Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre’von Moehrig is coming up on an important third season with the team.
After an impressive rookie season, Moehrig’s play regressed slightly, not producing to the level Coach Josh McDaniels and Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham would have liked from him.
The Raiders made several additions to the secondary during free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping to improve that position group drastically.
One of the more notable additions they made was safety Marcus Epps, who signed a two-year deal with the Raiders after spending four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Epps was one of the better run stopping safeties in the NFL last season, and is also a smart player in coverage.
A veteran like Epps has a chance to help Moehrig regain the level of play he was at during his rookie season. Moehrig addressed the media during training camp about the addition of Epps.
“Man, he’s awesome,” he said. “That’s my dawg, ever since we came in the first day we’ve been talking, just picking his brain about what he knows, and he’s been picking my brain just trying to help each other out. But outside of football, he’s just a good person and just fun to be around.”
Epps and Moehrig are set to be the Raiders’ starting safeties, two players with high football IQ and a knack for making plays on the ball.
It can sometimes be difficult for free agent additions to form chemistry quickly, especially in time for the season, but from Moehrig’s comments, it sounds like he and Epps are building a rapport already.
The secondary is arguably the most important place for good communication on the football field, as the results of bad communication can be devastating. If Moehrig and Epps are building good chemistry, that chemistry can be infectious throughout the rest of the defense, securing the back side of the field.
With a young player entering a pivotal season like Moehrig is, having a veteran who worked his way up into an important role on a Super Bowl defense, like Epps did, can be invaluable. If their chemistry on and off the football field can continue to flourish, the returns could be quite encouraging for the Raiders’ defense.
The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.
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