keep`em cominHope these practice report links aren't bugging folks but I'll keep posting these links unless people think they're useless:
Practice 8:
http://www.csnbayarea.com/raiders/raiders-practice-8-osemele-edwards-jr-kicked-out-fighting?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo
Coming into the pros from college as a pass rusher isn't always an instantaneous thing. Getting around college players isn't the same as going against the pros. Even Khalil Mack had a transition period, posting just 4.0 his rookie season. Today both the Raiders drafted pass rushers showed some flashes.
First up in drills was third round pick Shilique Calhoun who was destroying the field of tight ends he faced. And he did it with a different move every time.
First up was Colton Underwood, the former linebacker turned tight end. Calhoun put a wicked spin move on him to crash the pocket. Next up was second year tight end Gabe Holmes. Calhoun beat him on an outside rush and Holmes couldn't keep his feet. Then it was former starting tight end Mychal Rivera's turn. Calhoun started outside and when Rivera commited, Calhoun then used his inside arm to schuck Rivera who also went to the turf. Finally it was rookie Ryan O'Malley's turn. Calhoun got O'Malley off balance and then got up into his kitchen, bullrushing him onto his back.
The common response to this is to wonder what he would have done with Raiders tight end blocking specialist, Lee Smith. One would hope Smith would put up more of a fight considering that's his primary job. They didn't face each other in the drill, so I guess we'll have to wait until that match-up occurs.
Calhoun did face Walford, but it wasn't in blocking/rushing drills. It was in coverage, at which point you see as clear as day the area the former college defensive end has been moved to outside linebacker and needs a lot of work dropping back. He never had to drop back into coverage at Michigan State, so he has a long way to go to get where he needs to be in that area.
Beating up on tight ends is great and all, but second round pick, Jihad Ward was doing work on the Raiders' offensive linemen.
In offensive line vs defensive line pass blocking plays, Ward unleashed a Jihad.
First he was matched up against third team guard, Terran Vaughn. Sure, some of you will be like "Who?", but Ward ate up Vaughn on three straight rushes. First on a bull rush, then on a spin move, and finally on a shuck that sent Vaughn stumbling away into the backfield. And in case you were wondering if it was just a match-up thing, Ward faced guard Oni Omoile and threw him to the ground.
Ward kept it going in 11-on-11s too. With the offense running plays from backed up to their own goal line, Ward sacked Derek Carr for a safety. Khalil Mack got pressure off the right edge around Menelik Watson, which caused Carr to step up into the pocket where Ward was there to greet him. Carr argued that he escaped, but Jack Del Rio ended the debate, walking to the middle of the field and raising his hands together to signal safety.
I'll give this a shot, like to see how I do. This probably won't be fun reading for y'all, so feel free to skip this post.So, without further ado, here is my start of training camp 53 man roster projection:
Read more at http://cover32.com/2016/08/02/training-camp-53-man-roster-prediction/#K1ipOcxqkGmUvtb8.99
I'm not convinced about that. Cooper and Walford should be a duo for years to come but after that I see a bunch of question marks.Loving our receiving corp, especially returning ALL FOUR WRs to continue building timing and their relationship with the QB.
Add to that Walford at TE continuing to grow and be integrated in the offense, and I'm hoping we can sustain a high octane offense that we saw glimpses of for a few games last year.
Add to that depth at TE (I personally have a soft spot for Rivera) and a young wild card at the 5th WR slot, and we're set at receiver for a few years, I think.
nice job MRmassraider said:I'll give this a shot, like to see how I do. This probably won't be fun reading for y'all, so feel free to skip this post.
QB (3): Carr, McGloin, Cook. Personally, I would like to see McGloin get a little backup vet QB extension, but there's no rush for that, really. We can do it after the season, if they want to.
RB (5): Murray, Washington, Reece, Olawale, Jones. The only intrigue here, IMO, is whether Reece is kicked aside for an extra player somewhere, not necessarily another RB. If Reece is deemed unnecessary, it could mean an extra young pass rusher, or WR, or DB. Richard? Sure, maybe. I'm not giving him a roster spot yet, though. I still believe that Jones' value as a gunner, and as a pass-catching back ensures a spot. I know we will keep someone for a few weeks while Reece is suspended, but I'm not guessing which scrub LB hangs on for a few weeks.
WR (5): Cooper, Crabtree, Roberts, Holmes, Holton. I think they'll roll with 5, and keep a guy on the PS, whichever UDFA doesn't make it. Any intrigue is for a player that won't get much run this season, god willing anyway.
TE (3): Walford, Smith, Rivera. Gabe is PS eligible for one more year, and I think it's possible he takes Rivera's spot, but I think the team holds serve at this position for another year.
OL (9): Penn, Watson, Howard, McCants, Osemele, Jackson, Feliciano, Alexander, Hudson. McCants as a true LT backup, and Mongo as the true C backup is a little scary, and I could see the Riaders keeping 10 here.
DL (8) : Mack, Edwards, Ellis, Williams, Ward, Autry, Orr, McGee. McGee as a true DT might be in trouble, because the team has Ward and Edwards, that can both play inside. Orr and McGee could be fighting for one spot.
LB (8): Irvin, Heeney, Smith, Calhoun, Ball, James, Bates, Lotulelei. Weakest position group we have, and that's great, you can hide linebackers. Ball and Heeney. If Ball and Heeney step up and prove to be legit NFL LBs, we can feel pretty good about our LB. Bates is a professional special teamer, plenty of room on our LB roster for one of those. I don't have Cowser on here, we have too many of guys playing his position, I think he's PS-bound. I think Lotulelei makes the team as the only true MLB backup (at least I think that's what he is).
