Raiders fans are starting to get nervous. The ones on Twitter anyway.
There was plenty of angst and consternation of over three recent developments: 1) A season-ending injury two wide receiver Tyrell Williams; 2) the trade of third-round draft pick Lynn Bowden Jr. and 3) Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota going on injured reserve and missing at least the first three games.
It’s not so much that Bowden or Mariota were going to have major roles Sunday when the Raiders open the regular season against the Carolina Panthers as much as it makes the franchise look bad in terms of its judgement in terms of identifying and investing in talent.
When I put out a couple of mailbag calls, there were as many fans who simply wanted to vent or respond to those who were venting rather than ask a question. So I’ll include some of those thoughts along with answering some questions.
Here goes:
Q: Do you think Derek Carr will have his best year since 2016, because he will not have to play in front of crowds? May ease his anxiety. — @Longuduckdong991
I do think he’ll have his best year since 2016, but it will have to do more with a better supporting cast on both sides of the ball and a change of environment from the Bay Area to Las Vegas than crowds. Derek is truly a nice guy, but I don’t mistake that for being fragile in terms of fan reaction.
Q: Did Brandon Parker make a pact with the devil or does he have video of Gruden listening to Celine Dion? How is he still on the team? — @robospawn
Tough crowd. I try and keep in mind that anyone who has played on an roster has reached the pinnacle of his profession and isn’t deserving of scorn and ridicule. In terms of Parker’s play, yes, he has struggled. And you’re not the only person who wondered if dealing David Sharpe and keeping Parker was the right thing to do. Here’s how G.M. Mike Mayock assessed it on Sunday: “You’re talking about a third-round pick out of a small school. We think there’s still a lot of growth there with Brandon Parker.”
Q: Why couldn’t Damarious Randall be on practice squad for more time to get reps? — @tonyjobs
You know when Johnathan Abram was talking about how “the best ability is availability?” Jon Gruden is a big believer in that. Randall was not a full-go participant through much of camp. That’s the quickest way to find yourself off the roster unless you’re being paid so much it simply isn’t possible.
Q: How has Henry Ruggs looked in training camp? Is he going to start week 1 — @jeremdizz
For the first time since 1996, I didn’t see a training camp practice. But my understand is Ruggs has looked very good. The initial depth chart, such as it was, listed Ruggs as a starter. And as the No. 12 overall pick, he’d better be.
Q: What position group do you think still needs work? I still think we need a bigger backup running back and another DT. — @brwong24
I’d go running back over defensive tackle. Neither Jalen Richard nor Davontae Booker qualify as a lead back in the Josh Jacobs mold, Same goes for Theo Riddick in the practice squad. The Raiders would be searching for a back currently not on anyone’s 53-man roster. At defensive tackle, they’ve got Maliek Collins, Johnathan Hankins, Maurice Hurst and Daniel Ross. Plus they can move Clelin Ferrell or Kendal Vickers inside. Lots of options and combinations.
How does the O-line look: _ @j1979reggie
Intact. The Raiders’ starting five of left tackle Kolton Miller, left guard Richie Incognito, right guard Gabe Jackson and right tackle Trent Brown compares with any in the NFL. It’s important that Brown hold up after missing much of camp. Until I see differently, I’m chalking that up to playing it safe and making sure Brown was ready for Week 1.
Q: How big of a loss is losing Tyrell Williams? — @Supsup_DamnRight
A healthy Williams would have helped, no doubt. But the Raiders have never really seen a healthy Williams other than the first four or five games last season when he was scoring touchdowns. It’s $11 million under the salary cap that is not going to see the field. If Bryan Edwards is a step-in-and-produce third-round pick, it softens the blow quite a bit.
Q: Can #RaiderNation get a quick rundown on mystery man Kendal Vickers? Must have done some good things at training camp — @TheDudeNva
Vickers is 6-foot-3, 290 pounds and can play end and move inside to tackle. Mayock said he ran a 4.7 40-yard dash coming out of college. Not a lot was said or written about him, but his presence on the 53-man roster means he impressed Rod Marinelli and Paul Guenther. We’ll know whether the Raiders consider him an immediate contributor or insurance if he’s active Sunday against the Panthers.
