Let The Ross Debate Begin

It's way too early to start the debate over whether Aaron Ross should go to safety or stay at cornerback once he returns on gameday. But that's never stopped any of us before. And certainly now that he's lasted through his first whole practice since training camp and appears well on his way to active status against Atlanta next week, it seems appropriate.

So here's the question on the table. Once he gets back, would you put him at safety or leave him at cornerback? Remember, he did play safety at Texas, so he has some experience.

Ross said he's game.

"If I'm asked to move, I'd be more than willing," Ross said. "We're supposed to know the whole defense, anyway; know what everybody else is doing."

Ross said the theoretical move was news to him, though. The coaching staff has simply been waiting for the three separate tears in his hamstring to heal before they could even begin short or long-range planning for the former first-round pick. Even secondary coach Pete Giunta wouldn't offer a solid notion of how Ross might be used. He did hint that keeping him at corner was a better possibility than a move simply because they have to see exactly how Ross tolerates the activity.

"He missed all the preseason and all the regular season. He's missed 13 games," Giunta said. "It's gonna take time to get his timing back and all the other things back. He'll have to get himself ready. Next week, we'll get him hit the sled and get the pads back on just so we can see what he can do.

"He'll need a couple of games to get back, and he'll need some practice time to get his timing back. He needs a few more days of practice before he can even get involved in a game. He only took 50 percent of the snaps today, so he's got to get back into football shape. As things evolve, we'll see what we need the most."

EP