Oakland Raiders: 6 Critical training camp battles to watch
Weak-Side Linebacker
Emmanuel Lamur vs. Nicholas Morrow
Guenther will have plenty of options when fielding the linebacker corps. Irvin will move to defensive end, which frees the strong-side linebacker spot. Expect newcomer Tahir Whitehead to fill that role. Pride of Detroit writer Jeremy Reisman laid out the former Lion player’s skill set.
"Overall, Whitehead is very much a jack of all trades, but master at none type of player. He has some scheme versatility, but is best kept on the outside. His only real glaring weakness is his coverage abilities, whether it’s man or zone responsibilities."
On the strong side, Whitehead won’t have much coverage responsibility. He can line up on the outside and help seal the edge against the run.
The Raiders signed Derrick Johnson, who’s best fit for the middle linebacker spot. Right now, Marquel Lee profiles as a two-down linebacker who must come off the field on passing downs.
Oakland’s inability to cover tight ends and running backs catching out of the backfield remains an issue with Melifonwu so far behind the curve and Joseph too small to match up against bigger bodies. Unless sixth-rounder Azeem Victor or undrafted Penn State product Jason Cabinda make a significant push during the summer, it’s Johnson’s spot to lose, which leaves an undecided weak-side linebacker position.
Nicholas Morrow started five contests in the previous season, broke up four passes and logged 37 tackles. He’s learning the game under Johnson’s wing, which bodes well for his development as a linebacker who can cover ground and close on ball-carriers as well as receivers.
Emmanuel Lamur started 13 games under Guenther during the 2014 season. He logged seven pass breakups and two interceptions that year, but it’s a blast from the distant past. At 29 years old, he’ll transition to a special-teamer who also teaches the system to teammates. The sixth-year pro would serve as a solid backup in case Morrow struggles to pick up the scheme or goes down with an injury.
Projected Winner: Nicholas Morrow