Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks can give Baltimore one of the NFL’s most versatile safety combinations.
Starks’ range and comfort playing deep should allow Jesse Minter to move Hamilton closer to the football. Hamilton can align as a traditional safety, nickel defender, dime linebacker or edge player. That does not mean Starks will remain in one position. The second-year safety can cover the slot, rotate into the box, or disguise the coverage before dropping into the deep middle.
Minter can begin with both players showing a two-high shell. At the snap, Starks can remain deep while Hamilton attacks the line of scrimmage. On another play, Hamilton can drop while Starks covers a tight end. The Ravens also have Jaylinn Hawkins, which makes three-safety
packages even more dynamic and flexible. Hawkins can handle a deep assignment and allow both Hamilton and Starks to move. Marlon Humphrey’s ability to play outside or inside adds another layer. Baltimore can change its coverage structure without substituting, making it harder for quarterbacks to diagnose the defense through personnel.
Hamilton will remain the defense’s chess piece. Starks’ development gives Minter even more freedom to determine where that piece can create the most damage.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: How Jesse Minter could deploy Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks
