Cornerback David Amerson resurrected his career in 2015. After being released by Washington early last season, he was signed by Oakland, claimed a starting job and finished as the team’s best corner.
Going into this season, some wondered if Amerson would continue his fine play or regress as he did in Washington.
So far, it’s apparent that Amerson – in his fourth NFL season but still just 24 years old – is showing the rest of the NFL that he’s on a mission to silence all his doubters.
In three games for the 2-1 Raiders, Amerson has an interception, seven passes defensed and has been in on 15 tackles.
After Oakland’s victory over the Titans this past Sunday, the analytics website Pro Football Focus noted Amerson was the NFL’s highest-graded player for Week 3.
Pro Football Focus wrote, “You won’t find a better cornerback performance that didn’t inolve an interception than the show put on” by Amerson.
Added PFF: “Thrown at 11 times, Amerson allowed just four catches for 38 yards and broke up five of the incompletions.”
Raiders
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr says it’s what he sees every day in practice while trying to complete throws against Amerson’s coverage.
“Every throw you make against David is going to be contested,” Carr told Eddie Paskal of the team’s website. “He’s not going to completely whiff and completely leave someone wide open. If he does, it’s probably because he slipped, to be honest. Every throw that’s thrown against that guy, he is there.”
Amerson and fellow starting corner Sean Smith – who rebounded from two poor performances to have a solid game against Tennesee – will be tested this Sunday in Baltimore by veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco has completed 64.4 percent of his throws for 774 yards, and he has some big-play receivers in veteran Steve Smith, Mike Wallace – who’s averaging 16.6 yards per catch and has three touchdown receptions – Breshad Perriman and tight end Dennis Pitta.
The Raiders are scheduled to face the 3-0 Ravens in Baltimore Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Bay Area.