Q: Is the team going to be better this year by cutting Prince Amukamara and Damarious Randall, or is it more important to get Damon Arnette and the other young DBs experience for a Super Bowl run next year or the year after? — @PoloThecholo
With defensive backs, it can go fast. Amukamara said he was told by Mayock the Raiders were going with younger players. Which is nicer than saying “Based on what we’ve seen, we’re more comfortable putting Isaiah Johnson or Keisean Nixon on the field.” As for Randall, as referenced earlier, he missed a lot of practice time and Erik Harris fends off challenges for his roster spot every year.
Q: Secondary needs experienced help and needs to be addressed or KC will rip it apart again. Anything brewing there ? — @Jack9701358
I think what you see is what you get. And if the Raiders can generate a consistent pass rush and Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski live up to their reputations in pass coverage, it won’t be as bad as you think.
Q: I trust Mayock but taking two players in the 3rd round (Bowden and Muse) who needed to make position changes seems risky. Thoughts? — @oneida415
You do realize all draft picks are authorized by Jon Gruden, right? He listens to Mayock, but ultimately it’s his call. The third-round has been brutal, you are correct. And those who saw practices said Muse was struggling and there’s no way to know how much that had to do with the toe injury and how much it had to do with a position change. And you’re right, at this point it does seem pretty risky considering Bowden’s out the door and Muse is on I.R. Heard good things about Bryan Edwards, though.
Q: On a level of 1-10 how concerned are you with the team having only 14 padded practices this summer? — @smush . . .
Zero. Because every other team in the NFL is in the same situation.
Q: Didn’t the Raiders start DHB and Louis Murphy one year? — @RaiderLogic
A check of starting lineups in 2009 shows Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy started together for the first eight games of their rookie season in 2009. By season’s end, Murphy was the most targeted wideout with 96, followed by Chaz Schilens (52), Johnnie Lee Higgins (45) and Heyward-Bey (40). Ruggs and Edwards could start against Carolina, plus Hunter Renfrow if the Raiders open with three wide receivers. We’ll see who gets the most work between Nelson Agholor, Zay Jones and Rico Gafford. My guess is it will be Agholor.
Q: Am I the only one who remembers Quentin Moses from the 3rd round of the 2007 draft? — @DJeff_79
More historical third-round misery. Called “unblockable” by D-coordinator Rob Ryan early in camp, Moses was beaten out by Jay Richardson at defensive end and waived.
Q: Does Theo Riddick getting cut, mean Josh Jacobs will get more passing work? — @MarinKnowsMarin
Unrelated. Jalen Richard can catch plenty of passes. I don’t think Jacobs’ use as a receiver will be as big as everyone expects. Maybe 40 catches or so. He’s too valuable as a runner between the tackles and will get plenty of work that way.
THE READERS TAKE OVER
If anyone can recover would be the Raiders. Couple years ago they traded Mack and it was crazy to do so. Now its paying off — @eecjr17
Simply traded Bowden for McMillen. I’ll take it — @STEVEN4551
Never really thought he (Bowden) would be more than an experiment. They picked a player they now do not like, and cut their losses. Better than hanging on forever waiting for a player to develop. — @ScottODell3
The sky is falling …..a third round pick didn’t pan out ….time to bring in chicken little to run the Raiders …. — @jrodrigues1961
Definitely excited for the clear improvement of the team but still some players out there that could boost them even more — @rmckillick
I trust Mayock and Gruden. Carr seems rejuvenated. There is more depth. Receiving core looks dangerous and the defense is strong. — @WOLVERINE_CLONE
A HUGE miss on Bowden and now Mariota – Muse even a potential miss makes me wonder about our “evaluation process”. I predict, this draft class will be the undoing of Mayock. I went from mildly optimistic to another 5 or 6 win season. And Carr will NEVER be the answer.– @raiderhome00
Why do they always try to outsmart everyone and outsmart themselves? We all knew we needed a backup RB why didn’t we just draft one instead of Bowden. Arrogance hit Mayock. — @michael06406981
Tyrell Williams out, Bowden out, suddenly the offense has lost some punch. Can’t be too optimistic with rookie WRs. Defense will have to dominate — @JT_Raider
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Author: Jerry McDonald