The 5 Biggest Issues Facing Oakland Raiders with OTAs Wrapped

The Oakland Raiders' offseason practice regimen concludes after three weeks of organized team activities and a three-day mandatory minicamp.

Some poignant issues need solutions heading into training camp in July. This final week of practice has revealed some interesting camp battles, glaring holes at positions and some depth issues that could become problematic if not handled adequately. 

We’ll delve into each of the following five issues and offer some early solutions for consideration.

More Competition at Right Guard?

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At right guard it's a three-man competition among Khalif Barnes, J’Marcus Webb and Jon Feliciano. In addition, I suggested Austin Howard should be part of that competition as the most experienced and capable offensive lineman. Here are some early observations and potential developments for this highly contested position.

Barnes started OTAs playing with the first-team offense, per SilverandBlackPride.com writer Levi Damien. In the final phases of team practices, Webb took over first-team reps, per ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson. Feliciano has yet to stand out in this positional competition.

The plot thickens.

The Philadelphia Eagles released two-time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport via Twitter:

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The Eagles just released Evan Mathis

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 11, 2015"

Would the Raiders make a run at a 33-year-old guard who has recently developed into a Pro Bowler after playing multiple seasons as a backup lineman? Keep in mind new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was part of the coaching staff in Philadelphia last year during Mathis’ second consecutive Pro Bowl season. 

According to SFBay writer Jason Leskiw, it wouldn’t surprise him if Mathis followed Musgrave to Oakland. He offered a possible solution to strengthen the offensive line via Twitter: 

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I could see the release of Austin Howard as a counter move for signing of Evan Mathis. Would not shock me at all.

— Jason Leskiw (@LeskiwSFBay) June 11, 2015"

This solution comes on the heels of Menelik Watson taking first-team reps over Howard at right tackle, per Williamson: "Menelik Watson was working in front of expected starter Austin Howard at right tackle. Watson, a second-round pick in 2013, has more long-term potential and could unseat Howard, who signed a five-year. $30 million deal with the Raiders in 2014. Howard played guard last season."

The decision to bring in Mathis would give instant credibility to the right side of the offensive line. In 2013, Mathis was the top-ranked guard in the league, and in 2014 he was the second-ranked guard, per Pro Football Focus. At age 33, he’s a late bloomer, but he’s good for a two-year deal until Feliciano is ready to take over the starting position.

In contrast to Leskiw's tweet, I don’t think the Raiders would release Howard after signing Mathis. Howard is in the second year of his five-year, $30 million deal. He’d likely continue a competition battle with Watson for the starting right tackle position. Either way, Musgrave needs to get in general manager Reggie McKenzie’s ear about Mathis as a short-term solution at right guard.

D.J. Hayden vs. Keith McGill?

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According to Williamson, cornerback Keith McGill took some first-team snaps over expected starter D.J. Hayden:

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McGill, a fourth-round pick last year, was getting consistent first-team work opposite TJ Carrie, a seventh-round pick last year. Hayden was working some with the first team but was doing more work with the second unit. Hayden was the No. 12 overall pick in 2013.

McGill started one game last season and he does have potential. He is 6-foot-4 and is long and rangy, just the way new defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. likes them. Norton came from Seattle, where the Seahawks specialize in rangy cornerbacks.

"

New head coach Jack Del Rio has instilled the spirit of competition during these practices, per Raiders.com writer Eddie Paskal.

"There’s great competition throughout the roster at different spots," he coach said. "Our secondary is competing hard. Our linebackers are competing and working hard. Our defensive line; really it would be hard to find a position that doesn’t have great competition going on in it, so that part of it is exciting this time of year."

Nonetheless, it’s interesting that Oakland took snaps away from Hayden and not T.J. Carrie. You may think it’s no big deal, but as Williamson points out, new defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. came from Seattle, where his defensive backs were tall and lanky.

Richard Sherman (6’3”), Kam Chancellor (6’3”) and Byron Maxwell (6’1”) were major catalysts in that team’s back-to-back Super Bowl runs. Nate Allen (6’1”) and Charles Woodson (6’1”) are the tallest Raiders defensive backs who are slotted to start. Norton may decide to add more size in favor of McGill (6’3”-6’4”) over Hayden (5’11”).

Size could be a major factor in Oakland with Norton as the architect of the defense.

Amari Cooper on Special Teams?

