With The First Pick
Fansided

Oakland Raiders Get ILB Their Defense Needed

By Carl Cockerham

Sep 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) onto the field prior to the Redskins
Sep 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) onto the field prior to the Redskins /
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Nov 29, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) as Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) defends in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) as Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) defends in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

He’s Really That Good

Mike Shanahan was the head coach when The Redskins drafted Riley. It didn’t take him very long to figure out how good Riley is, telling Redskins.com back in 2012, “I think Perry is going to be a heck of a football player. “He’s got natural instincts.

“He’s obviously a lot more comfortable with the system going into this year. He is a playmaker. He has great speed, great agility and always seems to be around the football. There are some people that are just natural football players and he is one of those guys.”

And of course, you know Gruden took over for Shanahan and like what he inherited in Riley, saying, “Playing the position, his drops were good in the zones. “Getting on the right people, hitting the right gaps, sound tackling. He was just a good, all-around, solid linebacker.

“He really didn’t have any glaring weakness that I can remember. I just know that he was all over the place and very instinctive, more so when Will was in there.”

So don’t think Riley can’t play just because he wasn’t on a team when the Raiders picked him up.

Amerson wasn’t!

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