Safety seems like it’s been a busy position for the Raiders this offseason. They gave Isaiah Pola-Mao a long term extension and their only free agent addition to sign more than a one-year deal was safety Jaremy Chinn, seemingly giving them two new starters to replace the losses of Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps. Then the same day they added Chinn, they also signed Lonnie Johnson Jr. So, they seemed set.
And yet just prior to the first day of camp they also added safety TJ Scott and former Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams. Now, suddenly they were looking at a logjam at safety.
But when Adams took the field, he was working with the linebackers instead. The 6-1, 213-pounder is trying to make a comeback after splitting last season between the Titans and the Lions’ practice squad. And his former Seahawks head coach sees a change of positions is the best way to accomplish that.
“I told him right off the bat, I want him to play inside,” Carroll said of Adams. “He’s always been so instinctive and so aggressive and such a run-through guy, been a fantastic blitzer over his time. So, I want to put him in position to do that. So, he’s jumped right into the WILL spot, and that gives us some flexibility that we’re going to grow with. He looks really good. He had a real serious injury a bit ago. He looks like he’s back. Weighing a little bit more than he was before, he fit just right. I’m really anxious to see how he takes it.”
Linebacker has also been completely overhauled this offseason for the Raiders. Former starters Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo were allowed to leave in free agency. They then seemingly replaced them with former Steelers MLB Elandon Roberts and former Bucs OLB Devin White.
Now both Roberts and White have some competition with the additions of Adams and former Bengals LB Germaine Pratt.
Carroll has preached competition. He wasn’t lying.
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