Written by Kevin Patra at NFL.com
DeAngelo Hall is looking forward to the full-time move to safety after spending 12 seasons mostly playing corner.
Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry began tinkering with Hall at safety last season, but the move will become permanent in 2016. With Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland locking down the corner spots, Hall will have freedom to roam the middle of the field.
While promoting the NFL in England, Hall was asked by Will Gavin of Gridiron Magazine how he’ll feel staring down the likes of Eli Manning and Tony Romo, head-on as a safety.
“I think them seeing me back there is going to put a little fear in their hearts, as well,” Hall said. “I’ve always been a guy, even at the corner position, who is known to get the ball, create takeaways, big plays, big play guy. So to have me out there at free safety doing the same thing … it’s more intimidating at free safety to have a guy who can do those things. That’s where your Ed Reeds, your Sean Taylors, Charles Woodson, late in his career, that is where they made the bulk of their plays is back there in the middle of the field.”
The never bashful Hall is lumping himself in with some all-time company. His point, however, is solid. Hall owns the ball skills to make game-changing plays from the free safety spot — so long as he takes to the position flawlessly and doesn’t get caught cheating the wrong way regularly. With Norman and Breeland on the outside, Hall should have freedom to jump lanes and make plays.
Hall believes adding more picks could one day get him into the Hall of Fame.
“I got the numbers to make a case that I should have a gold jacket, at the end of the day, so I’m just trying to keep building on it, keep building on my legacy,” he said. “Like I said, it’s about trying to win some championships at this point.”
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