Oakland Raiders: 3 Training Camp Positional Battles to keep an eye on
By Sanjit T.
Left/Slot Corner Back
We can pretty much guarantee that our starting right corner will be Gareon Conley. Last year Conley stepped up big time for the Raiders. He allowed the 2nd fewest catches among full-time starters, at 27 catches.
He played right corner 84% of the time and allowed only 54% of his targets to be completed. With that being said, we’re sure Gareon Conley will be the starting right corner.
The left corner spot is going to be interesting. Last year Rashaan Melvin was the left cornerback. However, he is no longer with Oakland and instead, the Raiders re-signed Daryl Worley and drafted a young corner from Clemson, Trayvon Mullen.
We’ve also signed a bunch of other corners including Nevin Lawson, D.J. Killings, and Montrel Meander just to name a few.
The slot will be interesting as well.
Worley isn’t a slot corner, evident by his snaps last year. He played 44% of the time at left corner, 38% at right corner, and only 3% in the slot. Mullen isn’t really a slot corner either. He played primarily on the outside, at right corner, a position that Conley played 84% of the time last year.
With that being said the slot position will be interesting. Gruden has mentioned Joyner as a slot guy. But the Raiders also have the option of Nevin Lawson, who played about 40% in the slot, and 45% on the outside last year.
Nick Nelson was our primary player in the slot, at least after the first 7 weeks of the 2018 season. The first 7 weeks, Leon Hall was our primary slot corner. So if Joyner plays slot, what happens to Nelson or Lawson?
Ultimately, I believe Worley, Lawson, Nelson and Mullens will compete for the left corner and slot spots.
If I had to guess, I believe the Raiders base 4-3 will include Conley at right corner and Worley at left corner. In nickel situations, I believe Mullens will come in and play right corner, and Conley will move to the inside. In dime packages, I believe Nevin Lawson will come in and play on the inside.
Lamarcus Joyner will end up playing Safety for us.