Washington Redskins Get It Right With How They Plan To Use Their Rookie Safety Duo

When Washington Redskins’ head coach Mike Shanahan spoke soon after drafting Fresno State’s Phillip Thomas and Georgia’s Bacarri Rambo — he made it seem as if Thomas would have first dibs at Free Safety. I’ve personally disagreed with the notion that Phillip Thomas’ best spot is at free. Most notably, when speaking to NFL Network’s prospect guru Mike Mayock prior to draftmas — I disagreed with his assessment of Phillip Thomas.

“Phillip Thomas, I like him from Fresno,” said Mayock.  “He might have as good of ball skills as any safety in this draft. Moves well on the ball, catches it, sees it. With Washington, the first pick is at 51, and he’s a guy you could get in the third round. Again, I think he’s a starting free safety, and I love his ball skills.”

For the first time since before the team’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, media was able to speak with coordinators and positional coaches. It wasn’t until Wednesday that the picture of how the team plans to use the safety duo became crystal clear. “We’re saying Rambo is a free safety and Phillip is a strong safety,” said Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett. “But it doesn’t really make a difference because they change the strength, the motions, the shifts, the adjustment. We don’t run them across the field so they’re always strong or free, so they’re going to have to know both positions.”

Here again, Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett love to say their safeties are interchangeable, yet they don’t mix as often as they make you believe. At least, based on my personal film study. Safety is not an easy transition. And both players have niches that they specialize in. “Thomas is a natural in the box player and Rambo is better downfield in space,” said secondary coach Raheem Morris who typically doesn’t candy-coat things. He hit that assessment right on the head.

Phillip Thomas could be developed into the mold of a Laron Landry while Rambo works the deep half/centerfield. Of course, it’s nothing wrong with teaching them both sides — it’s good to be versatile. I also believe both are capable of doing that. But to maximize what each player has to offer — you let them develop their niche and play in it.

Prior to the draft, I reached out to Rotoworld’s expert Josh Norris — he too preferred Rambo over Thomas at free safety. “He has that centerfield mentality — can really disrupt the catch point,” Norris said. He also believes that Rambo is more physical and consistent than Phillip Thomas as an up-field tackler. “That’s where Thomas really drops off for me,” Norris said. “Sure he had the most interceptions in college football this year — and he actually does take decent angles in run support. But for some reason, in that two yard box right when he’s closing on the running back, he always whiffs. And I don’t know if it’s tightness, if it’s a lack of anticipation, lack of quick-twitch movement — but he whiffs way too much.”

One thing I believe will help Thomas overcome his weaknesses is playing closer to the action — in the box.

What these two players do have in common is they’re both ball-hawks. “Phillip — he’s got great ball skills,” Jim Haslett said on Wednesday.  “[He] has the ability to come up with key plays, big interceptions. Led the NCAA in interceptions. Phillip’s got good size, good enough speed. The guy likes football, understands football, studies football. And then Bacarri [Rambo] is a guy – he’s a really good athlete. [He] was a high school quarterback. Also has good ball skills, has the chance to make a lot of plays for you. And that’s what wins in the league. So we figure last year we had 31 turnovers, which is really good for a defense, but we have a chance to pick up three guys [David Amerson included] that can add to those totals through the interception market.”

Bacarri Rambo has worked more with the first team than Phillip Thomas in pre-training camp workouts. But Haslett says it’s only because Thomas missed a week. As of now, it’s a bleak picture at the safety position — especially free safety. “Brandon [Meriweather] hasn’t come back yet [injury],” Haslett said. “Brandon will be back for training camp and I’m sure Brandon’s going to be in the mix. So far, between him, you know Reed [Doughty] does a good job in situations. Jordan [Bernstine] did a good job for us last year in certain situations. So we’ll put the best guys on the field or a combination of safeties until they are all ready to play.”

As said, the transition from college to the NFL at safety is tough. “Number one, the complexity of the defense,” Haslett said on the reason it’s tough to transition. “The number of defenses we have, including zones and blitzes; it’s not the easiest defense to learn from that standpoint. And they’ve got to play two positions. They have got to learn strong and free. They can’t just play one position. It’s just going to take reps. They’re going to need time on the grass, but I think as they get the more time in training camp and we get more reps on there that they’ll start to shine.”

Haslett believes it’s realistic for one of those rookie safeties to earn a starting job. “I really do think one of them will be on the grass. I’m not sure which one, but one of them I think is going to have to… I think they’ll all help us. I think all three [David Amerson included] of them are going to help us. I just don’t know to what extent yet.”

My guess, if Meriweather is healthy — Bacarri Rambo has the best shot at filling the free safety position. There’s no clear cut starter there and if you want someone making mistakes — why not let it be a young, developing player?