Skip to main content

Post Game Wrap: Raiders Fall Late 28-24

We learned quite a bit about the 2010 Raiders in the third preseason game, often considered a regular season primer.

Although the Raiders lost the final score, the score when the bulk of the starters exited the game was 21-17 with the Raiders leading. Bruce Gradkowski played significant time with the starters taking over for Jason Campbell when he was knocked from the game with a stinger. The injury to Campbell is not considered serious.

Campbell was hit on the blindside by Travis LaBoy, who blew by left tackle Mario Henderson. 

Henderson continues to be a below average left tackle. If the Raiders had a legitimate alternative Henderson would be benched.

The only other option is rookie Jared Veldheer. Although Veldheer's talents may be put to better use as the center if Samson Satele misses significant time with an ankle injury.

Veldheer failed to diagnose an A gap blitz by Patrick Willis, but otherwise performed well.

Langston Walker has been inconsistent at right tackle in terms of pass blocking. He has little pressure behind him, but still needs to be better.

Rolando McClain is on a steep learning curve. McClain made multiple mistakes including not sinking deep enough into zone coverage which resulted in a 49ers touchdown pass. 

Perhaps more concerning was the appearance that McClain was not giving 100% effort in the game. Hopefully this is something the coaches will address in the film room. McClain may be protecting himself for the regular season.

On a positive note, McClain has yet to make the same mistake twice, showing an amazing ability to learn from  them.

Stanford Routt had a chance to grab the starting cornerback position from injured Chris Johnson and didn't waste it. Routt broke up several passes and had solid coverage.

Michael Huff proved once again that he isn't very good at tackling. Gore bounced off Huff to scamper 49 yards before Tyvon Branch could push him out of bounds.

Tommy Kelly made his presence known and applied consistent pressure, but the Raiders weren't good at applying pressure on the quarterback for most of the game.

Michael Bush was much more effective than Darren McFadden. This has been reoccurring theme that the coaching staff must surely see.

The problem is now that Michael Bush has a broken left thumb. It is unclear if or how much time Bush will miss with the injury.

The Raiders didn't defend the run well, a theme that has carried over from last season despite a defensive makeover.

Receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy performed well despite a couple drops. They will need to continue to put up solid performances to help the offense.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that this was a preseason game. Preseason games are rarely indicators of regular season success. 

So take the good and bad with a grain of salt. Even the third preseason game consisted of a vanilla defense and watered down offense. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Oakland Raiders Swing for the Fences in 2016 NFL Draft

[embed align="center"]http://gty.im/153039819[/embed] These aren't your daddy's Oakland Raiders or even your younger self's Raiders. If anything, these are your newborn's Raiders or your puppy's Raiders. These are the Raiders we've never seen before. Indicative of the freshness of the franchise was their 2016 NFL Draft. No longer slave to a high draft pick and desperate needs, the theme of the draft for the Raiders was upside. It's as if general manager Reggie McKenzie got so used to hitting his draft picks out of the park that he started swinging for the fences. We'll have to wait a couple of years before we know if he struck out or if he'll continue his Ruthian ways. First, McKenzie boldly went with a safety at No. 14 overall. Kyle Joseph is coming off a torn ACL and fills a major need, but safety isn't a premium position. Only a handful of safeties have been drafted in the first 14 picks in the last 15 years and include names like Ea...

Oakland Raiders' Studs and Duds From Preseason Week 1

[embed]http://gty.im/484069738[/embed] The Oakland Raiders finally look like a competitive football team again. That should be the biggest takeaway from their preseason rout of the St. Louis Rams. Quarterback Derek Carr and the offense looked significantly improved from a year ago, thanks in large part to some of the studs listed below. The starting defense was still a little shaky, but there were still a few bright spots. Overall, the Raiders can feel good about their first live action of the year, especially since there appeared to be no significant injuries to come out of it. Studs Rodney Hudson Of all general manager Reggie McKenzie's offseason acquisitions, he committed the most money to center Rodney Hudson. Offensive linemen rarely get the praise they deserve, but a great offensive line as anchored in the middle can be huge for an offense. Hudson was very solid in his debut against a very good defensive front. If Hudson and the offensive line can consistently protect Carr an...

Preseason Week 1 Players to Peruse

[embed]http://gty.im/459756040[/embed] The Oakland Raiders season officially kicks off Friday night. Unfortunately, it's preseason. Fortunately, there are still plenty of things to watch. It seems like this every year, but this truly is one of the most interesting Raiders teams in years. For starters, there is a lot of young talent. Unlike past years, there is also plenty of veteran talent that isn't over 30. While all eyes will be on first-round pick Amari Cooper, there are at least a half-dozen other players Raiders fans should keep a close eye on during the game. D.J. Hayden He hasn't been able to stay healthy, nor has he been particularly awesome when he is healthy, but cornerback D.J. Hayden still has a lot of talent. General manager Reggie McKenzie will take his lumps if Hayden doesn't pan out this year, but more importantly the Raiders will also be dangerously thin at cornerback. The Raiders need Hayden to solid, even if he doesn't live up to the potential he...