Tag: Davante Adams Raiders

How Chargers’ Asante Samuel Jr. and company guarded Raiders WR Davante Adams in Week 1

Breaking down how the Chargers cornerbacks fared against Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams in Week 1.

The Las Vegas Raiders traded for Davante Adams with the intention of expanding the potency of their pass attack and creating more mismatches across the offense.

Throughout most of their Week 1 matchup, the Los Angeles Chargers had an answer for Adams and the rest of Derek Carr’s weapons despite missing one of their key defensive pieces.

Star cornerback J.C. Jackson was declared out for the game Sunday morning. Jackson continues to rehab from preseason ankle surgery, and he was listed as doubtful ahead of the game. The accomplished cover agent was handed an $82.5 million deal in free agency to lock down Adams and the NFL’s best wide receivers.

Instead, the Chargers had to find other ways to blanket Adams and stop the All-Pro. Second-year cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. looked quick and confident in coverage. Samuel wasn’t a true shadow on Adams, but the pair got well-acquainted across multiple snaps. Derwin James, Michael Davis, and Bryce Callahan also took reps in man coverage against Adams.

Samuel typically lined up in off-man coverage with five to seven yards of cushion, or press coverage with a safety over the top. He guarded Adams exclusively on the outside with Byrce Callahan in the slot. 

Samuel had a few good press coverage reps on the first drive. He made solid contact on his jam during the release phase then squeezed Adams to the sideline, disrupting the timing of the route. Carr’s throw ended up too far in front.

The Chargers forced 3rd and 16 and showed a Cover 2 high press man look that ended up rolling into zone coverage with James in a STAR backer role. Samuel did his best to slow down Adams as much as he could on the route stem, but Adams wiggled free on a pocket fade and got open for Carr before Alohi Gilman could close on the ball. The play resulted in a 21-yard first down.

Samuel didn’t line up in front of Adams for the rest of the drive. With the Raiders marching into the red zone, the Chargers opted for height over athleticism due to the shortened field. The plan didn’t work out when Adams slipped by Michael Davis on slant using an outside release to bring the offense inside the 10-yard line. Davis made up the mistake, however, with tight defense on a fade ball the next play.

The Chargers opted to have Derwin James playing down low for the most part on Darren Waller and Nasir Adderly as the single-high safety. The Chargers did not want to give up plays over the top of the secondary. Naturally, Samuel had to be cautious with his depth. Carr and Adams took advantage of this, using a quick out on the next drive for an easy completion. They linked up in a similar fashion against James for a five-yard pickup on the drive after that.

However, Adams didn’t find much success after that. Frustration even boiled over halfway through the second quarter Adams and Samuel put extra vigor into their blocking assignments on a run by Ameer Abdullah. Both players got fistfuls of the other’s jersey and had some choice words to share.

It was clear Samuel, along with the rest of the secondary, did not back down from the challenge.

When the second half began, the Raiders made it a priority to get Adams involved and trusted him to find separation in one-on-one matchups. Adams gained a first down on a comeback route with Samuel. Adams did well to box out Samuel at the catch point and not allow him a window to the ball.

Samuel never followed Adams into the slot, mostly guarding him on the outside. Adams deked Samuel inside on a long out route on the second play of the half, turning the cornerback’s hips by selling his head and shoulders inside. The Raiders picked up 41 yards on the play then scored moments later in the drive.

But Samuel responded when he took the field next with a clear head and primed instincts. Adams shook him again on a comeback route on 2nd and 25. Samuel recovered and dove across Adams for the breakup.

The Raiders realized Samuel wasn’t following Adams, so they dialed up a deep shot from the slot on the next drive. Samuel was in man coverage against Hunter Renfrow on the play, but abandoned his man once he realized Adams was loose. He flipped his hips and closed on Adams, ending up floating in front of the wide receiver for the interception. The ball was short and behind from Carr, and the Chargers capitalized on it.

