Starting cornerback still up in the air
The mystery over who will start for Fabian Washington -- who is lost for the remainder of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Sunday's 17-15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts -- is still ongoing.
Although rookie Lardarius Webb played primarily nickel back against the Colts and replaced Washington against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 8 when Washington bruised his left thigh, head coach John Harbaugh stated Monday that Webb, Chris Carr and Frank Walker could play opposite starter Domonique Foxworth.
Pagano echoed that sentiment this afternoon, saying, "It’ll be corner by committee. … Frank started the AFC championship game for us and played even though he had a dislocated shoulder. Chris has played a lot of football and understands and isn’t awed by any of this stuff. It’s going to take a group effort to get this win."
Both Carr and Walker said they had not yet been informed of their roles for Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. "I just prepare every week like, 'Hey, if they want me to be out there, I’ll be out there,'" Carr said. "And I’ve shown in the past that I can play well at corner when I’ve gotten my opportunities to start. So I’m confident that I can go in there and play well. I just want to go out there and compete. If I’m out there, that’s great. If not, I’ll be out there doing something else."
Said Walker: "I always prepare like I’m the starting corner -- no matter what."
Even Webb tried to deflect the media’s attention. "I haven’t been reported to be the starter," he said. "We have more corners, and we have to compete this week. So we’re going to see who’s going to come out on top. We’ve got a lot of work to put in."
Comments
Webb had better start. He is obviously better than Walker and Carr. Webb is bigger, faster, and more athletic than Carr and Walker.
The thing about Walker is he played really well down the stretch last year. I bet the coaches are trying to get that same play out of him. He is just so sporadic.
Posted by: Christopher White | November 25, 2009 3:45 PM
Yea , start Frank Walker . They way we know we're good for at least one "burning" . And one stupid flag at a critical point of the game .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | November 25, 2009 3:45 PM
please let lardarius webb start, walker and carr can just cover as nickel, but i definitely want to see webb starting at corner by foxworth
Posted by: Kevin | November 25, 2009 3:50 PM
You mean Frank Walker actually prepares?
Posted by: Brian | November 25, 2009 3:58 PM
Walker and Carr are lousy DB's , their best hope is to put Webb in there as the starting corner , he has showed that he can play Ravens football , Carr and Walker tends to get lost out on the field covering recievers , we've all seen happen everygame !
Posted by: songod7 | November 25, 2009 4:12 PM
If Ladarius Webb is not the starting corner then I have to realize that last season was a mix of good luck and flukiness,and Rex Ryan's defensive ability.Mattison has done very little to impress me as a Defensive Coordinator,especially when we could have had Rex's brother,Rob who had a pretty good defense on a horrible team and would been a much better fit then John Harbaugh's father's friend.This ain't college,and where's Antwan Barnes been,he's always brought pressure every time I've ever seen him play?
Posted by: Burt from Essex | November 25, 2009 4:19 PM
Only if the Ravens had selected Miami's big CB Sean Smith rather than Paul "i am to small" Kruger @ DE. Off season moves are so critical.
Posted by: Tony | November 25, 2009 4:21 PM
Walker actually played quite well down the stretch last year for those who paid attention. He made a LOT OF PLAYS. However, clearly he has struggled in pre-season, and this season. I know it's a crucial game, but it's time for Webb to start to learn in the fire. Cincy went through tough times with their young corners 2 years ago, and now they are reaping the rewards.
Posted by: KS | November 25, 2009 5:20 PM
The funny thing to me is you all talk about Frank Walker as if he's so bad .....compared to what on this team.....Domonique Slipworth who slips more than a bad transmission ?...I'd take Walker over Carr or Slipworth....Walker gets called for some bad penalties but atleast he's in the picture frame when the ball arrives....unlike Slipworth who's in the popcorn machine as the receiver streaks down the field......poor Fabian Washington ...this is why he was always affraid to tackle....the man has the durability of dry rotted toothpicks.....Kj Gerrard has good college stats and had a great camp....Lardarius Webb shows alot of potential....Cary Williams looks like a very fine athlete I'm sure he's better than Foxworth....Holmes, Wallace or Ward will eat Foxworth alive....it'l be oil on ice....downhill.
Posted by: Rob | November 25, 2009 6:02 PM
OMG, not Frank Walker! He can't cover himself.
