Amerson shines as starter.
Cornerback has dominant game against Titans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What a start to the David Amerson era.
The third-year cornerback, scooped up by the Raiders off the waiver wire two months ago, looked like a Pro Bowl corner in Sunday’s 24-21 win at Tennessee.
He had six pass deflections and picked off rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.
“Amerson played excellent,” cornerback TJ Carrie said. “Really effective at the point of attack.”
“Outstanding performance,” Charles Woodson said.
Amerson had played before, and started, because of injury. But Sunday was the day the job was his.
And he played out of his mind.
Granted, it was against the Titans, who came in with the 25th-best passing attack.
And, granted, the bar is low for Raiders, whom for a good day means getting beaten only a few times.
But Amerson looked like a keeper.
“He had a heck of a day,” injured safety Nate Allen said. “We know he can do that. That’s what we expect. DA’s a heck of a corner. Plays man, zone, he can do it all. He showed that today.”
The rise of Amerson also means the end of an era. DJ Hayden, the cornerback saddled with expectations since general manager Reggie McKenzie selected him No. 12 overall, is no longer a staple of the starting defense.
And after the way Amerson played, many Raiders fans are probably wondering what took so long to make the switch.
Amerson — a secondround pick in 2013, taken 39 slots after Hayden — has looked good filling in for Allen.
The 6-foot-1, 205 pound North Carolina State product has looked the part of a polished ballhawk.
But when Allen came back from injury, Amerson still didn’t get the nod. In the last two games, Hayden started and played 92 percent of the snaps. Amerson played half the snaps as a nickel corner.
But Sunday, Hayden was benched.
“It’s not so much about DJ as about rewarding players that have played the best,” coach Jack Del Rio said.
Amerson is younger and bigger than Hayden. He also has more of a nose for the ball, which matters in a league centered on passing.
Amerson came into Sunday with a team-high 12 pass deflections, eighth most in the NFL.
He now has 18, three times more than Hayden despite significantly fewer snaps. The next highest on the Raiders is Woodson’s eight.
“I got released from Washington,” Amerson said, “and I felt like I had something to prove. I definitely feel like I am a good corner in this league and want to prove that.”
Amerson’s production is a breath of fresh air for the Raiders, who have had issues in the secondary all season. The Raiders came in 30th in passing yards allowed.
Woodson, 39, has been the best and most consistent player in the secondary.
With a healthy Allen and an upgrade at corner with Amerson, the Raiders have some stability for the stretch run.
Amerson showed Sunday that he can make a play if defenses are going to throw at him, something Hayden didn’t do consistently.
Kendall Wright had Amerson beat by two steps down the sideline in the first half, but Amerson closed and dived for a clutch breakup at the last second.
On another, he displayed his height and reach, leaping high to knock away a pass, nearly deflecting it to Woodson.
“I’m a big competitor,” Amerson said. “I like challenges and people that challenge me. I like to rise to the occasion.”