Samuel battled against Adams for the rest of the game. Adams ended up scoring his first touchdown as a Raider on him, a perfectly thrown ball that Adams reeled in by his fingertips on short out in the end zone. On paper, Samuel and the Chargers secondary lost the matchup. Adams went over 141 receiving yards on 10 catches. The 41-yard catch by Adams was probably the best route ran by a receiver on Sunday, and Samuel had plenty of moments where he was out-finessed by the Raiders’ No. 1 target.

But the important takeaway is Samuel held his own and rebounded with a fresh mentality every play, a necessary trait to exhibit when guarding the best receiver in the league. He was picked on during certain plays, but he did not allow those moments to spiral him. Samuel picked himself up and contributed his share of highlights and key defensive moments in the 24-19 win. 

Staley’s decision to award the game ball to Samuel should tell fans everything they need to know about how impressive the cornerback was. When Jackson returns to complete the secondary, he should be even better.

Davante Adams used to wear a Raiders shirt during offseason workouts with Derek Carr

Davante Adams wore Raiders gear in offseason during Packers tenure

Davante Adams is Las Vegas’ newest superstar, but this season won’t be the first time he wears the Raiders’ famous silver and black. Far from it.

He grew up a Raiders fan in the Bay Area, but furthermore, Adams would wear a Raiders shirt while still a member of the Packers — at least during offseason workouts with quarterback Derek Carr.

Carr and Adams starred in college together at Fresno State and remained friends as professionals. When they got together to play basketball over the summer, Adams’ shirt gave Carr hope that someday, Adams would join him on the Raiders, which he finally did when Las Vegas acquired him in late March.

Here are the details courtesy of ESPN’s Tim Keown, who wrote an in-depth piece on Adams.

As professionals, after both were taken in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft, Adams and Carr lived near each other in the San Francisco Bay Area during the offseason and worked out together.

“He had this Raiders shirt he would wear when we would go hoop,” Carr says. “I never made a big deal of it because I was just hoping he was speaking it into existence. And here we are.”

Carr managed to play it cool, but seeing Adams’ shirt understandably planted a seed in his mind that one day, they’d be reunited as Raiders.

While it once seemed impossible that Adams would leave the Packers, a perennial contender with all-world QB Aaron Rodgers, to join the Raiders, looking back with the help of hindsight, it may have been inevitable.

Adams grew up a Raiders fan; his family is from the west coast; his friendship with Carr runs deep. And when the franchise moved to a new stadium in fabulous Las Vegas, the allure naturally increased.

Plus, Adams apparently never stopped loving the Raiders on some level.

It’s an incredible story, but Carr and Adams would likely say it doesn’t mean much without results on the field. The journey starts on Sunday against the Chargers when Adams will make his Raiders debut. And this time, his Raiders gear will be official and for all the world to see.

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Davante Adams chose Raiders QB Derek Carr over Aaron Rodgers, but would anyone else do the same?

Davante Adams chose Raiders QB Derek Carr over Aaron Rodgers, but would anyone else do the same?

When the Raiders acquired All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams from the Packers in a stunning trade, it sent shockwaves throughout the NFL, and rightfully so. 

Las Vegas saw the AFC West load up like never before, potentially leaving the Raiders in the dust. The Adams trade makes them immediate contenders to win the division and perhaps even reach the Super Bowl. 

That’s just part of the story, however. 

Adams was considered a lock to remain with the Packers, a perennial Super Bowl contender in their own right thanks to All-World quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Adams reportedly chose Raiders QB Derek Carr over Rodgers, even after the Packers offered Adams a long-term deal that was on par with the contract he received from Las Vegas. 

But while the Raiders can boast that Carr’s relationship with Adams — the two were teammates at Fresno State and remain close friends — brought Adams to Las Vegas, there’s one aspect of this unpredictable development that I have to point out. 

Adams chose Carr over Rodgers, but would anyone else in the NFL make the same decision? 

The answer to that question, unscientifically speaking, is no. Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. Carr is a fine player, but he’s simply nowhere near Rodgers’ level. 

