A year ago, there were those that wondered how well Raiders rookie running back Josh Jacobs would fare going from a complementary player at Alabama to a featured player in the NFL. Jacobs quickly put those questions to rest. Now it’s wide receiver Henry Ruggs III’s turn as he transitions from being a third, sometimes
Henry Ruggs III faces same criticism that Josh Jacobs endured as a result of limited action at Alabama
I think the Raiders are drafting football players 1st that have talent . Not just great athletes that happen to play football. This is more of a mental game that ever before. The Raiders played above the talent level last year because they played as a team.
Well, Ruggs III indeed has plenty of talent. He also is a very smart football player. Alabama coaches rave about Ruggs III and his intelligence, on and off the field. Therefore, the mental aspect of the game isn’t going to pose a problem at all for Ruggs III.
I hope Ruggs can stay healthy with more catches. He doesn’t look like the biggest guy.
Can he beat NFL corners and can Carr/Gruden get him the ball early and often? I see a ton of shallow slants in Ruggs’ future for some reason.
He should be able to beat NFL corners without a ton of difficulty, Michelle. Look at some of the cornerbacks that the Raiders have fielded the past decade or so.
More important, I believe, is how Ruggs III will handle being a focal point of the offense, when he never was at Alabama. That, in turn, will mean that he will be covered by the opposing team’s top cornerback, at times, if not always. That’s a huge jump in responsibility.