Former Alabama star wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was a huge contributor to the 2020 Crimson Tide offense. Now, he will look to have an impact in his rookie season as the starting slot receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders.
31, 2020 2 a.m. Before the 2019 season, the Raiders signed veteran corner Lamarcus Joyner with the intention of lining him up in the slot against smaller, shiftier receivers. Receivers caught 13.3 receptions per game and 17 touchdowns against Carolina’s defense in 2014. As good as the Panthers’ front seven is, the secondary is. Defensive rankings vs. Is there anywhere I can find a breakdown of how defenses have been doing against slot guys? Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper, while predominantly used outside the numbers, has quietly become one of the league’s most efficient route runners from the slot. Despite running just 17.9 percent of his routes away from the outside boundary, Cooper has averaged 2.81 yards per route run from the slot in his three-year NFL career.
Though he was relatively quiet compared to his fellow teammates, such as Jerry Jeudy and Tua Tagovailoa, Ruggs was the name heard around the nation when it cam time for the 2020 NFL Combine.
Raiders Against Slot Receivers Players
His speed, paired with his route running abilities ultimately led to him being the first receiver selected in the 2020 NFL draft, No. 12 to the Raiders.
Raiders Against Slot Receivers Odds
With only a few days of training camp in the books, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson is comfortable letting the public know that Ruggs will be the team’s starting slot receiver.
Marcus Mosher of Raiders Wire captured this quote from Olson during his recent media availability:
“We’ll start with Ruggs III in the slot and do some things with Ruggs III. But those guys (Ruggs and Bryan Edwards) are very multiple in what they can do and that’s the goal is to be able to move all of them around to different spots; the one, two or three position at the wide receiver.”
While he’s starting in the slot, Olson was quick to point out that the Alabama product’s athleticism means he could be moved around.
Slot Receivers In The Nfl
Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Henry Ruggs III and his journey through year No. 1 in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders.