Oakland Raiders gave David Amerson new life
By Andrew Long
David Amerson joined the Oakland Raiders in the early portions of 2015. His arrival went better than planned, as he finally began to tap into his pool of potential.
The Oakland Raiders acquired cornerback David Amerson on the free agency market after he and the Washington Redskins parted ways in 2015. The 24-year-old cornerback was selected by the Redskins in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but struggled to live up to his potential during his time with the Burgundy & Gold – which makes his sudden rise to prominence all the more puzzling.
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Perhaps Oakland’s coaches know how to utilize his talents better, perhaps their staff and trainers know how to develop his abilities at a higher rate, or perhaps he just needed a change of scenery. Whatever the case, there is no disputing the fact that David Amerson has improved his game tenfold since joining the Raiders after his dismissal from Washington.
During his tenure with the Redskins, the young corner was exposed in coverage on a regular basis, often times allowing the opposition to record large gains in the process. Amerson’s inability to cover wide receivers and record interceptions led to his release, but his age and potential landed him a second opportunity with the cornerback needy Oakland Raiders.
While David Amerson has only spent one season with the Silver and Black, he found a way to make the most out of the opportunity in front of him. The former North Carolina State standout managed to record four interceptions for the Raiders in 2015, finishing behind only the great Charles Woodson on the team in the category.
His four interceptions double the amount he was able to secure for the Redskins in the two years prior, as he only manage to nab two picks during his time in Washington. In addition to doubling his interception total, Amerson also managed to deflect 25 passes on the year, which, again, is more than he was able to accumulate in the previous two years in Washington (17).
His development has earned him a spot opposite of Sean Smith as a starting cornerback in Oakland, and if 2015 was any type of indication of the course Amerson’s career is going to take, the Raiders should feel extremely positive about his future with the team.
Personally, I believe that Amerson’s emergence had a lot to do with the players that surround him on defense. I’m not saying he isn’t talented, not at all, I’m just saying that the level of success that he captured in 2015 was likely tied to the talent that surrounds him on the Raiders fierce defensive unit.
This doesn’t mean his impressive, possibly career saving season was a fluke, though. It just means that he finally has the talent around him that he always deserved, the talent that Washington’s defense seemingly lacked.
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Sharing the secondary with Sean Smith, Reggie Nelson, and Karl Joseph, his peers possess a great deal of talent. And with players like Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin coming off of the edge, the team’s pass-rush will likely be one of the best in the NFL, something that bodes well for players in pass protection.
While I’m not sure which element of the Raiders helped turned his career around, I’m certain that the change of scenery played into it. Whether it be the coaching, the talent he is surrounded with, or just his will to improve, David Amerson has figured things out in Oakland.