The Las Vegas Raiders are fielding a relatively new cornerback group with training camp underway. Among those new defenders is a former Baltimore Raven, Anthony Averett.
If the season started today, the Raiders would field Averett with Rock Ya-Sin opposite of him and Nate Hobbs in the nickel. It’s certainly a different look with Casey Hayward and Brandon Facyson long gone. This year’s cornerback corps (currently without Trayvon Mullen) has their work cut out for them. They’re currently preparing for the 2022 season by covering one of the best receiving units in the NFL.
Anthony Averett likes what he sees from his Raiders teammates
“The receiver core, I mean, they got everybody. They’ve got speed. They’ve got Davante [Adams], Hunter [Renfrow], [Darren] Waller, [and] you could put him anywhere in a whole bunch of different formations, so I feel like the wide receiver competition is everywhere.”
It’s an imposing group led by Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. However, Averett likes what he has seen from his teammates on defense so far. Even more so when you consider that there are so many new faces, from the players to the coaching staff. However, time is of the essence, and so far, things are coming together, according to Averett.
“I feel like we are definitely doing a great job. I mean, a lot of new faces, like you said. New coaching staff [and a] new group, so I mean, we are definitely putting the pieces together. I feel like we are responding very well.”
The Raiders are going to need Averett to pick up where he left off after last year. In 2021, with the Ravens, Averett racked up 11 pass deflections and allowed a 55.4 completion percentage, which was based on 101 targets. Raiders fans might recall that Averett is familiar with Renfrow after having to defend him on short notice in Week 1 following an injury to Marcus Peters. During that contest, Averett helped contribute to a slow day for Renfrow, a game in which he managed only six catches and zero touchdowns. If camp has been any indication, Averett is living up to that performance with how much he’s impressed.
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*Top Photo: Official Baltimore Ravens Website