Previewing Oakland Raiders' Preseason Week 2 Matchup vs. the Minnesota Vikings
We get an early preview of the Oakland Raiders' Week 10 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2 of the preseason.
The Raiders will face a tougher challenge on both sides of the ball when they square off against the Vikings, and it has little to do with the fact they're winning.
The Vikings have the advantage of more actual game-time experience with an early start to their preseason. Secondly, their player development remains steady.
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These teams are nearly mirror images of each other. Quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr were drafted in the same year and selected four picks apart. Both have the newfound responsibility of leading revamped offenses with an explosive stable of wide receivers.
Outside linebacker Anthony Barr is the Vikings' version of Khalil Mack. Both players finished their collegiate careers with more than 20 sacks and recorded four sacks in their rookie seasons in 2014.
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave even mistakenly called running back Latavius Murray by Adrian Peterson’s moniker AP, per Vikings Journal writer Arif Hasan via Twitter:
"Bill Musgrave accidentally calling Latavius Murray "AP" is hilarious
— Arif Hasan (@ArifHasanNFL) August 15, 2015"
Well, he’s not the only person making this honest mistake. Optimistic fans also draw the connection:
"I swear to GOD when I was Watching Latavius Murray run the Ball yesterday, he looked like Adrian Peterson. #Coincidence that he #28 too?
— IG: Aye_Artiiee (@Aye_Artiiee) August 15, 2015"
"@ESPNFantasy Latavius Murray. Most teams go RBC. T Rch is bkp? Runs Adrian Peterson style. He's not AP, but appears to have tools of could
— Scott Franks (@movingwhips) August 16, 2015"
Murray should develop into a solid starter, but he’s no Peterson.
Like the Raiders, the Vikings should see major improvement across the board in the upcoming season.
The matchup in Week 10 at the Coliseum should spark some fireworks, but don’t put too much weight on a win or loss in this preseason matchup. Player development serves as the purpose for allowing the second- and third-string units to play the majority of the game with a brief introductory warm-up from the starters.
Let’s get into particular areas of focus.
Testing the Secondary
The St. Louis Rams relied heavily on underneath routes to attack the Raiders defense. Wide receiver Tavon Austin (5’8”) suits that type of approach, but the Vikings have a potentially explosive passing attack capable of accumulating larger chunks of yardage.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater comes in armed with bigger wide receivers Charles Johnson (6’2”) and Cordarrelle Patterson (6’2”). Newly acquired wide receiver Mike Wallace is a known deep threat, capable of taking the top off a defense at any time.
The Raiders face a tougher challenge in pass defense during the first two series of the game. Secondly, third-string quarterback Taylor Heinicke completed 19 of 26 passes through two games. He isn't afraid to air it out late in the game.
The Raiders' trio of cornerbacks didn’t look impressive against the Rams, allowing some yards after the catch on underneath routes. It didn’t pose much of a threat with some of the Rams starters out, but against a group of high-end speed receivers, it could become a disaster.
This season, the Raiders play against the entire NFC North division. In every matchup, the secondary must defend against quick-twitch receivers capable of exploiting defenses on shorter passes after the catch:
| Player | Team | Receptions | YAC | Total Rec Yards |
| Matt Forte | Chicago Bears | 102 | 801 | 808 |
| Golden Tate | Detroit Lions | 99 | 709 | 1331 |
| Randall Cobb | Green Bay Packers | 91 | 603 | 1287 |
| Jarius Wright | Minnesota Vikings | 42 | 336 | 588 |
The Vikings' heavy passing attack serves as a solid measuring stick for the secondary from the starters to the backups in a matchup to watch closely.
Wide Receivers Getting Competitive
Week 2 serves as Round 2 in a competitive wide receiver logjam that claimed its first casualty Tuesday.
Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweeted about the release of an undrafted hopeful:
"Raiders are cutting Austin Willis today, according to a source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 18, 2015"
Wide receiver Austin Willis couldn’t get into the action quick enough to maintain a spot on the roster. This should light a fire under the remaining receivers on the depth chart in time for their second exhibition game.
On a brighter note, wide receiver Rod Streater returns to the mix after missing training camp sessions with an undisclosed illness that continues to remain a mystery unsolved.
Streater revealed that he’s good enough to play although answers to his illness continue to stump team physicians. Nonetheless, his return means more competition for those jockeying for position.
Wide receivers Brice Butler and Seth Roberts balled out in the first preseason game, but no one behind Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper should breathe a sigh of relief. A new coaching staff takes over the reigns, and none of the backup wide receivers qualify as proven veterans or players vested with the team long term.
Streater’s presence further complicates the competition, specifically at the slot receiver position. Previously, Kenbrell Thompkins and Roberts rotated in three-receiver sets. Like Willis, wide receiver Josh Harper didn’t get in on much action in Week 1 and should take heed to Willis’ release.
In a countermove, the Raiders signed wide receiver Devon Wylie, per SilverandBlackPride.com writer Levi Damien, who served as a kick and punt returner for, you guessed it, Fresno State. Carr probably remembers him because he spent five collegiate seasons with the Fresno State Bulldogs from 2007-12.
Wylie is a smaller kick returner (5'9", 185 lbs) who replaces Willis at a position of need. The Raiders don't seem comfortable with Trindon Holliday leading the competition as one of their primary kick returners.
All Eyes on Mario Edwards Jr.
One of the biggest disappointments on either side of the ball came from second-round pick defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. Paul Wexler of RaiderBeat.com provides some insight on Edwards' rough NFL debut:
"Edwards Jr. was completely overmatched against the Rams first-string offensive line and got pushed backwards off the ball and out of every play.
As a rookie learning a new position, failing against the first string in your first outing itself isn’t cause for concern, but the Raiders continued to trot Edwards back into the game throughout the second and third quarters, against the Rams reserves and players just hopeful of making the roster.