CB (6): Smith, Amerson, Hayden, Carrie, Thorpe, Dexter McDonald.
S (3): Nelson, Joseph, Allen. I think the versatility provided by Carrie and Thorpe allows them to go light on S. They only have three, but two are vets, and one is a top rookie, and Carrie and Thorpe can both play S.
Specialists (3): Janikowski, King, Condo.
Deciding on which guys make the team just for ST is an exercise in futility. Bates is the most accomplished of the candidates, so I figured he and Taiwan for sure. But Trawick, Cory James, Toomer, Jimmy Hall, all will be fighting for that.
Practice Squad:
James Cowser
Jalen Richards
George Atkinson
Gabe Holmes
Marvin Hall
Joe Hansley
Denver Kirkland
Torian White
Darius Latham
Antonio Hamilton
This won't even be close to whom we actually keep on the PS. I think the team keeps more special teamers there than we realize, so there will be some less interesting names on the PS when it's said and done. Torain White was a standout OT for UCLA, and was dismissed, so he's a guy I want to see in the PS. Latham was a guess, it could be Lott or Iddings, or Orr.
He started 15 games last year and had 12 receptions. He is almost strictly a blocking TE. The starter designation means very little in this case. He may technically start the game, but Walford will be the TE on the field the most and catching passes.Lee Smitgh listed as starter at TE???
I heard David on NFL Channel saying that Derek was hyped with Walfords showing thus far.
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and its on the NFL channel tonight !!!!!!!Looking forward to seeing this team on the field, even if it is only the first preseason game. Few of the things I am most interested in going into tonight's tilt:
1) Not sure how much the starters will play, but will be good to see how O-line has gelled so far in giving Carr time in the pocket, and opening up holes at the point of attack (especially on the left side)
2) Get good game-speed eye-test looks at DeAndre Washington and (if he even plays) Jalen Richard.
3) Do guys like Hansley, Mickens, and Holton have juice to challenge Holmes for the 4th WR slot? Does McCaffery and Brent et al have any chance?
4) Carrie and Hayden - both guys have been good in camp, wonder who looks better in a game.
5) Blocking and receiving skills by all the TEs behind Walford, esp. Gabe Holmes and Rivera (as well as Lee).
6) Will Karl Jospeh even play? If so, even for one series, can't wait to see him.
7) We will play vanilla, so not much insight into how they may shift around bodies on D, but will be good to see Mario looking strong on the RE, how we utilize Jelly and Dan Williams at tackle, how Irvin and Calhoun fare, as well as some of the deeper guys fare (Townsend, Latham, Branden Jackson).
8) How well we control the ball on both sides of the ball -- especially long consistent drives moving the chains.
Damn...OAKLAND RAIDERS @RAIDERS 44m44 minutes ago
S Jimmy Hall, CB Antonio Hamilton, and RB Jalen Richard will not dress in tonight's game.
That is a bummer. I was looking forward to watching Jalen Richard.Damn...
He is out there...6) Will Karl Jospeh even play? If so, even for one series, can't wait to see him.
Special teams is how you get your roster spot...looking good for him if he could be a returner.Houlton making his case with a nice return and fumble recovery
He's a legacy, Raiders are keeping him around as a favor to his dad, a lifer Raider.What's the deal with George Atkinson III ?
and not his neck (whew)Mario on crutches in locker room but injury not considered serious in another tweet
no love for RB Atkinson? He looked pretty impressiveI don't think he'll ever have Steve Smith's fire, but few do. I don't get the same fear, I figure he's 21 years old. Still has less to learn.
What I liked:
Fact that Mario's injury isn't major.
Depth on the O-line. Backups were mauling.
Korey Toomer on special teams.
Cory James all game long.
Dexter McDonald, my man.
Nate Allen. Good game.
Neiron Ball healthy. Nothing special in the game, but healthy.
Jihad Ward. So far, so good.
Carter's hands.
Washington looked alright. Not amazeballs, but alright.
Jelly Ellis! He was shuckin and jivin, spinning and shimmying. He showed that explosion in college occasionally, he might be taking a step up this year.
What I didn't like:
Dewey McDonald had a tough night.
Wish we had given Washington more carries.
I wanted to see more of Joseph and Ward.
Calhoun is interesting, I dunno what kind of player he is.
No love for Crowser? He seemed to be in on every defensive play in his area and had some good pressures on the QB. Impressive.I don't think he'll ever have Steve Smith's fire, but few do. I don't get the same fear, I figure he's 21 years old. Still has less to learn.
What I liked:
Fact that Mario's injury isn't major.
Depth on the O-line. Backups were mauling.
Korey Toomer on special teams.
Cory James all game long.
Dexter McDonald, my man.
Nate Allen. Good game.
Neiron Ball healthy. Nothing special in the game, but healthy.
Jihad Ward. So far, so good.
Carter's hands.
Washington looked alright. Not amazeballs, but alright.
Jelly Ellis! He was shuckin and jivin, spinning and shimmying. He showed that explosion in college occasionally, he might be taking a step up this year.
What I didn't like:
Dewey McDonald had a tough night.
Wish we had given Washington more carries.
I wanted to see more of Joseph and Ward.
Calhoun is interesting, I dunno what kind of player he is.