Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie isn’t one to panic. Now two weeks into the regular season and he’s still sitting back waiting for a linebacker or two to emerge.
A bold move, for sure, but at least one member of the unheralded group seems to be answering the bell.
A year removed from D-III Greenville University, Nicholas Morrow was a surprise to even make the team. The Raiders may soon have no choice but to keep him on the field.
Morrow played only four snaps in the season opener, but made the most of the limited opportunity with a key third-down tackle in the backfield on DeMarco Murray.
In week two, the rookie played 25 snaps. He was the Raiders’ highest-graded linebacker against the Jets according to Pro Football Focus, and was particularly impressive in pass coverage.
https://twitter.com/OakRaiders_GM/status/909864227615105024
Morrow allowed just one reception against the Jets (on 15 coverage snaps) and it resulted in a three-yard loss.
https://twitter.com/OakRaiders_GM/status/909860863502254081
For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus has handed out mostly low grades for the Raiders linebacker group through two games. Morrow’s grade (80.4) is just ahead of Marquel Lee (71.9) and well above of Cory James (49.9) and Tyrell Adams (37.9).
twitter: @raidersbeat
I’d still like to see some more interior pressure on defense. Mack is getting 2-3 blockers almost every play. And Irvin is nowhere to be found, except the wrong end of a yellow flag. I liked Perry Riley. Thought he was a keeper. Someone to take the pressure off the younger guys.
Morrow has been a nice find. If he’s going to be an every down LB, going to need to add some weight. I like the combo of Adams, James, Lee, plus Morrow on passing downs.
80.4 and 71.9 is not too low for Morrow and Lee. I would sat it’s good and average respectively. If this keeps up, Morrow will have to start on the weakside and Lee must play more snaps.
I like Morrow alot , I follow him when he’s in the girls and he’s always in the right place, I’ve yet to see him lose his patience and try to do his own thing , he’s patient , stays in his lane and reacts at the right time and it’s paying off in a big way ….He will definitely be challenged in a big way vs the Redskins and their beast of a TE , so I’ll be watching him while he’s in there to see if he gets beat or gets caught out of position…..It’s really nice to watch the Raiders defense thus year , I’m always waiting for them to get caught it if position , but even in the plays they are getting beat , they are positioned right , just getting beat….It’s a breath of fresh air to see what they are capable of when they are positioned right…..The addition of John Pagano is paying off in spades , too much talent on the defensive side to be in the mid 20s in the league ….!I’m guessing by next year Pagano is the D coordinator
*in the play , not in the girls lol
As a Long time dedicated “RAIDER NATION FAN”, I totally agree that, we will be tested against the, Redskins on the road and we must not ever take any team in the, N.F.L. lightly. And yes, we need more dominance up front but when the opposing quarterback takes a 2 step throw instead of the regular, 3 step drop, it can become a bit frustrating but that will change in the course of this season. My concern is our, Corner Backs, in particularly, “Amerson” who keeps on getting completely “SMOKED AND TOASTED”!! You would figure that after last year that he would have learned his lesson already but as usual, he loves being on the front end of “FAILURE”!! Start the young guys who knows when to turn their head as the receiver does instead of trying to KISS his opponent in the mouth. It’s truly “Embarrassing” to “RAIDER NATION FANS” and to the Coaching Staff.