2015 Ravens training camp preview: Safeties

With the Ravens beginning their 20th training camp in franchise history this month, expectations are high for John Harbaugh’s team as they eye their seventh trip to the postseason in eight years.
As veterans report to Owings Mills on Wednesday and the first full-squad workout takes place the following on July 30, we’ll examine each position group entering the summer.
July 20: Quarterbacks
July 21: Defensive line
July 22: Running backs
July 23: Linebackers
July 24: Wide receivers
July 25: Tight ends
July 26: Cornerbacks
July 27: Offensive line
July 28: Safeties
July 29: Specialists
Below is a look at the Baltimore safeties:
SAFETIES (7)
LOCK: Will Hill, Kendrick Lewis, Matt Elam, Terrence Brooks
BUBBLE: Anthony Levine, Brynden Trawick, Nick Perry
LONG SHOT: None
Synopsis: Much attention was paid to the rash of injuries at cornerback last year, but the Ravens really struggled at the safety position, using a number of players with underwhelming results. Ozzie Newsome addressed the position with the offseason signing of veteran Kendrick Lewis, who is considered good in deep coverage — an area that was particularly problematic in 2014 — but isn’t a dynamic player. Will Hill emerged as a starter in the second half of 2014 and brings intriguing upside if he can continue to stay away from off-field trouble. Beyond that, this group is filled with a plethora of questions from disappointing 2013 first-round pick Matt Elam to Terrence Brooks, who begins training camp on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from last December’s knee injury.

One to watch: The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Hill brings an impressive combination of size and speed to the position and is projected to be the starting strong safety. It will be interesting to see how much improvement Hill can make after he didn’t sign with the Ravens until training camp last year and served a six-game suspension to begin the 2014 season. Even with other high draft picks currently on the roster, the former rookie free agent from the University of Florida appears to have the most potential to be a stabilizing force at the safety position.

One on notice: The lack of depth at the position leads me to believe Elam isn’t in real danger of losing his roster spot, but the Ravens have made it abundantly clear that they need to see more from him after a very disappointing 2014 campaign. In fairness, he was asked to play a lot of nickel due to the injuries at the cornerback position last year, but that doesn’t forgive his tackling issues as he led the team with 16 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. There’s still time for Elam to turn around his young career, but this figures to be a critical season for him to do that.
Sleeper: Nick Perry had to wait his turn behind other safeties at Alabama, but he performed well in the Crimson Tide secondary as a senior, showing good ability as a tackler and some solid coverage ability. He doesn’t figure to be ready to be a factor defensively, but a strong preseason and ability on special teams could put him in decent position to take away a roster spot from an incumbent such as Anthony Levine or Brynden Trawick. His 4.62-second 40-yard dash is good enough and his intelligence on the football field was praised at Alabama, making him someone to watch this summer.