Oakland Raiders: Johnathan Abram makes lasting impression in ‘Hard Knocks’ debut
By Justin Fried
The Oakland Raiders could have a budding star on their hands with rookie safety Johnathan Abram. And he wasted no time making a first impression on ‘Hard Knocks.’
The Oakland Raiders football team has long been defined by one simple word: attitude. And with a new supporting cast this season, that attitude seems to have returned in full force — most notably with rookie safety Johnathan Abram.
The Raiders long-awaited ‘Hard Knocks’ debut kicked off Tuesday night with the ever-entertaining team taking center stage. But while charismatic, entertaining personalities such as Antonio Brown and Jon Gruden controlled the screen time, it was Abram who stole the show.
Whether he was sharing a leisurely stroll on horseback with fellow rookie Clelin Ferrell or stubbornly pronouncing the word “salmon” incorrectly, Abram seemed to be everywhere on Tuesday night.
But while those two scenes showcased his eccentric, boisterous personality, it was his performance on the field that should get Raiders fans excited.
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During the early days of training camp, while the team was still practicing in shorts, Abram was chewed out by Gruden for being too physical. This came following a big hit he laid on newly-acquired tight end Luke Willson that caught the veteran off-guard.
Willson didn’t seem to like the hit very much and it was clear that Gruden wasn’t a fan either.
And while it may have been a bit overboard, that’s just the type of player that Abram is. And that’s exactly what Raiders fans should be expecting when No. 24 takes the field in September.
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Abram is a heat-seeking missile whose mission is to lay the hit stick on any player who has the misfortune of carrying the football. Or in Willson’s case, any player standing between him and the ball-carrier.
He’s gritty, physical, and most of all, he plays with an attitude. And that’s just how the Raiders defense likes it.
Abram will join the likes of Vontaze Burfict and Karl Joseph to complete what could be one of the hardest-hitting, physically-dominating defenses in the entire NFL. There will be plenty of rookie mistakes in year one, but Abram will never be lacking in energy.
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While at Mississippi State, Abram established himself as one of the toughest players on the field and often served as an extra linebacker down in the box defending the run.
We saw glimpses of that physicality in his ‘Hard Knocks” debut. Now it’s all about if he could transition to hitting opponents come the preseason.
It was entirely surprising and refreshing to see a rookie like Abram take center stage in the Raiders’ inaugural episode of ‘Hard Knocks.’ The chatter leading up to the first episode had been centered around Gruden, Brown, and Derek Carr.
But it was the lesser-known rookie safety who truly stole the show.
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First impressions can last a lifetime. And it’s safe to say that Raiders fans won’t be forgetting Abram’s for a very long time.