In 2018, the Raiders tangle with the NFC West. Consequently, the new passing offense with Derek Carr at the helm, will see interesting secondaries. A career 61.3% passer, Carr will need to take advantage of possible openings. While the NFC West does not have the stellar secondaries it once enjoyed, each team does possess a game changing defensive back. FPC Raiders writers Aspuria, Simmons, and Biggs figure out which secondary will give the Raiders fits.
Ray Aspuria
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The Los Angeles Rams. They have two outstanding press corners on the outside on Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and an accomplished nickel/slot man in Nickell Robey-Coleman. While safeties John Johnson and Lamarcus Joyner are not big names, they get the job done in the Wade Phillips defense.
Chris Simmons
The Rams pop up in my answer yet again, but not exactly for the talented DBs. Instead, it has again to do with the enormous amount of pressure I expect the Rams to be able to generate. Peters and Talib are both gambling corners who give receivers and passers chances in order to make a play. However, their margin for error will be greatly increased by the monster of a four-man front they present.
Terrance Biggs
Initially, the Rams crossed my mind. Los Angeles possesses veterans with press ability. Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib provide teeth to the back four. However, I will lean towards the Arizona Cardinals. Patrick Peterson will shadow Amari Cooper and that headache will last four long quarters. While Peterson uses his size to nudges and muscle, he possesses the speed to keep up. If this is the year that Cooper ascends to the number one receiver role, Peterson will test him. Meanwhile, Budda Baker, the second-year safety causes concern. Granted, he reminds me of Karl Joseph in stature, Baker profiles as a ballhawk.
In essence, the Cardinals and Rams present disparate headaches for the Raiders.What holds us back from complete prediction are the variables at play. Whether Aaron Donald suits up or if Kolton Miller or Donald Penn can handle Chandler Jones
