2019 Oakland Raiders Discussion

^ That is just cold! I don't think any but a hard core Laker fan would even know who he is.

- looks like Butler and Roberts have made Thompkins expendable.
- Durham is holding on...that TD on Sunday helps his case maybe.
- I hope Sio Moore gets back on track.

 

I think ditching Thompkins is the only remotely surprising move there.

 

High praise - and totally justified. We got a beast over here.

 

Who helped their cases?

QB
McGloin and Ponder both played pretty well. I would think McGloin wins out the backup spot. Ponder has higher ceiling, lower floor.

RB
No one did very much; we can't seem to run the ball all of a sudden, but Dyer scored a TD and was active in the passing game.

WR
Getting rid of Thompkins opens a spot - and I think that's Roberts's spot. Would be great to see Butler and Streater put it all together.
Cooper/Crabtree
Butler/Streater
Holmes/Roberts
---NOICE.

Specials
Marquette King is a beast. Averaged nearly 50 yards per punt, put 2 of his 5 inside the 20.
Atkinson never impresses me. He's at best adequate as a returner.
Wyile had a nice kickoff return, but I'm not sure he offers any more than Atkinson.

OL
With Watson out for the season, McCants is one of probably two or three players fighting for that last OL spot. He didn't help himself tonight, was abused, and allowed that hit and strip on McGloin that resulted in a TD.

DEF Front
Heeney is such a badass.
I think Shirley is going to make the Raiders have to make some difficult decisions.

DBs
I don't think Hayden looked bad; he allowed a TD, but his coverage was pretty impeccable on the play.
Chekwa+
McGill got TORCHED on the second play of the game.
Tevin McDonald has a chance at the roster.

 

Short takes...

- Seth Roberts 'nuff said...
- McGloin has smarts...settled in as a backup.
- saw only the end of the second quarter and the end of the game [forgot to set the damn DVR!]
- really enjoyed the trio of Mowins, Brown and Millen during this preseason. I will miss them.
- Millen is very relaxed and witty during the broadcasts not the corporate sounding announcer at a major network.
- Woodson wants to break Brown's punt return record and take it to the house.
- Brown threatened to come out in uni for that one game and tackle him. All in good fun of course.
- not keen on Carrie returning punts. Keep Wylie!
- That Tavecchio WILL be kicking for someone in The League. Nice onsides kick with help from the Son of Atkinson...
- not digging the Moore saga. Talented but temperamental? Both he and Del Rio will have to settle this soon.
- Richardson sucks... Oh, wait!

Lines of the night:

Millen: They will run that play until it works [Dyer between the tackles...left side]
Brown: It might work three weeks from now.

Mowins: [on Atkinson] What's the color of his college helmet?
Brown: He is fast, quick and strong. Golden..
Millen: [laughing] Yes, he is inspite of that.

Mowins: [on the Raider special Charity sneakers] I never got the memo... I still have my leopard heels and it goes with everything. Tim was trying them on.
Brown: Pssssh...
Millen: He was but it doesn't go with his outfit.




Two home games upcoming... Cincy and Baltimore. Let's go!

 

Sigh... Ray-Ray Armstrong better produce. Moore is probably elated.

Notable LB cuts:

-Quentin Groves
-Phillip Wheeler

 

Well, Del Rio isn't messing around. Maybe Moore was also in Norton's doghouse. Strange, I thought he was rounding into shape after the hip surgeries. Could be he hasn't regained his form to justify being on the field. Reports are that he was healthy. I liked his competitiveness.

 

Moore's not over his hip injury. There was a lot of chatter on other boards (Reddit, e.g.) about his hobbling movements. I'm bummed because a healthy Moore is a legit solid LB. Ray Ray at his best is adequate. Maybe we'll see Heeney sooner rather than later.

 

Ponder is gone.

 

I'm heartened by the last statement. Of course, there's write-ups now that the Raiders were fleeced. Let's see how this turns up.

^Ponder's gone? McGloin is entrenched as the backup as he should be. Dyer cut too.

 

The Colts defense is atrocious so they'll take a shot on a talented but injury - prone guy.

Ponder is not a good qb. You guys can do better with just about anyone else.

 

WAIVED
Mitch Bell - not surprised; could clear waivers and become a practice squad guy (good potential down the line)
Dyer - a little surprised, not because he was good but because we don't have much depth
Shelby Harris - surprised.
Ricky Lumpkin - surprised.
Tevin McDonald - a bit surprised.
Orr - clear waivers and move to the practice squad
Shirley - a bit surprised
Valles - surprised and scared; please clear waivers.

Released
Taylor Mays - a bit surprised.
CJ Wilson - surprised.


ROSTER
QB
Carr, McGloin

RB
Murray, Helu, Jones

FB
Reece, Olawale

WR
Cooper, Crabtree
Butler, Streater
Holmes, Roberts

TE
Rivera, Smith
Walford, Holmes

OL
Penn, Jackson, Hudson, Webb, Barnes
Feliciano, Howard, Bergstrom, McCants
-Watson's injury hurts; we have both Bergstrom and McCants on the roster. I don't feel good about that.

DT/DE
Mack, Tuck, Williams, Ellis
Autry, McGee, Mayowa, Edwards

LB
Smith, Lofton, Armstrong
Ball, Heeney, Alexander
-Alexander a surprise here

CB
Hayden, Carrie
Chekwa, McGill
D. McDonald, Thorpe

S
Allen, Woodson
Asante, Edwards

Specialists
Janikowski
Condo
King

Total: 53/53