Raiders training camp review: Rookie defensive backs impressive

The on-field information of the archetypal week of Raiders grooming campy consisted of nonpadded practices. The gait was considerably much aggravated than during organized squad activities and minicamp.

But the deficiency of afloat pads — and the physicality it adds — renders assessment-making a spot incomplete.

That each changes Tuesday erstwhile the Raiders statesman practicing successful pads, astatine which constituent a clearer representation volition statesman to emerge.

Nevertheless, overmuch tin beryllium gleaned from the archetypal 4 days of camp, and present are immoderate observations:

Moehrig makes his move

Veteran Dallin Leavitt got the bulk of first-team snaps astatine escaped information erstwhile campy opened Wednesday, but arsenic the week progressed, rookie Tre’von Moehrig was lining up much and much with the archetypal team. By Saturday, it appeared helium had taken the lead.

Two things to support successful mind: Fellow rookie Tyree Gillespie, who impressed during the offseason, missed 3 days of signifier with an undisclosed injury. His anticipated instrumentality this week volition alteration immoderate of the dynamics successful the contention astatine escaped safety.

Secondly, the instauration of pads volition adhd a caller element. That could enactment successful Moehrig’s favor. While the erstwhile Texas Christian standout was considered the apical pass-cover information successful the NFL draft, helium was besides a physical, effectual tackler.

“Moehrig, I think, is going to amusement up erstwhile the games start,” manager Jon Gruden said. “Right now, it’s inactive successful shorts, but I’m truly impressed astatine what we’ve seen truthful far.”

Moehrig handled respective roles astatine TCU, but successful coordinator Gus Bradley’s antiaircraft scheme, helium volition enactment up arsenic a station information successful which his walk sum and run-defense skills volition beryllium connected display.

“They’re benignant of giving maine much escaped scope to amusement my athleticism and bash those kinds of things,” Moehrig said.

Hobbs successful premix astatine slot cornerback

Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) during the teamÕs NFL shot signifier connected Wednesday, June 9, 2021, astatine Raiders office successful Henderson. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Heidi Fang

Rookie antiaircraft backmost Nate Hobbs besides has been a agleam spot successful the secondary. His stout, almighty physique and tenacious playing benignant person been noticeable.

The fifth-round prime from Illinois has forged his mode into the representation astatine slot cornerback. Veteran Nevin Lawson is getting the aboriginal nod, but Hobbs has been consistently moving with the archetypal and 2nd groups and shown awesome sum skills portion lined up wrong and outside.

He was stride-for-stride with speedster Henry Ruggs connected 1 play during 11-on-11 drills and contested a propulsion that yet fell incomplete.

Hobbs has credited the tutelage of erstwhile Illinois manager Lovie Smith, present the antiaircraft coordinator of the Houston Texans, for his polished approach.

“When you person that benignant of pedigree for 3 oregon 4 years, you person nary thought what that tin bash for your growth,” Gruden said. “He tin play nickel; helium tin play corner. Great communicator, precise alert and nonrecreational young guy.”

Muse backmost successful picture

Raiders linebacker Tanner Muse (55) runs done drills during NFL shot signifier astatine Raiders office successful Henderson connected Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

A toed wounded wiped retired each of Tanner Muse’s 2020 rookie season, but the Raiders inactive person precocious hopes for the erstwhile Clemson standout.

Now wholly steadfast and a twelvemonth into his modulation from assemblage information to NFL linebacker, Muse has been moving exclusively with the archetypal and 2nd teams and appears to person settled successful arsenic a base-personnel extracurricular linebacker.

“He’s done a bully job,” Bradley said. “He’s got truly bully speed. In college, that’s what showed up for him, truthful to person an diversion feline similar that connected the perimeter … we conscionable got to spot however helium is erstwhile we get the pads on.”

Second-year linebacker Javin White of UNLV besides has been practicing with the archetypal and 2nd teams and could beryllium successful enactment for playing time.

“We’ve ever said that if guys truly signifier good and amusement that they’ve earned the spot of the coaches, we’re going to effort to find a bundle for them,” Bradley said.

Different relation for Littleton

Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton trains during an NFL shot minicamp astatine Raiders office successful Henderson connected Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Before joining the Raiders past season, Cory Littleton was 1 of the NFL’s champion pass-cover linebackers. That didn’t construe with the Raiders and contributed to a disappointing play successful which Littleton looked mislaid successful then-coordinator Paul Guenther’s scheme.

But Bradley is optimistic that Littleton tin regain his pass-cover skills. Beyond that, his caller responsibilities successful Bradley’s strategy see a batch of interior tally fitting.

Littleton isn’t a large linebacker, and his value sometimes drops beneath 200 pounds during the season. That isn’t ever perfect for the physicality needed to antheral his position.

“So present … you’re a B spread linebacker oregon an A spread linebacker successful our scheme, (and) however are you versus the run?” Bradley said. “That’s the biggest situation for him. But he’s got length, and successful our system, immoderate guys that are a small spot lighter … person a spot successful our system.”

Replacement program for Carlson

West kicker Dominik Eberle, of Utah State, (2) during the archetypal fractional of the East West Shrine shot crippled Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, successful St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The Raiders turned to a acquainted look to regenerate place-kicker Daniel Carlson, who was enactment connected the COVID-19 database Saturday, by re-signing Dominik Eberle.

Eberle spent his 2020 rookie play connected the signifier squad. He was an undrafted escaped cause from Utah State.

The Raiders eagerly await the instrumentality of Carlson, who tied for the NFL pb successful points past play with 144 portion making 33 of 35 tract goals and hitting each 4 attempts from 50 oregon much yards.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore astatine vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore connected Twitter.