For Adams, however, it was the right choice. He grew up in the Bay Area and gets to play for his favorite childhood team. He got the contract he wanted, even though as I said, that money was available with the Packers. Also: he’s in Las Vegas, baby. Needless to say, nobody vacations in Green Bay as they do in the world’s entertainment capital.  

But most of all, Adams gets his old QB back. He and Carr won the Mountain West championship at Fresno State, and bonds forged over trophies grow stronger over time. Especially if you haven’t won one since. 

As for everyone else in the NFL, I suppose it’s conceivable that some would opt for Carr over Rodgers, though I highly doubt it. Carr is younger than Rodgers and he might be a better leader, too. Rodgers’ personality can be abrasive, according to reputation. 

But Adams’ choice does not immediately change who Carr is as a signal-caller — one that often dazzles but has career-long issues scoring touchdowns in the red zone. He also has a consistent turnover problem. 

These might sound like minor critiques. But it’s what keeps Carr from elite status. Scoring touchdowns over field goals and turnover differential are major factors every Sunday in the NFL, regardless of total passing yards, accuracy rate, or any other measurement.   

The fact that Carr is no Rodgers isn’t an indictment in itself. Rodgers is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. It’s just that one person’s choice doesn’t magically change who Carr is as a quarterback. 

Thankfully for the Raiders, Carr has a golden opportunity to climb up the NFL’s QB hierarchy this season and perhaps reach Rodgers’ level. With Adams, WR Hunter Renfrow, and tight end Darren Waller slated to be his top targets, it’s no wonder there’s a swell of optimism in Las Vegas. 

There are still pressing roster issues, of course. It is March, after all. Mostly, the Raiders offensive line needs attention and will undoubtedly receive reinforcements before Week 1. Porous blocking by Las Vegas, especially on the right side of the line, nearly torpedoed its 2021 campaign.  

Offensive line play in the NFL is almost as important as having quality skill players, especially considering red-zone efficiency and excess turnovers by the quarterback.  

Carr’s red-zone woes are perhaps more concerning than his turnovers. Quarterback is a turnover-prone position. Carr and Rams QB Matthew Stafford each had 19 turnovers last season, for example, good for second-most in the NFL. Though only five of Carr’s 13 fumbles were lost by the Raiders. Stafford, on the other hand, fumbled just five times in total. 

Adams will help relieve pressure on pass protection with his All-Pro ability to get open anywhere on the field, and new coach Josh McDaniels is a celebrated play-caller on offense, red zone included. But it’s hard to see the Raiders fulfilling expectations if the line fails to open holes in the run game and give Carr time in the pocket.  

As of right now, it appears the Raiders offensive line will only receive modest improvements after Las Vegas gave Maxx Crosby a much-deserved contract extension and signed Adams and EDGE Chandler Jones to lucrative deals. 

Addressing the O-Line in the NFL Draft will be difficult, too, since general manager Dave Ziegler relinquished his first two picks to acquire Adams. I expect Ziegler and McDaniels to continue to look for upgrades up front all the way up to Week 1, however, so this could change. 

But no matter what the offensive line looks like, expectations for Carr, who got a taste of the playoffs for the first time in 2021, will be higher than ever. 

He’s stepped up on many occasions throughout his career, including numerous fourth-quarter comebacks. He met every challenge from ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden. And it’s easy to see Carr bringing the Raiders to the next level with Adams and company. But he still has much to prove, unless the conversation is confined to individual, regular-season success. 

Can Carr rise to his latest challenge? The answer to that question is yes, it’s a very distinct possibility. But when the season kicks off and his squad finally hits the field, Carr has to be the quarterback Adams remembers from college, rather than the skilled but inconsistent player Carr’s been in his professional career thus far. 

Because as we watch the Raiders put their roster together in March, Carr is no Aaron Rodgers. He’s ever so close, however, and Las Vegas is betting the acquisition of Adams is what Carr needs to reach postseason greatness — it’s a gamble that’s certainly worth taking, especially with long odds in the suddenly ultra-potent AFC West. 

And who knows. After the 2022 season, it’s possible Adams will no longer be the only person in the NFL to raise his hand and say Carr is a better option than Rodgers. 

