Jim Leonhard wanted the chance to play in Rex Ryan's defensive system. Fabian Washington wanted the chance to play anywhere other than Oakland.
Together, they are starting over in the Ravens' secondary, perhaps just in the nick of time.
In a daily battle against attrition this summer, Ryan, the Ravens' defensive coordinator, has yet to put his projected starting secondary on the field because of injuries. With the season opener just 11 days away, Leonhard and Washington could become key figures in any potential makeover.
Leonhard spent three seasons with the Buffalo Bills as a solid special teams player and reserve safety who figured to fill the same role here. But when Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed showed up at camp with a shoulder injury, Leonhard's role kept growing.
Unless Reed makes a miraculous recovery before Sept. 7, it's likely Leonhard will start at free safety.
Washington won't play in the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals under any circumstance - he is suspended one game for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy - but he was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Raiders to upgrade the team at cornerback.
A first-round draft pick in 2005 by the Raiders, Washington might not play in the team's final preseason game tomorrow night at home against the Atlanta Falcons because of a hamstring issue.
His injury complicates a muddled secondary picture that, in addition to Reed, has included cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle being sidelined by knee injuries. Rolle played last week in St. Louis, but McAlister probably won't play before the opener.
"You coach who's out there and you get those guys ready," Ryan said yesterday of his summer of intrigue.
The Ravens got reinforcements in the offseason by signing free agents Leonhard and cornerback Frank Walker, trading for Washington and drafting safeties Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura. Leonhard was attracted by coach John Harbaugh's background in special teams and Ryan's zone-blitz schemes. Little did he know he would spend as much time in zone blitzes as punt coverage.
"I've gotten a lot of reps, and they've been rolling a lot of people in with the first team, even linebackers," Leonhard said. "A lot of teams don't do that. That's a credit to the coaches."
Leonhard is even more impressed by the freedom Ryan gives his players and the opportunities they have to make plays.
