Oakland Raiders: Coaching staff showing little confidence in Karl Joseph
After starting 24 games over the last two seasons, Oakland Raiders safety Karl Joseph has logged 10 defensive snaps in 2018. Will he see more playing time?
Even though we’re just two weeks into the regular season, it’s clear safety Karl Joseph will have a difficult time convincing the front office to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.
Joseph has played 10 defensive snaps in two games. For the most part, he’s been active on special teams (32 snaps). It’s probably a humbling experience for a 2016 first-round pick, who started 24 games in his first two seasons.
Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther had an interesting comment about Joseph’s role leading up to the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur (subscription required). Guenther was very non-commital about Joseph’s role.
Based on his words, Guenther sees Joseph as someone who can have a circumstantial impact—for spot duty. Again, for a top-15 draft pick, it’s an alarming outlook.
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Reggie Nelson and Marcus Gilchrist have soaked up most of the playing time at safety, playing 86.05 and 84.50 percent of defensive snaps respectively. Nelson spent two seasons in Guenther’s system with the Cincinnati Bengals, which gives him an edge for a bigger role. However, he turned 35 years old Friday and appears to look a step or two behind on several plays.
The previous regime, which included former head coach Jack Del Rio, drafted Joseph, but the new coaching staff doesn’t see him as a game-changer even worth a moderate role at the moment. The West Virginia product could see an uptick in snap count as the season progresses, but he must leapfrog one of the starters and Erik Harris who took on a bigger role at the position in Denver last week.
Head coach Jon Gruden raved about Harris during the preseason. The 28-year-old stands at 6-3, 225 pounds, and he’s capable of playing in different situations whether it’s against the run or in coverage. The Raiders don’t seem to have the same confidence in Joseph who lists at 5-10, 205 pounds.
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At this point, it’s fair to wonder if the Raiders will shop Joseph before the trade deadline. Despite listing as a starter on the depth chart, the 25-year old’s minimal role speaks volumes, and it doesn’t sound good for his short-term outlook in Oakland.