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BALTIMORE – Marcell Ateman spent key parts of his NFL debut with Patrick Peterson. The Arizona Cardinals cornerback is among the best in the NFL, but the rookie Raiders receiver has not been intimidated.
It would only have detracted from its main purpose. He was respectful but fearless, which allowed Ateman to win his first professional match against the triple All-Pro.
"You have to be respectful, but at the same time, you fight against him," Ateman said. "It's your job and you can not be afraid to do it. That's the sport. That's what you're supposed to do. I'm supposed to play big games. "
It was a huge late. He was not paired with Peterson at the end of the fourth quarter of the 23-21 win over the Cardinals on Sunday, when his task was to open up at the bottom of the game. He found a way to beat his opponent, get a 32 yard catch when it was absolutely necessary to achieve it and establish the decisive goal of Daniel Carlson.
It was the kind of game that Ateman played regularly at training camp, but these efforts were not enough to earn a spot on the grid. He finally joined the training team, finally promoted after the transfer of Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys.
Injuries to Martavis Bryant and Jordy Nelson made him active for the first time against the Cardinals and opened a window to show the Raiders coaches what he can do.
That's why Ateman is the subject of this week's rookie spot.
Let's take a closer look at Ateman's progress and what needs to be done next to become a pillar of the Raiders during a period of great change:
Marcell Ateman
Position: Wide receiver
Draft Slot: 228 overall (seventh round)
School: Oklahoma State
Size weight: 6 feet 4; 216 pounds
Statistics 2018: 4 receptions for 50 yards on 5 targets in one game (65 offensive shots)
Raw tools: Ateman has a lot of size, but a less than ideal speed. However, he has a nose for football.
Ateman adept positioning his right body to pick up passes from the sky, and generate just enough space to become a friendly target. It is good in traffic, making it an attractive option for healthy Raiders recipients.
The rookie has many traits of Michael Crabtree, but has work to do to validate such a high comparison.
First returns: Ateman made a strong first impression and was one of the heroes of this win over the Cardinals. He beat his striker late on the left touchline and found a way to make a big game when the Raiders had to have one.
"It was good for the competitive aspect of this game, the intense situations that occurred in this game. There was a lot of back and forth, it was good to see him participate in high level competitions, "said Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson. "He will still be able to look back and say that his first shot was against Patrick Peterson, at an important point in the game, he had a few chances to challenge Patrick, he was good. . "
Where Ateman has improved: It's hard to gauge an improvement in an exhibition, but the former Oklahoma State Cowboy maintained his strong performance in a regular season game after impressing in pre-season practices.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden was also happy to see that the stage was not too difficult for him to perform and deal with the mental rigors of playing the receiver in his pattern.
"He managed audibles," said Gruden. "I think [quarterback Derek Carr]At the beginning of the game, the sound was audited and went to see it on a quick screen. He handled this part well, the change of parts. He made very good blocks. Even on the game Seth Roberts, it is necessary to put the goal on the field. Then he had the big catch. I was really happy with Ateman. It was not too big for him. He was confident. He was under control. He was calm. He made games. "
And after: Despite encouraging signs in his NFL debut, consistency must be achieved, especially after the defensive coaches began using the game strip to find ways to slow it down.
He must react well against the half-turners of any type, in particular the biggest defenders, who can be physical with him. Ateman's hands must remain stable and allow him to become an increasingly reliable target as the season progresses.
After Cooper's departure and the injury of other veterans, Ateman will have a lot of chances to outdo himself. He must make the most of it.
Quotable: "I've been doing it since I played football. There is no reason to think of anything else. You just play the game you've always played and ignore the context. It does not need to be more complicated than that. – Ateman, why he was not intimidated by the NFL.
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