‘I believe in myself’: 2nd-year cornerback coming up big for Raiders
It will forever be noted that Robert Spillane came up with the interception that led to the Raiders’ first touchdown against the Ravens on Sunday.
Lost in the shuffle was the brilliant diagnosis and communication of second-year cornerback Jakorian Bennett, who packed so many good things into the 10 seconds that preceded Spillane’s interception that a coach would be wise to clip it for a teaching tape.
It is yet another example of Bennett’s evolution. The 2023 fourth-round pick has rebounded from his up-and-down rookie season to provide stability alongside fellow cornerback starters Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones. And for now, he has muted all the skeptics calling on the Raiders to sign a veteran cornerback.
“Just evidence of the work I’ve put in,” Bennett said. “The coaches believe in me. The players believe in me. I believe in myself. I just have to go out there and do what I’m coached up to do and be a ballplayer.”
Two games in, he’s been doing a lot of that. He hasn’t been perfect — he gave up three completions on six targets Sunday against the Ravens after not giving up a catch on two targets against the Chargers.
But as coach Antonio Pierce pointed out, there isn’t a cornerback on the planet who doesn’t give up completions from time to time. And as Bennett has already shown this year, he’s been up to the challenge when the Chargers and Ravens isolated him in coverage on deep throws downfield.
“You can see the confidence growing,” Pierce said.
A gifted athlete blessed with speed, Bennett is also excelling in the mental game. The play he made on Spillane’s interception is a clear example.
Breakdown
The play begins with Bennett lined up in front of Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was on the perimeter to the left of quarterback Lamar Jackson. As Flowers goes in motion, eventually sprinting past Jackson, Bennett flows with him behind Spillane and Divine Deablo, the Raiders’ two linebackers.
Bennett reads the situation perfectly, understanding that Flowers will turn upfield and run a wheel route immediately after passing fellow receiver Rashod Bateman. So Bennett signals to Jones to pick up Flowers and then sits down to wait for Bateman. Jackson rightfully assumes the action will likely confuse the inexperienced Bennett and spring open Bateman, who makes an inside release and turns for the ball.
But just as Jackson makes his throw, Bennett cuts fast to Bateman and is in perfect position to get a hand on the ball. Spillane, converging on Bateman as well, is right there to scoop it out of the air for an interception.
Spillane gets the rightful credit for the turnover. But Bennett makes the play happen. It’s one of a handful of sparkling reps the former Maryland standout has delivered this year, including three pass breakups, to quell any concern about the club needing another cornerback.
Determined to improve
It’s a continuation of a process that began in the offseason, when Bennett poured himself into his development, determined to improve from his rookie season and beat out veteran Brandon Facyson to reclaim the starting job he lost four games into his first season.
“You could see it was a different look, to be honest, in his eyes when he came back in the spring in April, like, ‘OK, he’s working hard.’” Pierce said. “You see him, and at the time we had Facyson here, and he was backing up Facyson and he just slowly kept chopping wood.”
His teammates noticed, too, prompting Hobbs to come to Bennett’s defense during training camp.
“I don’t like how the media, even some of you guys, y’all attack JB, and I’m going to say right now that JB’s going to be pivotal for us,” Hobbs said. “And I really don’t want to see you guys attacking him like you are. He’s a great player, young, but he has a drive that you don’t see in people today. So, great player, great man, also. I feel like he’s going to be very pivotal for us.”
Turns out Hobbs was right. He wasn’t the only one, either, as teammates and coaches continually talked Bennett up during camp. He appreciates the gesture.
“It shows that they believe in me,” Bennett said. “And I believe in myself.”
He is playing like it, too.
“I think his ability to respond, play by play, we talk always about not being good, being great,” said Pierce. “And I think he’s really striving for that.”
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.