Training Camp Breakdown – Safety

John Lynch has a penchant for big plays. Photo Courtesy

All 32 teams have begun Training Camp practices by now – in fact, the Denver Broncos just happened to be the last team to report to camp because of league rules and the fact that we’re the last ones to play our first preseason game. The afternoon practice is all Special Teams – I’ll have a report on that in the morning. Today I continue my breakdown of the roster competitions, where the starters at both Free and Strong Safety are likely set in stone (John Lynch and Nick Ferguson respectively), but the competition is fierce for their backups. The release of Sam Brandon opens the door for one of our younger players to come in and make an impact – something to get excited about when you consider that both Lynch and Ferguson are in their thirties. And while Curome Cox, Steve Cargile and Hamza Abdullah have had their opportunities before, there’s a fresh face in the crowd – undrafted rookie Wisconsin safety Roderick Rogers. And any conversation with safety can’t be had without including our nickelback, Domonique Foxworth. Here’s the breakdown.

Backup Safety

Curome Cox

Curome Cox‘s story is very similar to current starter Nick Ferguson‘s – undrafted as a rookie, getting cut, getting resigned, making an impact on Special Teams, then finding his way onto the 53-man roster as a safety in the NFL. At 6-1, 204 lbs., Cox serves as the primary backup to Ferguson and fits that mold well. While none of our safeties can be really considered coverage specialists, I would say that Cox fits that bill better than any of the others save Foxworth. I’m hearing good things from camp on Cox – that he is hustling to the ball on and after every play, and that his work ethic is solid all around. With Ferguson coming off his knee injury last year, Cox had better be working hard – he’s one play away from seeing the field.

Hamza Abdullah

Abdullah is sounding more and more to me like a free safety. He’s built similarly to Lynch at 6-2 and 216 lbs., and has a knack for big plays in the run game that gave Lynch the pseudo-job description of “4th linebacker.” He’s been pretty hyped this offseason by Broncos fans – I’ve heard almost as much on Abdullah as I have on Thump Belton for crying out loud. Another lesser-hyped player coming out of college (drafted in the 7th round by Tampa Bay in 2005), he has made an impact on the Broncos squad in special teams and may get more looks in certain packages this offseason. He’s been impressive so far in Training Camp – light on his feet for his size, and excellent at blitzing, Abdullah may just be one of the Broncos to break out in 2007.

Domonique Foxworth

Quite possibly the best nickelback in the league, Foxworth doesn’t have the size you’d look for in a safety, but that’s not stopping him. Word from camp is that he’s doing great in double duty – seeing work at both cornerback and safety – and that he isn’t afraid to get physical with his hits. At 5-11, 180 lbs., Foxworth is by far the smallest member of the bunch. Him seeing practice time at safety increased the depth overall in our secondary without costing us another valuable roster spot – and he may just be the best coverage safety we have.

Steve Cargile

Talk about a jack of all trades… after playing 3 seasons as a wide receiver at Columbia, he switched to free safety in his senior year. And there he really shined. He’ll get the opportunity to switch again in Denver, where he’s playing some snaps at linebacker. Cargile made plays all over the field in college in his final year at safety. And in training camp, he’s looking good – showing more talent at safety, with good range and a few deflected passes. He will look to make an impact this year as he competes for a spot on the roster, likely with the man below…

Quentin Harris

A true special teams ace, Harris came from the Cardinals as one of their leading special teams tacklers over the past few years. We acquired Harris late in the 2006 season, after he had been cut by the Giants after less than one year. While I’ve read good things about him (not only in special teams – he had a nice pass deflection the other day), it seems he’s getting outshined by Abdullah and Cox. He and Cargile will compete to be the fifth safety to make the team.

Roderick Rogers

This guy his hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Cox and Ferguson as he enters his first year in the NFL as an undrafted free agent. At 6-1, 189 lbs., the real concern with Rogers is his durability and size. He’s not as big as most of the safeties – only Foxworth measures below him – and his January knee injury will make it difficult for him to make the team. He’s excellent at coverage and has a nose for the ball, and he likely would have been a mid round pick if he hadn’t gotten hurt – but with that size, it was a big risk for any team to take. Probably I/R or Practice Squad member.

Predicted Depth Chart

Free Safety
1. John Lynch
2. Hamza Abdullah
3. Steve Cargile

Strong Safety
1. Nick Ferguson
2. Curome Cox
3. Domonique Foxworth