We take a look at just how Oakland’s 2016 first round selection is bound to succeed for the Silver and Black.
With the 14th overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, the front office of the Oakland Raiders decided to shock some people and select former West Virginia safety Karl Joseph. Well, I’m here to tell you why that was a great move by Reggie McKenzie.
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Before Joseph’s season was cut short after only four games, he was having his presence felt on the back end of the Mountaineer defense. Pro Football Focus gave him a plus 12.4 rating, which would have been top-20 in this entire draft class. He may not have lasted until the 14th pick had he played his entire final collegiate season. Raiders fans should be thanking his lucky stars, and so should Karl Joseph.
The situation couldn’t be any better for the 5’10” safety. He gets to join a team on the up-swing, with a talented, young core of players to build around, Joseph gets his chance to become a main staple of this team for the next decade.
The rookie safety can almost play anywhere on the back end of a defense, except the ‘center field’ safety position, Joseph can really make plays from anywhere on the field. In Oakland, he doesn’t have to do that. The team signed veteran free safety Reggie Nelson, who was one of the best in the game in 2015, and should allow Karl Joseph to play to his strengths, while also learning from a seasoned veteran. That’s a situation every incoming rookie dreams about.
It doesn’t stop there, either. Oakland has a scary pair of edge rushers in the form of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. Mack is one of the best defensive players in the game (Who I have winning DPOY this season) while Irvin is a solid compliment who the team brought over via free agency. That vaunting pass rush duo will make things a lot easier for Joseph, who wont be forced to cover for more then just a few seconds. This defense is ready to dominate and the former Mountaineer couldn’t have been a better addition.
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Joseph brings more then an impressive physical skill set to the table. If you watch him on tape there’s one thing that really stands out, his love for the game. Aside from being named team captain, you see it in so many different ways from him.
He’ll throw his body into lineman, play in the box, and try to lay a huge hit on you every chance he gets. He reads the field awfully well which is an ode to his film study and his off the field habits. He only cares about winning the game and if you ask me, that’s the exact type of player I want to eventually lead my defense next to Khalil Mack.