In just four days the Raiders will kick off the 2020 season against the Carolina Panthers. It will be the second season in a row new Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton will face the Panthers in the season opener. And if this time goes anything like last time, it could be a very good day for him and the Raiders.
Littleton was a member of the Los Angeles Rams at this time last year. He came out and immediately began putting the NFL on notice and eventually earned a big contract last offseason.
Corey Littleton played Carolina Week 1 of 2019. He finished his day with a stat line of 14 tackles, 2 PBUs, 1 INT, 1 FF/FR. He also held Christian McCaffrey to 19 yards when he was in man coverage against the back per PFF. pic.twitter.com/MrKeeHLV0V
— BD Williams (@BDWilliams18) September 10, 2020
Littleton’s 14 combined tackles that day were a career-high. It was also the only time in his 4-year career he had two pass breakups while also putting up double-digit tackles. And it was the only time in his career he had two forced turnovers in one game. And to contain Christian McCaffrey like that is just what the Raiders need from him.
“My man can do anything. He runs that offense,” Littleton said of McCaffrey this week. “Don’t know where they’re going to necessarily put him and he’s always a factor in whatever type of play they’re going on. We just got to key him. Do your best to shut him down in the run game and pass game, and make the other team use their other star players that they do have, force
them to make some big plays that day.”
To be fair, even though Littleton played McCaffrey well, the Rams as a team didn’t contain him. He still put up 128 yards rushing with two touchdowns and 81 yards receiving. But the Rams did pull out the 30-27 win.
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