Lou
Posted by: Lou Bisasky | November 25, 2009 6:08 PM
Yo, Tony. They didn't draft Smith...Get over it already. Wassamattayou? But come this April, they could be in position to select Joe Haden of Florida. He'll be a top cover corner. But he's a junior and has to come out.
Posted by: Friggenwacko | November 25, 2009 6:13 PM
Please no Frank Walker !
and considering critising ravens draft picks...... there a a lot teams that do much more worse than our team does.
Our 1st and 3rd round picks already payed off, so Im still happy with the staff draft pick decisions.
Posted by: Andrew | November 25, 2009 6:31 PM
I don't know...from what I've seen, it's more like "Ravens starting cornerbacks sprawled out all over the ground".
Posted by: JB | November 25, 2009 7:21 PM
This game is for the season guys, and I for one hope that the coaching staff is able to put together a good coverage scheme, whether it is Walker, Webb, Carr, or a combination of all three.
More, this game is about pride, and another team owning you. The Ravens have lost three straight games to the Steelers and must make a statement Sunday night.
Frankly I think the defense is going to do just fine. Cam Cameron has got to figure a way to put points on the board against a tough Steelers defense.
The Ravens are due, for a lot of reasons. I think we win Sunday night. I haven't felt this good about a Ravens/Steeler game for a long time.
A wounded dog fights to the death.
Go Ravens!!!
Posted by: Gil | November 25, 2009 7:26 PM
If Frank Walker starts I am going to give up on this team. That guy is garbage. It is time to let the young guy get the chance to start and see what he can do. In the times I have seen him in the games he has been nothing but good.
Posted by: Sean Quinn | November 25, 2009 7:38 PM
How Walker is still on the team let alone possibly starting is mind boggling.
Posted by: Tom Hedrick | November 25, 2009 8:02 PM
If Frank Walker steps on that field at kickoff its time to turn the tv off. How is this guy even on the team??????
Posted by: Keepitreal | November 25, 2009 9:01 PM
I can't understand why Dominique (Sir Slipsalot) Foxworthless is still on the team. I guess Ozzie just can't admit he blew it. At least Harbaugh admitted he blew it by not signing Stover. I've never seen a so-called football player spend so much time flat on his derrière after slipping. He got $27 million; can't he afford a decent pair of shoes?
Posted by: easywriter01 | November 25, 2009 9:03 PM
all walker does is get penalties
Posted by: ando | November 25, 2009 9:49 PM
How Carr is still on the team let alone possibly starting is mind boggling.
Posted by: JB | November 25, 2009 10:32 PM
OMG how is this so damn diffciult? Carr has been TERRIBLE and Walker is a penalty waiting to happen. Webb has showed that he can play so I just don't understand what the problem is. I'm not saying he'll shut down Ward or Holmes, but so far he's shown much more than Carr or Walker.
Posted by: Marcus | November 26, 2009 2:02 AM
Frank Walker invited me to dinner, but we dined and dashed because he couldn't cover the check.
Posted by: Karl | November 26, 2009 2:02 AM
Sunday will be judgement day!
i can't wait to see Webb destroying ward...Ward should remenber Webb is a former hard hitting safety... I'm sure Webb know they will target him all game long, but i'm also sure he will stand up like a man and show everybody he is the real deal!
Sunday we will find if webb is our new lockdown corner, and i will be rooting for him! Go out there young lardarius chase and kill something wearing yellow... RAVENS RULEZ!
Posted by: mika from france | November 26, 2009 5:25 AM
NOOOOOOOOoooooo!!! Not Walker. This guy will have flags downfield all night. WHY is it the fans notice that Webb is the best cover guy on the team? I think the ones who think they know better than us, just dont want to win! Webb is the best cover option AND the best return specialist. How many more times will we see Carr throw his hand up? Like Coach Singeltary said, quote "I want winners!"
Posted by: Larry | November 26, 2009 9:03 AM
why is this even a question? sheez
Posted by: Anonymous | November 26, 2009 12:10 PM
Just grab Chris McCallister out of a night club and throw him on the field.
Posted by: Josh | November 26, 2009 3:33 PM
C-Mac signed w/ the Saints last week.
Posted by: Nicole | November 27, 2009 12:33 PM