Training camp recap, 7/31. Here’s all you need to know about the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday practice heading into their first game week.
Sunday’s training camp was certainly an interesting day. Right tackle Alex Leatherwood looked sharp and focused, another linebacker went down with an injury, and Nate Hobbs showed why he’s a special player – Not just because Ya-Sin, Mullen, Averett, Robertson, and Darius Philips weren’t at practice while Hobbs was working everywhere in the secondary.
With things heating up (literally) in Henderson, NV, Sunday’s practice was cut short by a rain storm. As the team quickly scattered to get off the field and relocate equipment, Nate Hobbs stayed behind to talk to Raider Nation in the pouring rain. Hobbs took his time as he conversed with the fans, signing autographs while he stood drenched from the rain.
Hobbs spoke to the media on Saturday, letting his plans for the 2022 season be known.
“I’m playing whatever the coach calls, whatever position I gotta be in, that’s what I’m gonna do”, Hobbs said about the upcoming season. The second-year Raider is confident in his abilities everywhere in the secondary, as he feels believing is knowing. “I feel like last year, I believed it, so I did ”, Hobbs said when touching on his success in 2021.
And it certainly was a successful rookie campaign for Hobbs. Per Pro Football Focus, no cornerback last season had a better year than Hobbs when lining up in the slot. Hobbs’ 81.5 grade led all nickelbacks leaguewide.
Despite rookie sensations Patrick Surtain II and Asante Samuel Jr entering the NFL in 2021, Hobbs held his own. His 68-yards allowed in man coverage was the lowest among any rookie cornerback in the league, and his 79.4 overall PFF grade was the highest of any fifth-round pick.
Hobbs isn’t living in the past, though.
"“I feel like football, especially the NFL is a ‘What have you done for me lately’ world, so it’s not about what I did last year. It’s not about what anybody on the team did last year.”"
Hobbs is ready for the ’22 season, confident in his ability to duplicate his success anywhere in the secondary.
Raiders LB Micah Kiser leaves practice with an injury
On Sunday, Kiser was carted off of the field with what appeared to be a leg injury.
In switching to a base 3-4 front this offseason under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, the Raiders had to go out and grab some inside linebackers with 3-4 experience. Kiser was one of the team’s immediate answers, being the first inside linebacker with experience in this front to join the Raiders.
Since bringing in Kiser, Las Vegas also managed to strike deals with Jayon Brown and Kenny Young, both who are ILBs with starting experience in a 3-4. Undrafted free agent Darien Butler has also emerged as a candidate to earn significant snaps in 2022 through his superb play in training camp.
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If Kiser misses time, expect Butler to earn run early with the Raiders this year.