Forum allgemein » How long after Aaron Donald signing should Raider Nation

hit panic button on Khalil Mack? The market for elite defensive players has been set. The Los Angeles Rams and Aaron Donald agreed to a six-year $135 million contract extension on Friday. And at some point P.J. Hall Jersey , whether that be the next few days, a few weeks or a year (maybe two who knows), Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack will reset that market as well. Up until this point, I have not been bothered by the Mack news. Sure, rumors will come out that will make the Raiders look bad and they certainly have been reported but that is the job of Mack’s camp. To find and use any leverage possible to get Mack the best deal and that involves releasing information to put pressure on the organization. And one of the steps to getting Mack the best deal is to wait for Donald to sign his new contract because whoever signs second will get the larger deal. So my thought process has been, it could be likely Mack is just waiting for Donald to sign. Once that happens (and it has), then we will know how the negotiations are actually going. If Mack signs within a few days, then it was just all a negotiation tactic. If not, then Oakland is in some serious trouble regarding Mack. Even if Mack comes back to play on his current deal, one would have to imagine that the relationship between him and the organization is not ideal. As such, the Raiders could have Mack on the field this season, but then when they come to the negotiation table next season (if they do at all) it would be hard to imagine that they will be able to strike a long-term deal. For those who are in support of giving Mack whatever he wants Brandon Parker Jersey , like myself, here is a prudent point to do so. The contract that Mack would receive right now might look massive at first but only at first. For example, Derek Carr signed last offseason as the highest-paid player in the NFL at the time by earning $25 million per year. But just one offseason later, Aaron Rodgers has made Carr’s numbers look like child’s play. Rodgers is making $33.5 million per season from the extension. So within just one year, Carr’s deal is dwarfed. And while it won’t happen as quickly on the defensive side of the ball, it will still happen. But Mack isn’t signed at the moment. So the question still remains, with Donald signed when should Raider Nation hit the panic button on Mack and be worried that the Raiders’ future doesn’t involve the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year? With their final 1st round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft the Raiders grabbed Johnathan Abram from Mississippi State. The hard hitting safety joins an Oakland secondary that features two other..."With their final 1st round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft the Raiders grabbed Johnathan Abram from Mississippi State. The hard hitting safety joins an Oakland secondary that features two other first round picks in Gareon Conley and Karl Joseph. It’s possible the addition of Abram could spell the end for Karl Joseph’s time in Oakland. However it ends up shaking out, it’s debatable that the Raiders made a huge improvement their secondary by taking Abram in round one.Abram’s strengths are his athleticism, hitting ability and effort he brings on the field. He apparently graduated Mississippi State this past fall and was enrolled in an MBA program while getting ready to be selected in the NFL draft. Married with a daughter, Abram’s maturity off the field is lauded by his former coaches, a common theme we’ve seen in this 2019 Raiders draft. But on the field, how does Abram contribute? Let’s take a look.Pass CoverageAbram’s pass coverage isn’t a finished product as of yet. He has the athleticism to become a very good pass defender but inconsistencies in his technique lead to up and down results.This is a solid rep from Abram going against eventual drafted Ole Miss tight end Dawson Knox. Knox runs an in-breaking route across the middle of the field and Abram stays on his outside shoulder Arden Key Jersey , breaking in time to cut him off. Abram’s outside leverage position and close body contact prevents the tight end from making an adjustment on this pass. The clip above is another good rep from Abram in coverage and shows how the defensive back has the speed to stay in phase with receivers downfield. Abram is in man coverage and turns to locate the ball, when he realizes it will be out of his reach, he turns his eyes back on the receiver and “rakes” the catch point, breaking up the pass. Often defenders panic when they are in a back shoulder position, Abram knows he has a chance, stays collected and makes a text-book play.Lined up on the left side of the screen in man coverage against fellow first round pick, Iowa’s TJ Hockenson, Abram is late to break on this out route. This is a technique issue for Abram and it pops up a few times in his film. Abram is guilty here of what is called a “drop step” where a DB will lose ground prior to his break. If Abram stays square and gains ground on his first step, he has the burst to be in better position against this pass. Another technique issue is Abram gets too grabby with receivers. He is in absolutely perfect position on this deep pass up the sideline. As he starts to get his head around to locate the ball for some reason he second guesses himself and and grabs the receiver first, resulting in a pass interference penalty. We can leave Abram’s pass coverage break down on a high-note. Abram is again in man coverage on the slot receiver in this clip. He transitions vertical and stays on the receiver’s outside shoulder allowing him to read through his man to the quarterback. This eye discipline is what allows him to make the play here because he breaks on the throw and hauls in the interception. Abram has the speed and explosiveness to consistently stay in phase against down field threats. There are just a few technique issues he needs to clean up before he can make a substantial impact in coverage.PhysicalityIt seems the Raiders put a premium on physicality, a trait all 3 first round selections have in spades. Abram perhaps the most physical of the bunch is notorious for his hitting ability. Abram was famously the reason for Mississippi State stopping their 2018 Spring Game early due to the vicious safety leveling his own teammate. Abram plays at full speed every time he steps on the field.The play above is Abram at his best, he hustles from the opposite side of the field and takes an incredible angle to stop this reverse for a loss of yardage. Abram is just moving at a different speed than his teammates who are ready to make this tackle a few yards upfield before Abram whizzes past them.This blitz against Iowa shows Abram is versatile and also won’t be blocked easily. He explodes off the snap Nick Nelson Jersey , and meets the Iowa running back head on, throwing him aside with ease to notch this sack. Defeating blocks and making plays behind the line of scrimmage should become Abram’s calling card with the Raiders. He tosses 2nd round draft pick, Irv Smith Jr aside, exploding off his inside foot and spinning off the block. This isn’t just athleticism at work, defenders are being taught to dispatch blockers in this manner, and Abram is able to do it at full speed before dropping the screen in the backfield.One thing Abram needs to work on is his tackling technique. Right now he relies on his formidable hitting ability to drop ball carriers. He will need to wrap his arms and run his feet through contact more consistently otherwise there will be a handful of plays like this where Abram misses a tackle. Another area of Abram’s game that is very correctable and he has the traits that suggest this shouldn’t be a problem for him in the NFL.ConclusionIf the Raiders are indeed moving on from Karl Joseph, it’s hard to sell Abram as an immediate upgrade. The two hard hitting safeties are very much alike. Size wise; Abram (5’11) is one inch taller than Joseph (5’10) but Joseph has arms (32 inches) that measure one inch longer than Abram’s (31 inches), both weighed in a 205 lbs at the combine. Both safeties played a lot of box coverage in college and had great film that landed them in the first round of the NFL draft. Each are hard hitters, Joseph actually proving he can do it against NFL competition so he gets the edge.We saw Joseph struggle to get his footwork down early on in his career and he only seemed to turn the corner this past season in pass coverage. Abram too has things he needs to clean up before he can make an impact in pass coverage. Best case scenario Abram and Joseph compete for a starting position and both get on the field in Nickel personnel when Lamarcus Joyner moves to the slot. It’s doubtful that scenario actually plays out. It seems likely Joseph is let go and the secondary breaks even with a younger but similar player as a starter.