Karl Joseph

Oakland Raiders Secondary, Karl Joseph Coming Together

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback TJ Carrie (38) celebrates with cornerback Sean Smith (21) after a defensive stop against the Tennessee Titans. The Raiders won 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons thoroughly abused them, in the first two weeks of the season. Then the Oakland Raiders defense snapped back in Week 3. They’ll be tested again in Week 4 by the Baltimore Ravens but they are ready for it.

Many around the NFL were hyped about the Oakland Raiders defense with all acquisitions they made. But soon as the season started, all that hype turned into disappointment. Their futility was historical, giving up over 1,000 yards in the first two games this season.

On paper, the Raiders defense looked like it would be at least a Top-10 unit. Defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr.’s injury is big as he has a couple of more weeks to get back. But there is enough talent on that defense for the Raiders to absorb a blow like that.

A couple of players had bad games but the main problem is they haven’t played together. No matter how great a group of players are individually, only playing as a unit makes them great collectively. The coaches come into the equation here too.

The Raiders’ staff can’t truly know how to use each player until they have them. Plus their 2016 first-round pick sat on the bench while opposing teams threw hydrogen bombs unto the Raiders secondary. But some adjustments were made and now, they’re ready for their test against the Baltimore Ravens.

Turn the page to see how.

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans receiver Tajae Sharpe (19) attempts to catch the ball over Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith (21) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Smith

Cornerback Sean Smith had the roughest go of it of them all to start the season. On opening day, the New Orleans Saints lit him up like a Christmas tree. Brandin Cooks Michael Thomas and Willie Snead all put their work in on him during the game.

His undoing on those plays was his lack of eye-discipline at the line of scrimmage. At 6’3″, 215 pounds and long arms, Smith depends on his ability to press receivers at the line of scrimmage. But he went for the head and shoulder fakes, causing him to miss his jam.

And he is especially hopeless against a sprinter like Cooks once he misses his jam. The all important eye discipline for a cornerback is watching his hips. He shouldn’t watch anything els because a human being can only sprint in the direction his hips are pointed.

He was better against Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons but he didn’t get the help inside he clearly expected. Then he looked like himself again against the Titans, allowing catch on seven targets. With a catch (INT) himself that day, his confidence is back for the Ravens.

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans receiver Andre Johnson (81) attempts to catch the ball as Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) defends. The Raiders won 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

David Amerson

Coming into the season, many questioned David Amerson with Smith coming over. He played well when the Raiders picked him up last year. But many wondered if it was a fluke and if he could handle playing opposite a shut-down corner.

But Amerson is the guy now as his Pro Football Focus grade is highest at his position. The Saints tried him three times, completing all three but they were short completions. Then the Atlanta Falcons went 2-5 on him and he got an INT on them.

Then the Titans threw at him 11 times, completing for 38 yards, while Amerson broke up five of them. It was smart to pick Amerson up off waivers from Washington but smarter to extend him before this season. They paid a lot more for Smith than they did Amerson.

So far this season Amerson is the shut-down corner instead of Smith. Against the Ravens, I could see him following Steve Smith Sr. or whoever is hurting the Raiders at the time. But Smith appears to have his mojo back so the Raiders may not have to worry about such a thing.

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders safety Reggie Nelson (27) celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans receiver Rishard Matthews (18) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. The Raiders won 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Nelson

The defense is not pretty when your cornerback and a free safety are off at the same time. I guess that’s why the Raiders defense put up historically bad numbers in the first two games. In the first game against the Saints, both of them were off.

Smith has to keep his eye-discipline but Nelson still has to be there. He looked like to be stumbling and lost when one of those bombs went over his head. Stuff like that didn’t happen on the Raiders last year, Charles Woodson was there.

More than anything, it looked like Nelson and Smith just miscommunicated, which can’t happen on defense. No matter what, especially in the secondary, every man has to know where the other is. Even when a cornerback wants to jump a route, the safety has to know about it.

If the safety isn’t there to back it up, the result is much like the Raiders first two games. But all that seems to have been cleared up when the Raiders played the Tennessee Titans last week. Nelson was in the rights on time and had an INT as a result.

Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42) during a NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. The Titans defeated the Raiders 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Karl Joseph

The craziest part of the futility of the first to games is first-round pick Karl Joseph was on the bench. I wondered if he had a set-back with his know but the Raiders wanted to “ease him in.” But after two games the Raiders ran out of ease-in time.

And once he made his first start against the Titans last week, he went in and gave the defense a lift. His passion and aggressive style of play was something the Raiders lacked and needed in the middle of the defense. And his teammates took notice of that quickly.

Smith said at a press conference a few days ago, “Karl was coming up hitting, I was surprised that somebody small was throwing his body in there against those big backs they have. He came in, played fast and made good calls. I was happy for him.”

“Made good calls” was the key for me because I knew he could hit, cover and everything. The calls he made means he knows what he’s doing and where to be. Everything he brought improved the Raiders secondary and the Sunday should be no different.

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans receiver Andre Johnson (81) attempts to catch a pass in front of Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. The Raiders won 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Bottom Line

Of course, the Raiders are underdogs, facing quarterback Joe Flacco and company in Baltimore. And many are expecting Flacco to do the same thing Brees and Ryan did to the Raiders secondary. But the Raiders are 2-1 while working the kinks out.

Remember, Nelson and Joseph were out for the offseason program with their injuries. So they didn’t have those valuable reps to gel and know what the other is thinking. Then there’s Joseph, an impact player that didn’t play until Week 3.

Some are wrongfully under the impression that the Raiders were better last week because it was the Titans. But those Titans had more passing yards and touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. And we all know how good of a defense the Vikings have.

It’s going to help having so extra help from the front-seven Sunday too. The Raiders just faced three of the best offensive lines in football and the Ravens have injuries to their whole left side. So look for the Raiders to come out strong and defense Sunday.