Another first-round downhill destroyer of a safety for the Oakland Raiders? Karl Joseph must not be long for the roster, no?
At least, that’s the prevailing notion when general manager Mike Mayock snagged Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram from the draft pool with the No. 27 pick in the NFL Draft last Thursday. Like Joseph (taken 14th overall in the 2016 draft), Abram is a heat-seeking missile of a tackler bred from the Clubber Lang (Rocky fame) stock of “Pain.”
Assessment
“Tackling is hard to practice these days,” said Raiders boss Jon Gruden as he and Mayock recapped day one of the draft Thursday evening. “It’s hard to find guys who are natural tacklers. Abram belongs in ’78, ’79, ’80. He’s like one of our old-school safeties. He’s a physical sideline-to-sideline tackling machine in college. I hope that passion continues here.
“He has a passion to find the guy with the ball and bring him down. He’s got versatility, he runs a 4.4 and he does have length and size to matchup with the great “jokers” – the detached tight ends – that cause problems. He’s going to have his hands full.”
GM Speak
Mayock had an even more colorful description of the new safety.
“Abram is a guy you watch tape and there are “aha moments,” Mayock began, “You watch hours and hours of tapes, you click back and forth, there’s good players, ok players and bad players. Every once in a while, you go “Oh shit! That’s an a-ha moment: Things that jump off tape. For me, he’s (Abram) a guy who jumps off tape.”
-
Ep 38: Tyreek Hill Traded To The Dolphins
by Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2022 at 12:10 am
Strangely enough, when Joseph was selected 14th by Reggie McKenzie three years ago, Gruden had similar sentiments on how the West Virginia University hit man would bring the wallop of yestrday back to Oakland. Present day Joseph, however, was relegated to bench and special team duties before catching up to speed with Paul Guenther’s defensive scheme in the second half and showing the ferocity expected of him. And now Abram, a slightly taller and faster punisher, is among the trio of “foundation” players Mayock added to the roster.
Mirror Images
A bit redundant. no? Like how running backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are. Nevertheless, in the Raiders beleaguered secondary, the redundancy of Joseph and Abram isn’t necessarily a detriment. Joseph is acclimated to both the NFL game and the Guenther defense. Why not keep him as he showed both growth and comfort as an enforcer. Moreover, he’s only 25 (26 in September) and on his rookie contract. A fifth-year option can be exercised by the Raiders locking him up for another year after this coming season.
That’ll be the most telling sign of Joseph’s Raider future: If the option is exercised. The Raiders have until the May 3 deadline.
-
Ep 110: New Playoff Teams In 2022; Best Matchups On NFL Scehduleby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 3:42 am
Clark, Ira, and Ian give their four teams that didn't make the NFL […]
-
Ep 109: Hall of Fame Voter Ed Bouchette Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Long time Steelers writer and current Hall of Fame voter, Ed Bouchette […]
-
Ep 108: Hall of Famer Bryant Young Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 1:45 am
Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young returns to the show to talk with […]
-
Ep 107: Pro Football HOF President Jim Porter Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Clark and Ira are once again joined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's […]
-
Ep 106: Remembering Pat Tillman w/ Former Cardinals Coach Dave McGinnisby Full Press Coverage on April 21, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis joins Clark and Ira to remember […]
-
Ep 105: Who Are The Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time?by Full Press Coverage on April 15, 2022 at 12:46 am
Who is the most underrated quarterback of all time? The most overrated? […]
-
Ep 104: John McClain Joins The Show To Talk Retirement and Houston Sportsby Full Press Coverage on April 8, 2022 at 2:50 am
Former Texans beat reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain, joins […]
-
Ep 103: Discussing The New NFL OT Rules With Upton Bellby Full Press Coverage on March 31, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Former NFL executive Upton Bell joins Clark and Ian to discuss the latest […]
-
Ep 110: New Playoff Teams In 2022; Best Matchups On NFL Scehduleby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 3:42 am
Clark, Ira, and Ian give their four teams that didn't make the NFL […]
-
Ep 109: Hall of Fame Voter Ed Bouchette Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Long time Steelers writer and current Hall of Fame voter, Ed Bouchette […]
-
Ep 108: Hall of Famer Bryant Young Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 1:45 am
Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young returns to the show to talk with […]
-
Ep 107: Pro Football HOF President Jim Porter Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Clark and Ira are once again joined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's […]
-
Ep 106: Remembering Pat Tillman w/ Former Cardinals Coach Dave McGinnisby Full Press Coverage on April 21, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis joins Clark and Ira to remember […]
-
Ep 105: Who Are The Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time?by Full Press Coverage on April 15, 2022 at 12:46 am
