It’s not a complicated formula for Raiders coach Jon Gruden: high picks, high expectations.
Both of the Raiders’ projected starters at safety are former first-round picks. Karl Joseph was selected by former general manager Reggie McKenzie in 2016, at No. 14 overall. Johnathan Abram was picked by new GM Mike Mayock this year, at No. 27.
According to what Gruden told the assembled media after training camp practice on Tuesday, the coach wants to see those investments pay dividends on every play in 2019.
“Hopefully, Karl Joseph and John Abram are aggressive safeties. That’s why we took them both in the first round,” Gruden said. “We’re going to try to use them as playmakers on every down.”
Gruden’s statement was in response to a question about a comment made by linebacker Vontaze Burfict a day earlier. Burfict is familiar with defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s defense from their days together with the Bengals. He said in this version of the defense, Guenther appears to be playing to the aggressive strengths of Joseph and Abram.
Gruden confirmed their plans in laying out his expectations for the duo. The two must already know about what’s to come: they chose to room together at training camp.
Joseph was the Raiders highest-rated player on defense a season ago, though he was the subject of trade rumors and his contract will expire after this year. Still, if Abram can live up to his billing, Gruden and Guenther may actually get an impact play per snap from their starting safeties in 2019.
