With a revamped secondary, we see if this Oakland Raiders unit is ready to take this already stout defense to another level in 2016.
The Oakland Raiders had a busy off-season, saying good bye to future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, and the team needed some major upgrades on the back end of their defense. They accomplished just that through both the draft and free agency. Having a mix of veteran and rookie talent is key to having an all around solid unit.
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The team had some defensive backs on the roster but none that are truly different makers aside from David Amerson, who recently was awarded a contract extension for his production. Other then him, the group included former first round pick D.J Hayden, T.J Carrie, and Neiko Thorpe. Those are some good players to have, but preferably as depth and nickel players.
One of the first moves the team did to bolster this group was signing Sean Smith away from division rival Kansas City. Smith can bring a lot to the table, but one thing that sticks out with him is durability. Over his seven year career, he has only missed four games. Having a consistent presence at corner is huge for any defense, especially in today’s pass happy NFL.
Smith’s interception totals may not jump off the page with only ten picks over his entire career, but that should be more of a testament to his actual coverage skills.
He may not be able to make highlight reel plays on the ball every Sunday, but he will bring great coverage skills to a team that desperately needed it.
The other move Oakland decided to do in free agency was bring over Reggie Nelson.
Nelson continues a theme similar to Smith in terms of durability, missing only six games over the course of his nine year career.
Despite proving to be durable and productive (eight interceptions and 14 pass deflections in 2015), Nelson was passed on by many teams due to him being 32 years old.
Now fast forward to late April, with the Oakland Raiders on the clock with the 14th overall pick, they select West Virginia product Karl Joseph, who is someone I have excelling for the Silver and Black.
Joseph played only four games in his final collegiate season, but Pro Football Focus still gave him a top 20 rating for the 2016 Draft Class. Who knows how high he could have gone had he been able to stay healthy?
So, Oakland has a starting corner duo of Smith and Amerson, with Nelson and Joseph at the safety spots. That looks great on paper, but how good are they when you really look into it?
Well, it still looks just as good as it does on paper, especially when you look at the Raiders front seven. With Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin getting after the passer, they can make any secondary better. Smith can really press up on receivers, which is what he does best, knowing the ball has to be thrown in a very quick window of time with Mack and Irvin getting after it. Amerson can capitalize on errant throws almost as well as anyone in the league today.
With Nelson playing a true free safety role, it allows David Amerson to really play true to his style. Taking chances on the ball in hopes of making a play, he can do it confidently knowing he has some great back end insurance in the seasoned veteran. Allowing players to play to their strengths is what can make a defense great.
Reggie Nelson’s role also allows Joseph to play closer to the line of scrimmage, which is where his strength lies. For the Mountaineers, Karl Joseph consistently made plays in the box, throwing his body into anyone trying to block him, including offensive linemen in space. The rookie safety plays with a lot of passion, especially when it comes to tackling, and he can make an instant impact in the run game.
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When you really look at the secondary as a whole, it has balance. It has its playmaker at corner and a lock down player at the opposite side. You can then throw in a true centerfielding safety complemented by an in-the-box, physical player. All of these players have different play styles, but they can really complement each other almost perfectly. Having a variety of great players who specialize in different areas makes it extremely tough for opponents to game plan, which is exactly why I expect this unit to be the strongest for the Oakland Raiders in 2016.