In order to survive, you've got to adapt, right?
In reality, 33-year-old Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr probably doesn't need to change. Without much fanfare, he's coming off one of the best seasons of his 12-year career and showing no signs of slowing.
But because of the Ravens' bounty of talent at the cornerback position – specifically the presence of Jimmy Smith and Marlon Humphrey – Carr is learning some new tricks.
Usually anchored as an outside cornerback, Carr has been playing in the slot and even some at safety so far at Ravens training camp. It remains to be seen how much he would actually do that in the regular season, but it's an interesting development.
"It's a new challenge. At this point of my career, man, I'm just ready for whatever," Carr said. "I've played a long time. I feel like this is an opportunity for me to go out there and show my versatility, fill in wherever I'm needed, help out as much as I'm needed."
Putting Carr somewhere other than outside would allow the Ravens to put him, Smith (one of the league's top outside corners) and Humphrey (a blossoming young star) on the field all at the same time. That's a dangerous trio.
For the past two seasons, the Ravens have rotated the three cornerbacks when they're all healthy and available. It's helped keep them fresher throughout the game. Baltimore will still likely do that this year, but could add packages with all three if Carr's conversion goes well.
"We're deep across the board. It's tough to get on the field, so you have to find any way that you can to go out there, get your name called and make a play," Carr said.
Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale said a benefit of moving Carr around is that it better enables him (or other players) to match up against offensive players. Since offenses move their wide receivers around so much, a defender who wants to "shadow" must be able to do the same.
The move could also impact Carr's streak. The "Iron Horse" has started 176 consecutive games, the longest active streak among all NFL defensive players and second-longest in the entire league behind the Chargers' Philip Rivers (208).
Carr said he's not thinking about the streak at all, but it's not something the Ravens want to break if they don't have to, and Carr's high level of play, and now added versatility, gives them no reason.
"I consider him a starter. Yes, I do," Martindale said.
Check out the best photos from the Ravens' fifth training camp practice.
Expect Another Quarterback to Be Added Soon
The Ravens reportedly worked out veteran free-agent quarterback Josh Johnson, but he left without signing a contract, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
If true, the Ravens are still on the hunt for another quarterback after Robert Griffin III suffered a fractured bone in his throwing hand during Saturday's practice.
The team has its first day off from training camp on Tuesday, and Head Coach John Harbaugh said he anticipates having a third healthy quarterback to join Lamar Jackson and rookie Trace McSorley by Wednesday's practice.
"Yes, definitely. We will have one here, for sure," Harbaugh said.
"There will be a guy in here on Wednesday and he'll be really good. If he's really, really good, he'll have a chance to make the team. You never know. That's football."
Ravens Sent to Run Laps for Pre-Snap Penalties
After several false starts during Sunday's practice, Ravens coaches had players doing laps for pre-snap penalties during Monday's session.
Tight end Mark Andrews, center Matt Skura and rookie running back Justice Hill all had to do some extra running during practice.
On Sunday, Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said his unit had been very good with not committing such penalties, but that they need to do better.
"It's hard to turn that lemon into lemonade when you jump offsides," Roman said. "We're constantly pushing the envelope with our cadences, mixing them up, trying to keep the defense a little bit more flat-footed. But we have to do a better job with that than we did today."