Rookies Decamerion Richardson and Trey Taylor are looking to bolster defensive depth in second half of season

Nov 01, 2024 at 05:07 PM

Carter Owen

Digital Content Associate

The Raiders have the NFL's highest rookie snap share on offense this season (20.0 percent) thanks in large part to the contributions of Brock Bowers, Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze.

But on defense, the Silver and Blank rank 25^th in the league. That could change as the team hopes the growth of rookie safety Trey Taylor and rookie cornerback Decamerion Richardson will bolster the team's depth on defense and special teams.

Taylor, a seventh-round pick, and Richardson, a fourth-round pick, each sustained injuries in preseason that sidelined them for the first five games of the regular season. Both players then saw their first NFL action in Week 6 and have been making steady progress since.

"It was a tough, tough, tough eight weeks," Taylor said of his recovery period. "I'm just blessed to be able to be back out here with my boys and my brothers just playing ball, playing the game that I love."

While he has yet to see action on defense, Taylor has contributed on 39 special teams snaps in his three games played. Like Taylor, 39 of Richardson's 49 snaps this season have come on special teams.

"I thought last week on the special teams roles that they had, you saw the speed with Decam," Head Coach Antonio Pierce said after their debuts. "He's flying down there at the gunner and the vice guy on our punt return. And Trey Taylor, just the physicality that he shows up. I mean, he's a pretty big safety when you really see him in pads again, it's been a while. But both guys, I just hope it keeps growing in that role on special teams, and at some point we get them in on defense."

While Taylor had plenty of mental reps to start the season, there's a big difference in being back on the field.

"He's gone about his business the way that we saw him as a prospect, serious, very professional, and he's continuing to get better on his journey," safeties coach Gerald Alexander said.

"Everything is new for him as a rookie. He's learning and that's my favorite part about the role, that I'm getting an opportunity to educate him really in all facets of just understanding what his role is, understanding what his position is and teaching him the game."

That process of working with and learning from Alexander - a former five-year NFL safety - has been an exciting one for Taylor.

"It's been an honor," he said. "I haven't had a coach that's had this much intellect on the position. Everything he's been teaching me over the past however many months that I've been here, I try to include in my game, and I try to show that everything that I'm hearing, I'm showing on the field. But he's a genius, hope to keep on building this relationship. He's one of a kind.

"He sees the game from the player's point of view and that's extremely important as a coach. One day when I want to be a coach, I want to carry some of the same qualities that he does because he's really good to learn from. Especially with somebody that's done it at the same level and done it at a high level at the same level, you can't help but want to listen to that."

The same can be said for Richardson's relationship with his position coach Ricky Manning Jr., who played cornerback in the NFL for six seasons.

"It's been good," Richardson said. "I feel like he's taught me a lot of different things that have helped my game out. … It helps that he played. He knows how the game goes. He'll demonstrate the drill and show you what you need to do and how you need to do it."

With Richardson back on the field and an active part of both practices and gamedays, teammate Jakorian Bennett, while still a young player himself, can see Richardson's progress and his promise as a player in this league.

"He's always focused, asks a lot of questions," Bennett said. "He's got all the size, speed, everything you want in a corner. He's a good player, he's going to be nice, for sure."

Manning is also excited about Richardson's mindset and approach – especially this early in his rookie season.

"Besides his size and length and playing ability, it's his willingness, his heart, his desire to go out there and work," Manning said. "He doesn't turn it down at all. … He's very willing to be a part of the process to be better, to be great and it's going to really make him great."

While the two rookies are undoubtedly hungry for increased opportunities, they're cherishing the opportunity to develop and realize their goals step by step, day by day.

"Just experiencing what I've kind of dreamt of since I was a kid," Taylor said. "Looking in the crowd and feeling the vibes of the game. Seeing family's faces afterwards, it kind of made - of course it's all going to be worth it - but it made everybody's sacrifice that they made for me even more special."

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.