Don’t call first-round picks Ferrell, Abram ‘rookies’
Touted duo having immediate impact with actions, words
NAPA >> Clelin Ferrell has stricken the word “rookie” from his vocabulary.
“They didn’t bring us in here to be no rookie,” Ferrell said Monday
following the Raiders’ first padded practice of training camp. “Rookie can get a connotation of, sit back, wait your turn. You don’t got to stop out in front and show that you want to play.”
Ferrell, the No. 4 pick out of Clemson, has earned rave reviews for his confident, assertive nature since the day he arrived. Same goes for safety Johnathan Abram, who like Ferrell is expected to be an instant starter and contributor to one of the NFL’s worst defenses in 2018.
But all the maturity in the world won’t help without being strong and athletic enough to win one-on-one battles, something Ferrell, Abram and the rest of the Raiders got to do for the first time Monday in 2019.
“I would say it’s just OK from my standards, man,” Ferrell said. “The biggest thing for me is I’ve got to get my special teams stuff down. That’s one of the most important parts of the game. Definitely going to get in my book tonight, come back tomorrow and learn.”
That’s a veteran move, giving special teams its props with the media. It’s something both Ferrell and Abram have throughout the offseason, giving respect to veterans while not cowering in their wake.
“They’re leaders. I don’t remember any type of rookie coming in and talking as much as they do — even getting in to other players’ heads,” linebacker Vontaze Burfict said.
Ferrell has played mostly at right end, and defensive Paul Guenther said he’s been everything they expected. Guenther also doesn’t rule out using Ferrell on the inside occasionally in passing situations depending on the progress of outside rushers such as Arden Key and Maxx Crosby.
During one pass rush drill Monday, Ferrell found himself completely stonewalled by second-year tackle Kolton Miller, although he recovered on a later repetition and displayed an ability to bend and get to the corner — an area which some draft analysts thought he was deficient.
Abram, playing safety along with Karl Joseph with Lamarcus Joyner in the slot, has shown no signs of hesitation brought about by uncertainty. Ferrell praised Abram’s football intellect as well as his aggression between the lines.
“He don’t take no stuff from nobody,” Ferrell said. “He’s not afraid to speak his mind, even though some of it be crazy coming out of his mouth.”
Brandon Marshall, the outside linebacker signed in free agency from Denver, said, “I’ve been around a lot of first-round picks and they’re not as mature, don’t work as hard, they don’t study as hard. and they don’t have that same demeanor and mindset of these rookies.”
Ferrell, who prefers the designation “first-year-player” to rookie, said he looks at veteran players as big brothers.
“They know what it takes to be in this league or they wouldn’t be here,” Ferrell said. “Then again, I’m not a guy that’s going accept wrong . . . I’m just a guy that holds people accountable, and people hold me accountable. If I see something wrong, I’m going to say something.”
Highlights from Day 3 and the first day of pads:
• The most impressive show of might came early in the first team session from right tackle Trent Brown, who buried defensive tackle P.J. Hall in a 380-pound avalanche.
• Tight end Darren Waller looked the part of a matchup problem in a red zone drill when he made a fingertip grab of a Derek Carr pass in stride for a touchdown.
• Cornerback Nevin Lawson, a solid cover corner who doesn’t have a single interception in 63 games and 54 starts with Detroit, dropped a sure pick and then spent time catching balls from the jugs gun after practice.
• Joyner spent some time after practice working one-onone with rookie corner Isaiah Johnson, with general manager Mike Mayock standing by and playing close attention.
• Marcel Ateman, a rookie wide receiver last season who is in a much more competitive situation a year later, has had a solid three days of practice. Included in his catches on Monday was an end-zone fade for a score thrown by Nathan Peterman with Gareon Conley in coverage.
Ateman later appeared to hurt his right arm after breaking free on a run-after-catch when Erik Harris attempted to strip the ball from behind.
• On one play sure to draw the ire of Jon Gruden and the coaching staff during film study, Mike Glennon got a low snap from center, then underthrew a short swing to Doug Martin, who dropped the ball. A frustrated fan in the stands yelled, “Why are you so quiet, Gruden? Pick it up!”
Gruden didn’t respond, but when one fan who looked to be about 5 years old wearing a Carr jersey yelled his name before practice, the coach came over and handed him a football.
• Wide receiver Antonio Brown wasn’t on the field after coming off the non-football injury list Sunday. Among those who missed practice were cornerback Trayvon Mullen (wrist), defensive tackle Eddy Vanderdoes (concussion), defensive tackle Ronald Ollie (undisclosed) and guard Jonathan Cooper (undisclosed).