Could SS Phillips replace Russell at FS?
Roy Cummings of Tampa Bay Online reports Buccaneers strong safety Jermaine Phillips is scheduled to visit the San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks sometime this week.
Earlier this offseason, head coach Jim Mora indicated he wouldn't replace the current safeties after a sub-par season for the secondary in which free safety Brian Russell took much of the flak.
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Phillips is the top-ranked safety in free agency and is obviously the perfect fit for the Tampa-2 defense, coming from Tampa Bay, where he record 59 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble. Mora has said the Seahawks may be converting to more of a Tampa-2 style defense.
Phillips has exceptional instincts that allow him to make plays on the ball for interceptions and forced fumbles. At 220 lbs, he's also a powerful strong safety with an adept ability to help stuff the run, but he also has enough speed to cover a lot of ground, which is especially necessary in the Tampa 2.
Where would Phillips fit?
The news of Phillips' impending Seattle visit is surprising considering current SS Deon Grant had a solid year, 79 tackles and two interceptions. The only explanation for bringing in Phillips would be to replace the much-maligned Brian Russell at free safety, who some saw as the weakest link in an all-around under-performing secondary.
However, Phillips' biggest weakness is his top end speed, an attribute not welcoming to the free safety, who often plays further back than the SS. That's not to say Phillips' overall speed is poor because he is one of the most dynamic safeties in the league and a big part of the Buccaneers' Tampa-2 defense.
Another explanation, and perhaps a better scenario, could have Grant moving to free safety because he is a little lighter and faster than Phillips. Grant also sometimes struggles against the run and Phillips excels at it.
Injuries
One thing to be wary of is his injury history. More specifically, Phillips' apparent re-occurring forearm injury, something that has been a problem for him since 2004. His season ended in December on injured reserve in 2004 and 2008.
Contract
Tampa Bay wants to re-sign Phillips, but he appears to be shopping himself around for the highest bidder. The Seahawks may not have enough salary cap room after the recent $40-million acquisition of Houshmandzadeh. However, the details of the contract are unknown, so the deal may not affect the salary cap much this season.
Age
Phillips, 30, is aging but still has several solid years left in him and so does Grant, 29. Meanwhile, Russell, 31, appears to be on the downfall in his career after showing a less-than-average ability to make tackles in 2008. Still, much of Russell's troubles came from an overall bad defensive line.
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
