Oakland Raiders: What We've Learned Through Week 2 of Preseason
The Oakland Raiders wrapped up their final training camp practice in Napa, California, before heading back to their new facilities in Alameda for the remainder of 2015.
Three weeks of camp shed light on some questionable areas but also brought forth more questions due to the competitive nature instilled by the coaching staff.
The new coaching staff made it clear deeds done in 2014 wouldn’t solidify placement at prominent positions in the upcoming season.
The lingering questions left unanswered will be addressed in the remaining preseason games, starting with the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.
You can check out the hype surrounding that Week 2 matchup in Minnesota, and we’ll further break down some recent developments pertaining to the Raiders going forward.
Shake-Ups in Wide Receivers Competition
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The rigors of surviving the wide receiver competition proved unkind to two receivers as two other receivers took to the practice field for the first time in Napa.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Andre Holmes fractured his hand during Sunday’s practice and will likely sit out until Week 1 or 2, assuming the team doesn't release him.
National Football Post writer Aaron Wilson revealed Austin Willis’ release via Twitter. Willis hoped to secure a spot at the bottom of the wide receiver depth chart or as a return specialist, but he didn’t impress the coaching staff enough to remain with the team.
Silver and Black Pride writer Levi Damien reported wide receiver and return specialist Devon Wylie's signing in accordance to Willis’ departure. Wylie spent five years at Fresno State as a return specialist from 2007-12. His specialty should push a fumble-prone Trindon Holliday during the remaining preseason games.
Rod Streater came off the non-football illness list for practice on the same day Holmes fractured his hand. Team physicians remain unclear on the diagnosis, but gave Streater the green light to practice. He must make up a lot of ground to reclaim his spot as the No. 3 receiver, but it’s not an impossible feat.
It’s pretty much an open competition at the No. 3 and No. 4 wide receiver spots with Holmes out and Streater just getting back into the swing of things. The Raiders have some difficult cuts to make with wide receivers Brice Butler and Seth Roberts coming on strong in the first preseason game.
Kenbrell Thompkins didn't flash during the preseason opener but continues to perform well on the practice field.
Looking down at my scorecard, Butler and Roberts complete the top receiver spots with Streater likely to usurp Roberts by the end of the preseason.
The Raiders have the luxury of placing Roberts on the practice squad and keeping Thompkins if he finishes the preseason on a high note.
The coaching staff doesn’t place too much stock in 2014, but it cannot ignore the fact Holmes led the receiving corps in yards last season.
Despite his inconsistencies, his numbers improved from 2013 to 2014 as one of Derek Carr’s top targets. He’ll maintain a spot within the receiving corps with an unmatched ability to bring down jump balls in the red zone.
Best Cornerback in the Secondary Still Unclear
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The cornerback position drops the Raiders from a 10-plus-win team to a seven-win football team. At the moment, it’s still a shaky position that warrants criticism.
T.J. Carrie surrendered a big 35-yard play against the St. Louis Rams last week and looked somewhat out of sorts. There’s a potential reasoning behind his slow start.
San Francisco Chronicle writer Vic Tafur revealed (via Twitter) that Carr doesn’t challenge Carrie in practice as much as the other two potential starting cornerbacks, D.J. Hayden and Keith McGill.
That explains why Carrie’s name isn’t mentioned as much, which leads to a potentially dangerous result.
Yes, Hayden and McGill find themselves in a battle at the No. 2 cornerback spot, but the lack of action on Carrie’s side of the field could hurt his development. He’s not a shutdown cornerback. Entering his second year as a seventh-round pick, he needs to see as much action as the other two defensive backs.
McGill gave up a first down and another nine-yard gain on a couple of underneath routes that made him look a bit slow in coverage. He exhibits an advantage when getting physical enough to disrupt a route or jamming receivers but lacks the crafty footwork and agility shown by Hayden.
The former first-round pick left the field with his head held high. Pro Football Focus recalculated the first pass of the game as a reception not surrendered by Hayden. Therefore, he didn’t allow a catch while on the field.
However, Michael Crabtree continues to look like Allen Iverson on the football field against Hayden, per Damien:
"The first pass of the day went to Michael Crabtree from Derek Carr. It was a short pass, but Crabtree broke D.J. Hayden's ankles (so to speak) with his move off the line, causing Hayden to fall down and Crabtree grabbed the short pass uncontested. I half expected the And-1 Mixtape Tour guy to come out with his mic.
