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Oakland Raiders: Meet Their Breakout Player of 2018

By Erik Lambert

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph #42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph #42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph #42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph #42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The Oakland Raiders hired Jon Gruden to get this team back on track after their disappointing letdown in 2017, and it starts with getting more from the roster.

In order to reach the next level certain players who haven’t quite reached their potential yet need to start producing. Is there a name amidst this roster who is due for his big breakout? The answer is yes and that would be safety Karl Joseph. Oakland selected him in the 1st round of the 2016 NFL draft. He was an exciting talent out of West Virginia who some thought could be the next Earl Thomas. So far that hasn’t been the case.

Joseph hasn’t been terrible, but he’s basically been what most football coaches and experts would call “a guy.” He makes the occasional nice play but he’s far from being the playmaker many hoped he would be. He has two interceptions in two years and hasn’t really been a major factor in coverage or against the run. Granted, it’s not all on him. The Raiders defensive coaching was bad the past few years and their talent elsewhere on the depth chart hasn’t helped.

However, things are looking up for him now. Why? It centers on his new defensive coordinator.

Paul Guenther has a certain knack for the safety position

Every coordinator in the NFL has a certain position he tends to specialize in. For new Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, that would be the safeties. He proved this during his run with the Cincinnati Bengals. Under his guidance players like Reggie Nelson, George Iloka and even Shawn Williams had career-best seasons on the back end. Nelson reached his first Pro Bowl thanks to his help, snagging eight interceptions in 2015.

The irony of this is Guenther was a linebackers coach before he became a coordinator. Either way, this looks like big news for Joseph. If Guenther could get top tier production from players like Iloka and Williams, one can just imagine how excited he must be to have a former 1st round pick to work with. If the Raiders can rev up that pass rush this season, don’t be surprised when Joseph starts making more plays.

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