Rookie safety Johnathan Abram: “I’m hot-headed at times.”
How brash has rookie safety Johnathan Abram been at times in his first Raiders training camp?
Linebacker Vontaze Burfict has felt compelled to tell Abram to tone it down.
Asked about Abram and defensive end Clelin Ferrell this week, Burfict said the two firstround picks are “great leaders.”
“I don’t remember any type of rookie coming in, talking as much as they do, getting into other players’ heads,” Burfict said. “Abram’s so aggressive sometimes I have to tell him, ‘Hey, you’ve got to hold it back a little bit. We’re on the same team.’ ”
It’s friendly criticism. Burfict, the linebacker who has played seven years in the NFL, and Abram, the No. 27 overall pick in this year’s draft, have connected quickly in their first offseason with the Raiders. This week, Abram said Burfict is “a big brother to me” — not least because of their onfield similarities.
“He’s a violent hitter (and) that’s the rep I get,” Abram said. “But I mean there’s more to it than that. I’m hotheaded at times, and that’s one thing we talk about. Controlling my emotions and being passionate, not emotional.”
Burfict, whose onfield fervor has gotten him into trouble on several occasions, said Abram reminds him of himself as a younger player.
“He talks a little bit more than me, though,” Burfict said. “Sometimes you’ve got to tell him to shut up in the huddle. But other than that, he backs it up. You can talk as much as you want as long as you back it up.”
Early in camp, there has been plenty of talk about Abram, who has worked with the firstteam defense alongside fifthyear safety Karl Joseph. The Raiders also symbolically stated their opinion of Abram’s potential this spring when they assigned him No. 24, previously worn by Hall of Fame defensive backs Willie Brown and Charles Woodson.
Head coach Jon Gruden said Tuesday that Abram has met the Raiders’ expectations — even in the occasional overzealous moment.
“I don’t want to make comparisons, but he’s what we are looking for,” Gruden said. “He’s a versatile guy who gives us so much energy on defense.
“We have tried to control him. He’s hitting too many of our guys in shorts. He even hit some coaches the other day by accident. But he loves to play and if we had threeadays like we used to, he’d be first in line for all of those.”
Abram was known as an aggressive hitter at Mississippi State. On Tuesday, the Raiders’ second day in pads, he was in the area when tight end Luke Willson caught a pass over the middle during 7on7 drills. Abram dipped his shoulder and sent Willson, 6foot5 and 255 pounds, to the ground.
Burfict said Abram already has voiced his eagerness for the Raiders’ joint practices against the Rams next week, which should feature more contact. Abram, though, has made an impression with more than his physicality.
Abram and Joseph requested to room together in Napa so they could watch video and study the playbook in the evenings. Joseph said Abram has been a quick learner in defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s scheme.
“I took a little time to learn that defense last year coming in,” Joseph said. “He’s been able to get it down. All those guys, even Clelin and the other rookies, they’ve been very impressive.”
Ferrell, the No. 4 overall pick, said he considers himself a “firstyear player” rather than a rookie because “rookies can kind of get a connotation of sitting in the back, wait your turn — you don’t have to step out in front and show you really want to play.” Both Ferrell and Abram likely will start right away for a team that ranked 26th in total defense last season.
“We are firstyear guys,” Abram said. “When you go out there, you aren’t going to be like, ‘This rookie made that play.’ It’s going to be Johnathan Abram. … What year you are in doesn’t really matter. How you can help this team win, that’s all that really matters.”
One area in which Abram can improve is ball skills. In the Raiders’ first practice Saturday, Abram had a bead on two potential interceptions. One bounced off his pads and the other ricocheted off his leg.
“He’s got to start catching these picks, man,” Burfict said. “He said a thousand dollars for every pick he drops. So right now. he has $2,000 in the pot.”
Abram said Burfict “encouraged me not to drop money. The ball is money.”
Still, Burfict is among those who believes the Raiders’ selection of Abram will pay dividends.
“He’s young, he’s talented, aggressive,” Burfict said. “I can’t wait to see him play on Sundays.”