the pass, but will need to show he's tough enough to be a force in run support. The team likes his potential, but he'll need to add more substance to those hopes this summer. Both will likely be competing for a single open spot on the roster, while the loser earns a practice squad nomination.
This means that undrafted rookie Corey Harris is on the outside looking in. Harris is an undersized run stopper. He'll need to show something on special teams to have a prayer of making the roster. Because of both McCadam and Hall, it's very unlikely that the team will retain Harris in any way. But if he plays well enough he could earn a chance to return next summer.
The team will definitely keep four safeties, but a fifth slot is up in the air. If push comes to shove, the team will dump the loser of the Lyle-Carpenter battle and keep both Hall and McCadam. The team has several options here because of the versatility of McBurrows.
Salary Cap Sense
Because both Carpenter and Lyle will count $450,000 against the cap and potential cap issues elsewhere on the roster, there is no sure bet that both players will make the roster. It becomes less likely if Carty earns the starting job at the strong safety. Carty will count $394,000 against this year's cap, and McCadam ($264,000) and Hall ($300,000) also have lower cap numbers. If Carty earns the starting job, then the team may even cut both players. That would allow McCadam to be the #2 guy at the strong safety position, and Hall #2 at free safety.
Predictions