Las Vegas Raiders: 5 players that must perform for a 2021 playoff berth
By CJ Errickson
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 players that must perform for a 2021 playoff berth
Trevon Moehrig
The Las Vegas Raiders safety play in 2020 was abysmal. Between Erik Harris and Johnathan Abram, inexperience and lack of range in coverage greatly plagued the defense. As a result, Raiders brass addressed the position in a big way this offseason.
The team brought former first-round pick Karl Joseph, back after an impressive season with the Cleveland Browns. More importantly, the team utilized their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on former TCU Horned Frog safety Trevon Moehrig.
Moehrig presents himself as a safety that can play sideline to sideline with above-average athletic ability combined with rare ball skills that enable him to be effective in man coverage.
For Las Vegas, they will need every ounce of his talent and energy to perform at his highest level if the team wants to make the playoffs.
If Moehrig can effectively be the last line of defense, it will allow the Raiders to stay in games.
The NFL’s best safeties can mask a multitude of errors for a defense. For example, Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III may not be a name you are familiar with. Still, his ability to stand out as the last defender between the offensive player and the endzone is paramount.
In Gus Bradley’s defensive scheme, he incorporates a single-high safety often in his Cover 3 heavy scheme. Trevon Moehrig possesses all the tools necessary to succeed; the question is how quickly he will?
If he is a high-speed learner for Las Vegas this season, expect the defense to not allow big plays as frequently as they have in recent years. Ultimately, that will enable the ball to be in the offense’s and Derek Carr’s hands.