Oakland Raiders: How Johnathan Abram could win Defensive Rookie of the Year
By Luis Lopez
The 2019 NFL Draft class boasts a list of top defensive talent, but could Oakland Raiders first-round safety Johnathan Abram be the best of them all?
Back in April, the Oakland Raiders used their third first-round selection in the NFL Draft to take Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram at No. 27 overall.
In Abram, the Raiders got a hard-hitting and competitive player that head coach Jon Gruden will look to as a key component to Oakland’s secondary.
As fans of the Raiders’ time on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series, many will see that Abram is a fiery personality that will be sure to fit in perfectly among Raider Nation.
Abram has quickly worked his way into becoming a fan favorite in Oakland so far and from what his experience at Mississippi State showed, he has a chance to play up to the hype.
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After transferring from junior college to Mississippi State, Abram went into a program with defensive coordinator Bob Shoop leading the Bulldogs towards dominance.
In 2018, Mississippi State had one of the best defenses in the country, only allowing a total of 12 touchdowns and holding seven opponents to their lowest scoring games of the season.
Abram led the Bulldogs with 99 tackles on the year, which was good for eighth-best in the SEC. He also led the SEC in quarterback pressures among safeties, which was third in the nation in that category.
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Abram’s success in college won’t guarantee him a successful rookie year, but with help from Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, Abram can start to use the same methods he used at Mississippi State.
Guenther and Shoop both operate their defensive units with a 4-3 scheme, which means that Abram will be coming into a system he is already familiar with. Abram is a fast player who comes at his opposition quick and hard, which is something that will be vital in Guenther’s scheme.
His experience in the 4-3 scheme will be vital in an AFC West division that features two of the NFL’s top offenses in the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers.
Aside from the stats, Abram is just the type of player a coach wants on his field. Abram is a workhorse that shows up to practice every day looking to give 110 percent every time he steps on the field.
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That work ethic is one that will continue to put him above his competition throughout his career. It’s the same drive he’s used in his first two preseason games as a Raider. Abram has totaled three tackles in the preseason, with two of those being solo efforts.
His talents will be desperately needed at the Coliseum this season. In 2018, the Raiders ranked dead last in terms of yards given up, which is part of the reason general manager Mike Mayock had to use two of his three first-round picks on defensive players.
If Johnathan Abram can hone the same passion for the game that has gotten him this far, he’ll manage to find success in 2019.
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Head coach Jon Gruden will get the most he can out of Abram, and in a season that is vital to the Raiders before they take off to Las Vegas, his opportunities have a great chance to lead him to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.