Johnathan Abram hits it all with a full-head or stream, which is why the Raiders brought him a first pick a season ago, but for the first time in his career, the former Mississippi State product was forced to put on the brakes to hit when he suffered a shoulder injury 30 minutes into his rookie debut.
Before his injury against the Denver Broncos on Monday night football, Abram flew like a bat out of hell, showing glimpses of why he was worthy of being considered no. 24 to be worn by Charles Woodson. It’s been almost a year since he played any live regular season snaps, but the Raiders’ coaching staff is optimistic as he enters Year Two – even though it’s more of a rookie season.
In the first days of training camp, Abram applies the knowledge he learned on the sidelines during practice last year. Injuries are not always a bad thing, considering they give inexperienced players time to learn a system or understand the pace of the game, and for someone with Abram’s talent, an extra year to the arrangement of defensive coordinator Paul Guenther to study to his advantage.
“He looks good,” Guenther told the media on Thursday. “I mean, he played 30 minutes for us last year, so he kind of goes through it like a rookie year, but he picked up the system in his second year.
“When I watched the 10,000-mile view last year, sitting back and watching it all happen, he’s back in great shape. Of course, he’s good in the middle of the field, he’s a handyman in the box. , and he’s a good blitz, and he’s a focal boy there, which we need for his lead in the backend. “
Two keywords: Maintain and lead.