Who is the most underrated quarterback of all time? The most overrated? […]
-
Ep 104: John McClain Joins The Show To Talk Retirement and Houston Sportsby Full Press Coverage on April 8, 2022 at 2:50 am
Former Texans beat reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain, joins […]
-
Ep 103: Discussing The New NFL OT Rules With Upton Bellby Full Press Coverage on March 31, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Former NFL executive Upton Bell joins Clark and Ian to discuss the latest […]
-
Ep 231: Sons of Dynasty Draftsby Full Press Coverage on May 19, 2022 at 9:28 pm
-
Ep 230: Early Rookie Draft Seasonby Full Press Coverage on May 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm
-
Ep 229: Fantasy Fallout From the NFL Draftby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 10:52 pm
-
Ep 228: Pre-NFL Draft Dynasty Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 2:52 am
-
5/11 - Patriots Depth Chart, Contract Issues, Smoked Meat, and Ernie Adams With Matt Chathamby Full Press Coverage on May 11, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Matt Chatham joins Steve, Murph, and Clare to talk Patriots depth chart, […]
-
5/4 - Good, Bad, and Ugly From NFL Draft With Evan Lazarby Full Press Coverage on May 4, 2021 at 7:39 pm
Evan Lazar of CLNS Media joins Steve, Murph, and Claire to recap the […]
-
Which Athlete Do You Want To See Roasted?by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 2:40 pm
Ian and John discuss the upcoming Tom Brady roast and which athlete they […]
-
Warriors Take Commanding Lead; How Can The Celtics Rebound? (5/23)by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Ian and John discuss the Warriors commanding 3-0 series lead over the […]
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Ian and John discuss the Red Sox recent surge, the Warriors lead over the […]
-
Celtics Rebound In Game Two; Series Heads To Bostonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am
Ian and John discuss the Celtics big game two win over the Heat as the […]
-
Lightning On Way To A Three-Peat? (5/20)by Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Ian and John discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning and their 2-0 series lead […]
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
Ian and John discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning's quest for a third-straight […]
-
5/16 - Celtics Advance; Jayson Tatum; Golden State; NBA Playoffsby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 4:35 pm
Ian and John react to the Celtics game seven win over the Bucks and Jayson […]
-
NFL Schedule Release Reaction (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 14, 2022 at 10:45 am
Ian and John discuss the release of the NFL schedule.
-
Ep 38: Tyreek Hill Traded To The Dolphinsby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2022 at 12:10 am
Ian and Braden react to the trade of Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs to the […]
-
Ep 37: Matt Ryan Traded To The Colts; Jameis Returns To NOLA; Mariota to ATLby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Ian and Braden react to the trade of Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts […]
-
Talkamania Episode 226by Talkamania on May 16, 2022 at 11:23 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 225by Talkamania on April 2, 2022 at 3:03 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 183 "The Streets Been Waiting"by Boot 2 The Face on May 15, 2022 at 4:59 pm
Sponsored by athleticgreens.com/EMERGING
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 182 "Mr. Toni Storm"by Boot 2 The Face on May 2, 2022 at 12:30 am
Marty and Rucker here again talking baseball, new action figures and the […]
-
Ep.1: NIL And Voidby Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 8:00 am
-
Episode 49 Criss Partee and Sava from Courtside (YouTube) run down the latest NBA newsby Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 4:50 am
-
Ep.38: Titles, Tantrums, and Assorted Clowneryby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 7:59 pm
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
-
Ep 9: Wildly Early Predictions Of The 2022 Patriots Scheduleby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:24 am
-
Ep 114: Paul Londonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 2:00 pm
-
Ep 131: Packers Fan Series with LosDeeMixby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 8:49 pm
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
-
Which Athlete Do You Want To See Roasted?by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 2:40 pm
-
Warriors Take Commanding Lead; How Can The Celtics Rebound? (5/23)by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
-
Celtics Rebound In Game Two; Series Heads To Bostonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am
-
Lightning On Way To A Three-Peat? (5/20)by Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
-
5/16 - Celtics Advance; Jayson Tatum; Golden State; NBA Playoffsby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 4:35 pm
-
NFL Schedule Release Reaction (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 14, 2022 at 10:45 am
-
Tom Brady's New Broadcasting Deal (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 13, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
Celtics, Bucks Game Six, NBA Playoffs, Joel Embiid and James Harden (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 13, 2022 at 3:38 pm