When the Raiders decided to move on from defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, one of their top priorities was to find someone who could get the most out of third-year safety Johnathan Abram.
Six months ago, there wasn’t a lot keeping Abram on the roster outside of his draft stock. The Raiders used the first-round pick they received from the Cowboys for Amari Cooper to draft Abram in 2019, but the hybrid safety wasn’t disciplined and couldn’t find consistency under Guenther.
So far, it’s safe to say the Gus Bradley experiment has benefitted Abram about as much as anyone. Abram is no longer an afterthought on the Raiders’ defense. He’s becoming one of the cornerstones of the defense.
No one on Bradley’s defense has been on the field for more defensive snaps than Abram (428) this year.
Bradley has simplified the Raiders’ defense, but he still has Abram lining up all over the field. According Pro Football Focus, Abram has lined up in the box 224 times, at free safety 64 times, in the slot 93 times, at cornerback 8 times, and on the line of scrimmage 38 times.
Credit new secondary coach Ron Milus, too, because no one in the Raiders’ secondary was making plays last year. Abram’s PFF grade in coverage has jumped from 30.1 in 2020 to 70.1 in 2021.
Outside of one rough outing against the Steelers, Abram has become a much more reliable tackler, too. PFF credits Abram with 12 tackles in six games that constitute a “failure” for the offense. He had 20 such plays all of last year.
Overall, PFF has Abram with a higher overall grade this year than some of the most recognizable names at safety in the NFL. Among the list of players with inferior PFF grades to Abram are Minkah Fitzpatrick, Landon Collins, Logan Ryan, Eddie Jackson, John Johnson III, Devin McCourty, Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams, Xavier McKinney, and Quandre Diggs.
Not bad for a player that a lot of fans (and even a couple coaches) had given up on last year.
twitter: @raidersbeat
I always liked Abrams I’m happy for his success! Keep it up! Plenty of room for growth!! But great things so far ,I like Nate Hobbs he getting the NFL!!!! Great asset!!!! Keep it up nation I’m proud to be a raider!!!!