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Now some of you may say it’s just practice. We’re talking about practice, but Crabtree doesn’t qualify as one of the quickest receivers in the game or one the best for that matter. Yet, he continues to make Swiss cheese out of Hayden’s pass coverage.
What do you think will happen when Hayden gets on the field against receivers with talent levels similar or better than Crabtree’s?
Hayden escaped a couple of series without surrendering a pass against the Rams, but a full game against some of the NFL’s best wide receivers should worry you, especially if they're better than Crabtree.
It’s fair to ask two questions. Who’s the Raiders No. 1 cornerback? Do they even have one at this point?
Mario Edwards Looking for Early Redemption
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Here’s something we do know. Second-round pick defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. needs work before he can even think about taking Justin Tuck’s role at defensive end opposite Khalil Mack.
RaiderBeat.com writer Paul Wexler delved into the details on Edwards' debut that involved the Rams’ second- and third-unit defenses pushing him around.
OK, so there’s still development needed there, but Raider Nation must learn to assess Edwards’ progress with patience. He’s not the glory player from his high school days and grossly underachieved through three college years at Florida State.
Now, he’s on the professional level where he needs every ounce of potential to impact the Raiders defensive line. That could take some extensive time, and you’d hope by the end of the season there’s some improvement.
Oakland had plans of alternating Edwards inside, but he must excel on the outside against offensive tackles before tangling with the bigger interior offensive linemen.
The backup defensive ends continue to competitively push Edwards. Shelby Harris recorded a sack, and Benson Mayowa made two defensive stops in the first preseason game.
Both players also flash on the practice field with the second unit. The coaching staff won't hand the primary backup position to its second-round pick; he's in a situation that requires earning his snaps.
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Trent Richardson and Taiwan Jones in Close Competition
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Initially, running back Trent Richardson came into the offseason competing for the lead running back role. Unofficially, that position clearly belongs to Latavius Murray.
Richardson finds himself in a duel for the No. 2 running back spot and kick-return duties. Tafur tweeted an interesting tidbit about practice, highlighting the fact Richardson gets more reps in the return game than Taiwan Jones.
In an ironic role reversal, Jones seemed fit to contest for the No. 2 running back role in the first preseason game. He recorded a quick-striking 11-yard gain and evaded a tackle with only two fewer carries than Richardson.
Special teams coordinator Brad Seely mentioned to reporters the importance of Richardson performing well on special teams as a factor in his ability to make the 53-man roster.
There’s a lot on Richardson’s plate right now. He doesn’t deserve a pity party, but if he makes the roster, it’s because he earned it.
Michael Dyer didn’t show up in the first preseason game, racking up just 11 yards on five carries. Roy Helu Jr. and training camp don’t belong in the same sentence; he’s been sidelined since Aug. 3, per Scout.com writer Chris McClain.
There’s a golden opportunity in front of Richardson for the taking with Jones as the only person standing in his way right now.
Why Jones?
He produced a decent output as a running back and returned a kickoff 27 yards against the Rams. Secondly, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave already fell in love with his speed, as reported by CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair.
Sio Moore’s Starting Job Up for Grabs
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According to ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson, outside linebacker Sio Moore might have come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list prematurely. His recent absences from training camp relate to his recovery from hip surgery.
A slow recovery hurts Moore’s chances of taking the field in Week 1 and propels one of the talented backup linebackers into a starting role for at least the beginning of the season.
Head coach Jack Del Rio discussed Smith’s unique ability to force fumbles at the end of his pursuits with Williamson:
""I think Malcolm's had a really good camp for us," Del Rio said. "He's a veteran player. He understands what we're trying to get done. He's got a knack for stripping the ball. He seems to come up with turnovers almost every day. I'm really excited about the way he's working at it, applying himself. He's been very good for us."
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In the case Moore remains sidelined, Smith takes over on the weak side, and Ray-Ray Armstrong fulfills the strong-side linebacker position when Mack plays defensive end.
Raider Nation would like to see Moore get healthy, but give credit to the organization for preparing the roster for his extended absence.
The Raiders have put together solid contingency plans at every position minus a shaky cornerback stable at the moment. The questions linger, but the answers are sure to follow with three preseason games to play over the span of two weeks.
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.
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