The results were the same. Edwards Jr. never was able to get any pressure whatsoever and easily was taking out of every play. Rams rookie tackle Andrew Donnal got under Edwards Jr.’s pads and pushed him 2-3 yards off the line.
"
Wexler’s observation contradicts any notion of Edwards taking over for defensive end Justin Tuck opposite of Mack on the defensive line at the beginning of the season. The Raiders penciled the second-round pick as a backup on the official depth chart for a reason that's now crystal-clear to everyone.
Let’s not bury Edwards, but get over the belief that he’s going to flip a switch and become a monster right away. The second-round pick belongs in the second unit where he can further develop his game.
Edwards must develop credibility in beating his matchup one-on-one on the outside against offensive tackles before the Raiders decide to get creative, moving him inside.
The Raiders didn’t sit him, despite consistently losing battles in the trenches against the second and third units, which serves as a learning experience and growth tool. Sometimes you have to fail to succeed.
Pressure can make diamonds, and the coaching staff still believes in Edwards as a special talent. The rookie might have hit rock bottom early, but there’s no where to go but up from here.
Linebackers in Coverage
Oakland’s linebacker corps runs pretty deep with the additions of Malcolm Smith, Curtis Lofton and rookie Ben Heeney, who’s already creating his own hype machine and deservedly so.
"Heeney, my early pick for new crowd favorite, with a nice tackle to stop run
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 15, 2015"
"I love this Ben Heeney kid.
— Christopher Hansen (@ChrisHansenNFL) August 15, 2015"
"If you haven't already, add 5th-round pick, Ben Heeney, to your 53-man roster mock. #Raiders
— Raiders Beat (@RaidersBeat) August 15, 2015"
Neiron Ball also flashed with two quarterback hurries and two tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
Aside from Heeney and Ball, the linebacker corps looked ordinary against the Rams, but the unit reeks of potential and established talent. The Vikings' active duo of tight ends will challenge the Raiders linebackers in coverage.
| Player | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Touchodwns |
| Kyle Rudolph | 4 | 4 | 46 | 0 |
| MyCole Pruitt | 4 | 4 | 51 | 1 |
A glowing repeat performance from Heeney in the second unit could overshadow the starting linebackers' short stint on the field. However, the progression of Ray-Ray Armstrong remains vital as Sio Moore continues to miss time with an undisclosed injury.
The starting strong-side and weak-side linebacker positions are still question marks with Mack positioned on the defensive line.
The coaching staff should focus on players capable of breaking through lead blocks to make tackles against the run and who provides solid coverage on intermediate routes. These factors should help decipher who starts Week 1 of the regular season.
Don’t expect the Raiders coaching staff to make knee-jerk reactions with the growth of Heeney’s fanbase. At best, Heeney’s exceptional play might entice defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. to implement more 3-4 alignments with two inside linebackers, but Lofton's starting position is safe at the moment.
Who’s the No. 2 Running Back?
This particular question continues to linger due to the inconsistencies behind Murray, who established himself as the clear-cut starter.
Taiwan Jones came off as the most dangerous ball-carrier among all the backup running backs. He averaged five yards per carry and posted a 27-yard kick return.
CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair reported on the intrigue Jones draws from Musgrave, and it’s justified with his performance Friday night.
A controversial play involving Trent Richardson later became a meme on “Why Trent Richardson is a Terrible Running Back,” but he shouldn’t bear the brunt of the blame in this particular situation.
Bleacher Report’s Kyle Newport posted the clip, and it’s not as bad as it seems when viewing the totality of how the play unfolded in real time.
Richardson did the right thing in making a split decision to follow pulling guard Gabe Jackson. The second-year guard failed to seal the edge, leaving Richardson nowhere to run behind a flimsy block.
As a downhill ball-carrier, Richardson doesn’t move well laterally, which makes that gaping hole on his left almost impossible for him to exploit.
Richardson worked hard to get down to his Alabama college weight level (mid-220s) and deserves a fair shake instead of constant ridicule due to his underwhelming past.
Who are the alternatives to Richardson?
Running back Roy Helu Jr. quietly fell off the radar; he’s been missing in action for approximately two weeks recovering from an undisclosed injury. There’s no pressure on Helu’s return, but Richardson's absence caused a widespread criticism across social media.
Running back Michael Dyer put together a good start to the offseason but somewhat fizzled out with a string of absences leading up to a disappointing debut against the Rams. He accumulated 11 yards with five carries.
Apparently, screaming to the heavens for Marcel Reece’s involvement in the rushing attack won’t help. He played four snaps against the Rams and didn’t even start the game at his new undefined H-back role.
Tight ends Mychal Rivera and Clive Walford started the contest in two-tight end sets. Musgrave doesn’t seem interested in utilizing Reece in the backfield as a ball-carrier at all.
All the running backs saw an even workload across the board.
Head coach Jack Del Rio says more production equals more reps, and less production equates to less work on the field. Based on that premise, Jones and Richardson should continue to get significant carries. Dyer shouldn't fall by the wayside, but a disappointing performance combined with missing practices could hurt his snap count.
The open competition for the backup running back position creates an interesting plot for the Vikings game.
Will Richardson finally begin to resemble the running back from his days with the Cleveland Browns or the Alabama Crimson Tide? Will Dyer bounce back? Where’s Helu? Should Musgrave consider kick-return specialist Jones as serious candidate for more carries in backfield?
Tune in Saturday, August 22, against the Vikings at 5 p.m. PT.
Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for Raiders' news and updates.
All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
In-game play-by-play is provided by NFL.com.
The Raiders roster is courtesy of Raiders.com.
The Vikings roster is courtesy of Vikings.com.
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