All parties eager to see Conley play
SEASON OPENER
Rams at Raiders, Monday, 7:20 p.m., ESPN, Ch. 7
ALAMEDA >> Gareon Conley is playing it low key as usual, more observer than participant in the daily locker room scene.
Yet make no mistake, the second-year Raiders cornerback can hardly wait to face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night after playing just two games with no starts as a rookie because of a slowto-heal shin injury that eventually required surgery.
“I don’t show it a lot, but I’m real excited,” Conley said Friday. “I haven’t played in like a year after not being hurt ever. It feels so good to be out there, feeling like myself and not thinking about my injury.”
The No. 24 overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft, Conley isn’t making up for lost time as much as he’s living in the moment. The temporary betrayal of his body behind him, Conley is ready to get started winning games and making Pro Bowls.
It’s something the Raiders are counting on. If they are to be an ascending defense following the trade of Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears, the presence of a lock-down corner would go a long way toward giving pass rushers more time to get to the quarterback.
Conley, at 6-foot, 195 pounds, has all the requisite talents. He looks and play taller than his height and is fluid in the hips for quick change of direction. The recovery speed is there, and Conley can naturally play the ball in flight.
Even the untrained eye can see Conley has the best skill set of anyone in the Raider secondary.
“I can’t wait to see Conley play,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “It’s the first time he’s played football in a long time.”
Conley made his debut with a promising performance in Week 2 against the New York Jets, but the following week in a 27-10 loss to Washington, looked hobbled and tentative. He never played the rest of the season, finally going on injured reserve on Nov. 19.
The Raiders coaching staff did Conley no favors in a media sense, never disclosing what was a serious injury and making it seem as if he could return at any time before finally putting him on IR.
Conley had been nearly injury free at Ohio State, where he was a leader on the back end of the Buckeyes’ talented defense. After his rookie year, Conley was watched closely by the new Raiders staff, and he ended the offseason program with a minor hamstring strain and then on the first day of training camp went down in a heap with a hip injury.
For two agonizing weeks, Conley was again a spectator. But while the Raiders seemed to lose patience with secondround pick Obi Melifonwu, who had difficulty staying on the field, they were patient with Conley.
So far, that patience has been rewarded. Conley has participated in 15 consecutive practices.
“He’s got a better understanding of the ins and outs of the system, the coverage adjustments, some of the other things we do,” Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “He’s progressing nicely.”
Guenther promises to use all his defensive backs depending on scheme and package, but Conley is the talent around which the secondary will evolve. Cornerback has been a revolving door for the Raiders for the past several years. The last one to reach the Pro Bowl was Nnamdi Asomugha in 2010.
Veteran cornerback Leon Hall can see the difference in Conley’s talent being enhanced with the steady practice time.
“He’s so obviously gifted, he can go out there and can cover anybody and you’ll be fine,” Hall said. “But now that he’s been out there with practices under his belt, he’s getting more comfortable. Now he can start playing without thinking about anything else other than what he needs to do on this play and let your talent really take over.”
Conley arrived with baggage in the form of a rape allegation for which charges were not filed. When combined with the shin injury, it made for a long and disappointing first year.
Yet at Washington High in Massillon, Ohio, Conley was revered by the coaching staff because he was so prepared and studied film at an advanced level. That ability helped him make progress even while not on the field with the Raiders.
”Repetition builds accuracy, so being at practice helps a lot,” Conley said. “But being mentally prepared during camp when I was out helped a lot too. The coaches had me study film and I’d watch different corners every day. If you’re not watching film because you’re worried about being hurt, you can take a step back.”
And while one of Gruden’s pet peeves is missed practice time — Melifonwu was released because of it -- Conley appreciated the support while he couldn’t practice.
“Coach Gruden kept a real positive attitude through my injury and wanted me to get better and take care of myself,” Conley said. “That helps a lot.”