Because once you win one trophy together, as Carr and Adams have, the confidence to win another is palpable. We’ll know soon enough whether their belief in one another is enough to thrust the Raiders to the top of the AFC West, let alone the entire NFL. 

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Fantasy football shocker: Davante Adams traded to Las Vegas

The best receiver in football has a new home.

The football world is abuzz thanks to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders after the franchise-tagged star was unable to secure a long-term contract in Titletown.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has the details:

The Raiders immediately locked up their prized pass-catcher to a five-year, $141.5 million contract, per several media reports.

Raiders fantasy football outlook

Adams is reunited with his collegiate teammate in quarterback Derek Carr, and the drop-off in production shouldn’t be drastic coming from Aaron Rodgers, the reigning MVP of two years running. The 29-year-old Fresno State receiver is coming off a career-high 123 catches, which almost certainly won’t be replicated. It was his third 110-plus catch season in the last four years, and Vegas didn’t acquire him to be an observer. Adams is a top-five receiver lock and likely will be in the top three of just about every format that rewards for catches.

Carr becomes a legitimate top-five quarterback contender with the likes of Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller, which is about as dynamic of trio as the league has to offer. On the surface, Renfrow takes the biggest hit to his fantasy stock with the addition of Adams. A reception-dependent fantasy commodity, Renfrow may struggle to approach 80 grabs, let alone the 103 mark he set in 2021.

It’s a net positive for Waller’s outlook, since he’s no longer going to be the focus of nonstop double-teams. Adams draws so much attention that Waller’s athleticism and size will force defenses to pick their poison. He’s among the top two or three players at his position.

Running backs Josh Jacobs gets a significant boost, too, because even with all of the weapons, Josh McDaniels’ system emphasizes the ground game. Defenses now have to account for a number of dangerous aerial weapons around the goal line, which benefits Jacobs in an area where he’s at his best. He’s a low-end No. 1 back in most situations, but gamers should lock up Kenyan Drake as a handcuff given Jacobs’ injury history.

Packers fantasy football outlook

The obvious question is how does this team replace all that is Adams? The free-agent market is drying up as an injured Odell Beckham Jr. (knee), who’s expected miss roughly the first two months of the season, is the top remaining option. No one available is an immediate replacement, that’s for sure. The Packers are likely to invest a first-round pick on a wideout now that Aaron Rodgers is locked up.

Speaking of the $200 million man, Rodgers’ best weapon is gone, and there’s no easy way around it: This will hurt his fantasy stock. He’s still a midrange to low-end QB1, but gamers will have plenty of options with more going for them at this deep position.

Allen Lazard will stand to get the most notable boost in value, presuming the Pack cannot secure a legitimate WR1. For now, until the position fills out, he’s the de facto No. 1 target for Rodgers. There’s sound No. 2 PPR worth here if the position isn’t addressed beyond depth material, so we’ll revisit this as more is known.

We’ll see second-year receiver Amari Rodgers make his case for more targets. He’s far closer in style and stature to Randall Cobb than Adams, and there’s far too much yet to be resolved to make any kind of definitive proclamation about how these two will coexist from a target perspective. The younger Rodgers has far more upside, but he landed just four passes in his rookie season. Cobb is reliable over the middle and No. 12 loves him, though the veteran enters his age-32 season as a career-long injury liability. Neither is poised to be better than a third wideout at the moment.

WRs Juwann Winfree and Malik Taylor round out the current depth. Re-signing free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling may become a higher priority now, and the Packers also could work to get tight end Robert Tonyan under contract again to help keep some continuity intact.

To a degree, we’re probably going to see a shift in offensive philosophy that relies more on the talented tandem in the backfield and matriculates its way up the field with less explosiveness. Aaron Jones is fringe No. 1/RB2, whereas AJ Dillon is closer to flex/depth territory.

We’ll get a better scope the nuances of all things Packers offense once the dust of free agency settles as well as after incoming rookies are rostered. This situation will be examined in greater detail after the 2022 NFL Draft.