Raiders tight end Darren Waller hopes to improve on last season’s breakout campaign by making a quick start this year.
In more ways than one.
The Raiders raised some eyebrows by signing veteran tight end Jason Witten this offseason despite Waller’s rise as a star and the presence of the talented young Foster Moreau.
Knowing that he has something in mind and perhaps of even greater importance, can help Waller learn the ways of tight end in the league.
Waller tackled away with one such intricacy.
“I don’t think anyone starts on snaps as fast as he does,” Waller said after training camp on Friday at the team facility in Henderson. ‘He’s usually the first one to five yards. He will hit the first five yards faster than the receivers. That’s something I need to improve, because my get-off works for sure. I want to get off the ball like he did. ‘
While they have not been around each other all hot seasons, due to the limitations in place due to the coronavirus, Waller says that Wittten ‘has already been a huge help. I wish we could have been with him personally in the offseason, but I can not ask for much more than what he is doing for us at the moment. ‘
Witten is not the only purchase of the season. Waller can help improve on last season’s success. Midway through a year in which he finished with 90 catches for 1,145 yards after entering the season as a virtual stranger, Waller began to draw a lot of defensive attention.
He still had some great games on the line, but it was clear that defenders were planning to limit his chances.
Coach Jon Gruden believes an upgrade of talent is a crime, especially rookie wide receivers Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards, will release Waller.
“We have big plans for Waller,” he said. “That’s why we brought in some other receivers to take the pressure off him.”
Gruden, who is normally careful not to over-type his players, makes an exception for Waller.
“We think he’s a superstar,” Gruden said. ‘He can do it all. He can block. He can run any route. He has great condition. He had a dark part of his life there for a while that not many people return to. I hope many young people get the true story of Waller. You can beat addiction if you just listen to Darren Waller and how he did it. He’s a great source of leadership and proof that you can be great, even if you’ve had some really dark, dark times. ”
Waller celebrated three years soberly this week. He joined the Raiders for the last four games of the 2018 season after serving a year-long suspension for violating the league’s drug policy and has flourished under Gruden, who calls himself an inspiration to everyone who ever thought her situation was out of repair.
The 27-year-old has also found calm in his new residence despite his chaotic reputation.
“It’s great to get into town,” he said. ‘It’s funny because most people look at Vegas as this crazy place, where it’s all too thinking, but I’m already feeling at peace here. I feel like I live in a great area. I have met great people here. I’m just excited to write a new chapter. ”
It will not be easy to top the last one. Waller finished second last year among all the tight ends in the league in both catches and yards, behind only Kansas City star Travis Kelce.
Kelce and San Francisco star George Kittle both signed massive contract extensions Thursday.
Gruden puts Waller in the same category and hopes he is ready to take on an even bigger role.
“Get yourself physically ready for the grind, because we’ll use you,” Gruden said of what he told Waller. ‘He never comes off the field and some of the things we ask him to do for us are surprising when you ask me. He is a big part of every package we have. ”
Waller’s focus is on fine-tuning the details.
“You just keep building on the foundations and doing the simple things, not worrying about very huge plays or doing spectacular things,” he said. “Last offseason, the way I got better, focused on me. on the simple things and let those things stack up and become consistent. “
That’s a good start.
Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.