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The Raiders released seventh-round pick Andre Debose after he suffered an Achilles injury during the third week of OTAs and signed return specialist Trindon Holliday, per Williamson:

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The mystery surrounding the addition of Trindon Holliday has now been solved.

The reason why the Oakland Raiders signed the aging return specialist is that seventh-round pick Andre Debose was waived/injured with an Achilles injury. If Debose clears waivers, as he likely will, he will revert to injured reserve and be eligible to play in 2016. Debose has a history of injuries. He missed a season at Florida with a torn ACL. Now, he is dealing with another major injury. He is already 24.

"

Debose’s injury has left Oakland with limited options for returning kicks. Holliday has shown an explosive burst as a returner in Denver, but he’s 29 years old following a season in which he was released by three different teams. He isn’t a lock to maintain a roster spot.

So what’s a possible solution for the return game? It’s one of the worst possible solutions, but wide receiver Amari Cooper seems to be an option, according to CSNBayArea reporter Scott Bair:

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Amari Cooper is another guy we’re working back there,” “It depends on, you know, what exactly his role is on this football team if he’s going to do some of that stuff. He could because he’s got a lot of talent. At this time of the year, you’re really just trying to evaluate as many guys as you can.

"

It’s only for evaluation purposes. However, regardless of Cooper's return skills, he's too valuable to risk on special teams. The No. 4 overall pick will become quarterback Derek Carr’s main target from Day 1, and that connection is vital for the Raiders' revitalization. 

The Raiders are better off digging through the pile of free-agent return specialists if they release Holliday before the season starts. Cooper is part of the rejuvenating excitement for Raiders Nation. It would be a shame to see him get sidelined by a special teamer looking to make a name for himself by cracking Cooper’s skull on a play that typically returns marginal gain.

Where Does Marcel Reece Fit Within the New Offense?

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Marcel Reece won’t make the Pro Bowl this year as a fullback. Within Musgrave’s offense, the fullback becomes an H-back, a variation of the tight end, per Williamson:

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The Raiders will use a faster, no-huddle approach often. ESPN's Adam Caplan reported recently that the Raiders are not going to use a fullback this season. They were one of the few teams that had a lot of fullback looks last year. What sees that mean for Pro Bowl fullback Marcel Reece?

Caplan reported that Reece will be on the move a lot and will be used more as an H-back or F-back. Is this change good for Reece? Yes, says ESPN scout Matt Williamson. He loves it for Reece.

"Reece is perfect for such a role," Williamson said. "I think he hasn't been utilized nearly enough as a move player/pass catcher of late and I have no doubt he can do it. He has great hands and is an accomplished route runner. I could see him developing into a similar player in this offense as Charles Clay in Miami.

"

All of this sounds good, but look at the reality. Reece will join an already crowded tight end stable. Rookie tight end Clive Walford and Mychal Rivera will likely see a majority of the looks from Carr at the position. How will the Raiders squeeze in another playmaking receiving tight end? They can use two-tight end sets, but who’s going to be the third wheel?

History says it’s going to be Reece.

Carr has so many outlet receivers. He's going to spread the ball, but it’ll be interesting to see if that distribution is even. Most quarterbacks follow the mantra "whoever is open gets the ball."

Will Musgrave design a set of plays for Reece as a playmaker? Will the two-time Pro Bowler go relatively unnoticed within the Raiders offense for another year?

Who’s Going to Step Up at Linebacker?

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Outside linebacker Khalil Mack’s focus will be on sacks in 2015. As a result, he’ll line up frequently right on the line of scrimmage closer to the ball, creating opportunity for a deep linebacker corps.

Ray-Ray Armstrong has made an early claim to the strong-side linebacker position during OTAs and minicamps, per Oakland Tribune writer Jerry McDonald. His efforts have placed him slightly ahead of Malcolm Smith, Ben Heeney and Neiron Ball as a rotational linebacker in the starting lineup. 

Armstrong has taken first-team snaps in place of weak-side linebacker Sio Moore, who is still recovering from a hip injury. Those reps will be essential in keeping him ahead of the competition in training camp. Despite Moore’s imminent return, Armstrong has likely played his way into the rotation during his short stay in Alameda, per Williamson: “If Armstrong can continue to play disciplined and under control, he will likely be in the playing rotation even when Moore returns.”

You can follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for the latest on the Raiders and NFL chatter.

Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus. Player measurements courtesy of Raiders.com, PhiladelphiaEagles.com and Seattle.com. Player contract details courtesy of Spotrac.com.