Should the Las Vegas Raiders cut ties with Clelin Ferrell?
By Preston Seyl
Should the Las Vegas Raiders Cut Ties with Clelin Ferrell after his first three underwhelming seasons since being a first-round draft pick in 2019?
Clelin Ferrell was drafted in 2019 as the fourth overall pick by the Raiders franchise, and after the first three seasons of little production from the Clemson product, much is left to be desired. When you are taken that high, the expectations are huge, especially with players taken later producing at a much higher level.
Ferrel definitely has an abundane of talent, but has not been used effectively under Paul Guenther or Gus Bradley. Entering his final year on his rookie contract, he will need to prove his worth of a new contract with the Raiders, or potentially a new contract with another team.
This regime under Dave Ziegler has no ties with Ferrell and will quickly find a replacement if his production in this new defense is still underwhelming. Patrick Graham will not be scared to switch Ferrell into a new role if he thinks his talent needs to be from a pass-rushing end or a stand-up linebacker.
What can Raiders fans expect from the defense in 2022?
Patrick Graham will be adaptable to what scheme he will run based on his players’ talents and the opposing offense. Graham was able to show Leonard Williams’s true abilities in New York,and I have confidence that his adaptable scheme, not being stuck in his own ways, will help not only Ferrell hit his full potential, but so will the entire defense.
Graham should show versatility in packages with Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, whether that be with stunts, simulated pressures, amoeba blitz, or even stack both to one side as an overload to open more room from the interior guys which will see a lot of one on ones.
Ferrell and this whole defense will be played and game-planned based on the opponent’s strengths or weaknesses so prepare to see 3-4, 4-3, 3-3-5,4-2-5 packages based on the opponent and their weaknesses.
This defense will be a quick-reacting defense that will do their responsibilities without thinking too much slowing them down as they process pre-snap to post-snap because at the end of the day you can only run so many zones and man-based defenses so to simplify that while having the illusion of being complex.
If Ferrell cannot succeed in this type of defense, his time in Las Vegas should come to an end.