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Oakland Raiders CB David Amerson not complacent with success

By The Sports Xchange
Oakland Raiders David Amerson hits Denver Broncos Emmanuel Sanders (R) as he tries to hold on to a pass in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on October 11, 2015. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
1 of 2 | Oakland Raiders David Amerson hits Denver Broncos Emmanuel Sanders (R) as he tries to hold on to a pass in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on October 11, 2015. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

ALAMEDA, Calif -- Cornerback David Amerson, a standout as a waiver claim last year from the Washington Redskins, has no plans on returning to the level of play that led to his release.

Just because he rejuvenated his career doesn't mean he thinks he has it made.

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"I mean, really, I've got to put last year behind me and improve as a player," Amerson said. "Don't come out here and act like I know everything, because I know I don't."

Amerson is leaning on eight-year veteran Sean Smith, a key free agent acquisition, to learn more about playing the position.

"Sean's a very smart dude," Amerson said. "He has no trouble passing the knowledge on. I've learned a lot being around him so I'm excited to see how much more I can learn from him throughout the season. With him being eight years in, he's seen a lot of different releases and he's teaching me a lot."

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--Wide receiver Amari Cooper is quiet by nature, and mostly kept to himself during a rookie season in which he excelled early and faded late, in part due to a foot injury that he played through.

Quarterback Derek Carr said Cooper more talkative in Year 2 and thought he handled his business correctly last year.

"He did it right. You come in shut your mouth and go to work and that's exactly what he did," Carr said. "Everyone respected him. No one could say anything about his work ethic except, 'Man, he's quiet.' "That's about the only negative thing you could say, and that's not a bad thing."

Cooper, while not overly gabby, conceded he will speak his mind a little more in his second season now that he is "been around the guys for a longer period of time."

Being quiet, Cooper said, is just his nature.

"I've never been the outspoken person," Cooper said. "I just like to chill out first, see how things are going."

--Raiders coach Jack Del Rio believes his team got the head start it needed heading into training camp.

The Raiders have been big on speed since the Al Davis, but the new regime is looking more at fundamental speed _ on the field rather than with a 40-yard dash time. It includes the ability to think fast as much as running fast.

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Del Rio believes that familiarity with the system, combined with getting players who are buying in, is helping functional speed.

"Right now what I'm liking is how fast we're playing," Del Rio said. "I feel that we've added team speed but we're laying fast. We're playing with more confidence and that's critical. It's something we're looking to develop, to play faster and faster, play smart and under control, but be tough. But that speed is really showing up."

Del Rio said he expected the entire roster to be ready to go by training camp.

--Linebacker Malcolm Smith thinks part of the development of edge rusher Khalil Mack hinges on the development of the rest of the defense.

The better the rest of the defense plays, the more likely it is Mack will become a dominant player.

"You saw how dominant he can be," Smith said. "Teams are going to plan for that and we have to grow as a group around him to be able to free him up to make even more plays. We're trying to raise our level to his and he's trying to take his to the next level."

--With more depth across the roster, the trickledown effect could improve the Raiders special teams, which were pretty good in the area of coverage but not as good on returns.

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Regardless, special teams coordinator Brad Seely thinks he'll have more to work with come training camp.

"I think it's really huge," Seely said. "We brought in guys like Brynden Trawick and Darren Bates, guys that were good special teams players with other teams. They'll push the guys that are on our present roster and were here last year. Any time you go to camp and have competition, it's going to make you better."

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