Winners and Losers of Oakland Raiders' Offseason so Far
Three months into the 2017 offseason, the Oakland Raiders have several winners and losers. The team logged nine organized team activity sessions. Head coach Jack Del Rio canceled the 10th session and allowed his group to bond off the field.
Players haven't put the pads on yet, but roster transactions and team drills have put some at an advantage. Defensive assistant John Pagano spoke to local reporters and revealed telling information about his role, which also shed light on the shortcomings from the previous year.
For three consecutive days starting Tuesday, the Raiders will hold their mandatory minicamp before an extended layoff. Then it's back to work for training camp late July.
Who should be feeling good going into the summer? Which players or coaches may have a little more on their minds as they release for a small intermission?
Loser: Ken Norton Jr.
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The Raiders defensive assistants did their best to say all the right things in front of the media during organized team activities. Ken Norton Jr. spoke with his usual smile and exuberance after a practice and noted his role doesn't change.
However, questions about defensive issues during the previous season seemed to get under Norton's skin.
"We also got a lot of turnovers no one's talking about," Norton said. "We also stopped people in two minutes when the game is on the line no one's talking about. We also won 12 games no one's talking about."
Clearly, Norton wants to turn the page on the 2016 defense and build on the positives. Pagano reassured his set of eyes will not overstep boundaries with his co-defensive assistant.
"There's no stepping on anyone's toes," Pagano said. "I have a job to do, and Coach Del Rio told me what I needed to do. The first thing was to improve our overall communication as a defense, and it starts in the back end."
Any improvement to the Oakland defense will go to Pagano since Norton hasn't been able to rectify recurring weaknesses in the secondary over the past two seasons.
Winner: Derek Carr
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Quarterback Derek Carr hasn't signed a new deal, but the Raiders rewarded him with three new playmakers.
Carr will hand off to running back Marshawn Lynch, who's expected to move the chains on early downs and at the goal line. Wideout Cordarrelle Patterson and tight end Jared Cook should open the season as impact receiving options in space and down the field.
Despite help needed on defense, general manager Reggie McKenzie opted to acquire veteran help on offense via free agency. The front office has added new offensive weapons in every year of Carr's tenure through the offseason, and the quarterback has responded with improved statistical outputs in each season.
The Raiders signal-caller should reach a season high in touchdowns and passing yards in his fourth season under center.
Loser: Austin Howard
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The Raiders added four offensive tackles in March and April. Needlessly to say, Austin Howard's veteran status doesn't put him above the fierce competition to start for the 2017 season.
According to NBCS Bay Area reporter Scott Bair, the 30-year-old tackle made his way back to the practice field for the eighth team practice on Tuesday.
Despite starting 39 games at right guard and right tackle over the past three seasons, Howard's roster spot could be jeopardy. The team could release him and save $5 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, which seems logical with Carr due for a massive payout. McKenzie also intends to pay right guard Gabe Jackson, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Cheaper alternatives at right tackle put Howard at a severe disadvantage as he hopes to shake off an injury-riddled 2016 campaign. Assuming he's not designated as a post-June 1 cut, the seventh-year veteran will start training camp under more pressure than any non-rookie player.
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Winner: Cory James
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Competition at middle linebacker will either push an inexperienced player to the forefront or open the pathway for a veteran to take over late in the offseason.
Cory James has taken majority first-team reps at inside linebacker, per Bair. Rookie Marquel Lee lined up with the second team.
The second-year linebacker started five games on defense as a rookie and showed positive signs during his time on the field.
With one year of experience in the system, James should hold an early edge over Lee, but training camp could change the pecking order. McKenzie likes the rookie's size. In a post-draft press conference, he spoke about the Wake Forest product as fitting the archetype at the position.
"He's very instinctive," McKenzie said. "He's an inside linebacker. Primarily, he's a middle linebacker, plays with strength, his feel for the game, great size. He's kind of what we look for as a big middle linebacker."
Expect James and Lee to see first-team reps through the summer.
Loser: Ben Heeney
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Still recovering from an ankle injury, Ben Heeney didn't start organized team activities alongside those in contention for first-team reps. Instead, he worked with trainers on the sideline for the most part, per Silver and Black Pride writer Levi Damien.
Heeney started as many games (five) as James through two seasons. Early in the 2016 campaign, opposing offenses exposed the third-year linebacker in pass coverage, which led to fewer snaps before his season-ending ankle injury.
After the coaching staff relegated Heeney primarily to special teams work in the previous season, he must show improvement while competing for a starting spot. His inability to cover running backs and tight ends in pass routes may restrict him to a backup role while James and Lee battle for first-team reps.
Fortunately for Heeney, the starting middle linebacker competition will come down to the final preseason game, with each player possessing a shot at earning the spot.
Winner: Marshawn Lynch
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Beast Mode's first press conference with the local media drew rave reviews because of his raw dialogue. He decided to step to the podium as Marshawn Lynch as opposed to a refined football player ready to give cliched answers to questions.
Lynch talked about the feeling of the town riding with him at every home game.
"I've got a whole Oakland behind me," Lynch said. "The way we feel just about where we are from and why we represent where we are from so hard is because we know what the struggle is and how we get down. So every home game that I get to come to...I'm probably gonna be riding with the whole town."
Beast Mode doesn't plan on conforming for anyone or anything. He's also comfortable with the surroundings, which happen to be his home. Raider games at Oakland Coliseum will be a spectacle for the upcoming season with Lynch as the host.
The local media may not get a bunch of long-winded soundbites from the running back, but his interaction on the sidelines will be a sight to see.
Loser: Eddie Vanderdoes
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Eddie Vanderdoes couldn't attend organized team activities, and he'll miss mandatory minicamp because of academic obligations to finish the school year.
The coaches haven't expressed concerns about the rookie defensive lineman's absence. During Norton's press conference, he referenced Vanderdoes' delayed pathway into the league as a UCLA graduate.
"I came out of the same school and played 13 years at a high level, Norton said. "So I think he'll be fine."
The defensive coach didn't mention that he only played three games during his rookie season as a second-round pick. It's unfair to say missing early camp practices played a part in his minimal participation during his first year, but every opportunity to show up on the field matters for first-year players.
For the time being, Vanderdoes should focus on keeping his head in the playbook and ensuring his weight stays close to 300 pounds once he reports to training camp late July. Darius Latham and Treyvon Hester have the early jump on snaps among the reserves across the defensive line.
Winner: Jack Del Rio
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If you're not following Del Rio on Twitter, please do so immediately. He provided an initial peek at Lynch in action during practice. The Raiders head coach has also graced the social media platform with his commentary on the NBA Finals.
Del Rio accused the folks behind the ProFootballTalk Twitter handle of sipping some "haterade" after a 3-1 joke directed at the Golden State Warriors. Before the basketball talk, the Oakland head coach also took time to respond to fans and even tweeters from rival fanbases.
Overall, Del Rio doesn't come off a crotchety old ball coach. He's social media savvy with a sense of humor and shows comfort in allowing his personality to show, which says a lot about the Raiders locker room and allowing the players to be themselves as well.
As previously mentioned, Lynch came to the podium with a native swagger. On the other side of the spectrum, wideout Amari Cooper can also thrive in the locker room with his soft-spoken demeanor.
The ability to manage 53 personalities and keep a locker room on the same page remains one of the most understated objectives for a head coach. Del Rio's down-to-earth approach helps him connect with players, but the competitive spirit during practices keeps everyone on their toes.
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