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Baltimore Ravens

Kyle Arrington starts at cornerback, shifts to safety against Saints

By Jon Meoli
Baltimore Sun
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Through no fault of his own, Campanaro hasn’t gotten much attention in the Ravens’ crowded wide rece

Through no fault of his own, Campanaro hasn’t gotten much attention in the Ravens’ crowded wide receiver crew this summer. More of the focus has been on who hasn’t been around (Breshad Perriman and Marlon Brown) and who might emerge (DeAndre Carter and Jeremy Butler) than guys like Campanaro, who runs good routes, makes catches in space, and has clear value for the slot receiver he is. Campanaro’s touchdown was a result of him finding a hole in the defense and making a play with the ball in his hands, something the Ravens will need in this diverse receiving group. (Gail Burton / Associated Press)

If Thursday's preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints is a barometer for such a thing, the constant shuffling in the secondary that defined the 2014 Ravens could be back in 2015.

Free agent cornerback Kyle Arrington started the game and played the first two series in the absence of Jimmy Smith, who is slowly coming back from last year's Lisfranc foot injury, and Lardarius Webb, who dressed but did not play.

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Then, Arrington shifted to safety with the second-team defense, lining up alongside safety Anthony Levine for multiple series in the second quarter.

"We've got a lot of guys who can play multiple positions, so it's one thing we're trying to get out there just in case you need to plug in guys somewhere else," Arrington said. "An unfortunate part of this game is injuries and things like that occur. So it's one of those things where I came in and was asked to learn multiple positions."

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Arrington, signed by the Ravens in May after the New England Patriots released him after six seasons, played some safety with the New England Patriots, though mostly last preseason as they tried to fit the likes of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner into their secondary.

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After that preseason experiment, the Patriots used him almost exclusively in the slot, though it seems the Ravens might have more diverse plans for him.

Arrington slyly said the Ravens' coaching staff had been "sneaking [snaps] in here and there" at safety throughout training camp.

It became a true position of need two weeks ago when safety Matt Elam suffered a torn biceps. With second-year safety Terrence Brooks on the physically unable to perform list after a season-ending knee injury last year, Levine, special teamer Brynden Trawick, and undrafted rookie Nick Perry were the only safeties behind starters Kendrick Lewis and Will Hill.

Levine said playing beside a veteran like Arrington was an easy transition.

"One thing about Kyle, Kyle's going to fly around and he's going to hit," Levine said. "Any time you're back there with somebody who's going to play fast and he's going to tackle, that's all you can ask for."

jmeoli@baltsun.com

www.twitter.com/jonmeoli

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