Oakland Raiders v. LA Chargers: Six Things That Must Happen

Sit Nelson Down And Play The Rookie

Oakland’s struggles in the secondary have been detailed ad nauseam. Sean Smith didn’t do this. David Amerson can’t do that. Gareon Conley is – well – out. Again.

But very few of those pieces that shred Oakland’s corners more thoroughly than opposing receivers do, mention Reggie Nelson and his own struggles – struggles that many of us have been shouting about since last season.

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Many of his faults and flaws have been glossed over thanks to the fact that he’s able to rack up a solid number of interceptions. To wit, last season, Nelson added to his reputation as a ballhawk but picking up five interceptions.

But many of those interceptions are not a result of Nelson making a spectacular play – they were more of a case of him happening to be in the right place at the right time.

Those five picks overshadow the fact that Nelson often found himself way out of position, not getting over in time to help, and flat out getting beat. And as the last line of defense in that secondary, that’s not only terrible, it’s unacceptable.

Even HC Jack Del Rio, not one known for typically singling people out in the media, finally said what many of us have been saying since last season.

"“You just can’t start the game that way, but the second one, Reggie [Nelson] should have intercepted that ball. That ball’s thrown inside the numbers to the middle of the field, we have to go make a play on that and give him some help there. Either way, he’s got to be on top, that’s his job to be on top on both of those plays. But, the second one he should have had more help.”"

All last season – and now, five games into this one – Nelson has all too frequently not been home in coverage.

And it seems well past time for a change to be made. Oakland drafted a solid looking safety in the seventh-round of this year’s draft in Shalom Luani. Over the course of the summer, Luani has made plays left and right. He’s been solid against the run, the pass, and paired with Karl Joseph, could potentially form a young, hard hitting tandem in the defensive backfield.

Joseph and Luani could bring back that old school Raiders mentality in a secondary famous for intimidating safeties.

It’s blindingly obvious that Nelson is in over his head and it’s time to sit Nelson down. Well past time. And it’s time to give the kid a shot – the upside is, he couldn’t do any worse than Nelson.