Questions unanswered on day for nostalgia
It was a nice reunion for fans of the 1982-94 Los Angeles Raiders, but did little in the way of answering any hard questions for the 2018 season.
The Raiders lost 1915 to the Los Angeles Rams Saturday at the Memorial Coliseum, the first trip to their former home since 1994. A sizable portion of their Southern California fan base turned out.
But with the Rams visiting the Raiders on Monday night, Sept. 10, neither Jon Gruden nor Rams coach Sean McVay had any intention pushing their chips to the middle of the table.
Anyone who was anyone on both rosters took the day off, sunning themselves on the sideline in a manner that suggested, “Nothing to see here.”
When the Raiders closed within 16-15 in the fourth quarter and failed on a two-point conversion, Gruden conceded, “I was doing everything possible to avoid overtime, yes.”
There wasn’t much to be learned that wasn’t already known about the Raiders a week ago.
Midway through the preseason, there are at least two big areas of concern.
First, there is no clarity to how the Raiders will operate if Derek Carr is unable to play.
Carr sat it out, as did Rams quarterback Jared Goff. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn if Gruden and McVay had that detail, as well as their lists of other inactive players, worked out before game time.
Connor Cook had the first snap of the game from Jon Feliciano (the entire starting offensive line didn’t play) sail over his head and he wasn’t able to summon the kind of efficiency that there was against the Lions in Week 1.
Not that EJ Manuel was much better, although statistically (10 of 16, 89 yards and a touchdown) it looked as if he had the edge. Each quarterback lost a fumble and Gruden termed those two turnovers, as well as some key offensive penalties, as “embarrassing.”
If form holds and Carr plays into the third quarter in Friday night’s third exhibition game at the Coliseum against Green Bay, there’s precious little time to separate the two quarterbacks heading in to Week 1. It’s also not clear whether the Raiders will keep two or three quarterbacks.
That roster decision could be complicated by the condition of Eddy Pineiro, the rookie place kicker who was retained at the expense of Giorgio Tavecchio. Pineiro left practice last week with what Gruden termed a “tweaked” groin and he stayed home to receive treatment.
If there’s any chance of Pineiro not being ready for Week 1, that could necessitate keeping a second kicker, presumably Mike Nugent, on the roster.
The kicking game bears watching. In terms of thunderous kicks, it hasn’t been a great camp for rookie punter and fifth-round draft pick Johnny Townsend. Maybe that’s not fair after seeing Shane Lechler and Marquette King punt for the past 18 years.
Then again, Townsend’s strength is supposed to be directional kicking, which in theory combined with coverage would give him a comparable net to Lechler and King.
Other inferences that could be made following a game that was even more forgettable than the usual NFL August exhibition money grab:
• With left tackle Kolton Miller sitting out, the Raiders aren’t concerned that the rookie needs all the snaps he can get to be ready. And Donald Penn, who stepped in on the right side this week, sat out as well, so there’s the likelihood those are your two starting tackles Week 1.
• It’s often the case that a team’s leading rusher doesn’t make the 53-man roster because they’re taking all the hits for the starters. Chris Warren III, who had 110 yards on 18 carries a week after getting 86 on 13 attempts against the Lions, looks like he’ll break that trend. Gruden, keeping the carrot at the end of the stick, said he wants Warren to show what he can do without the ball.
Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin and fullback Keith Smith, none of whom dressed, are locks, health permitting. Warren would be a fourth back, with Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington competing at No. 5.
• The defense, even with key players out, looks tighter in coverage, better organized and as if it has the ability to provide interior pressure. Maurice Hurst had a sack, P.J. Hall had some impressive snaps and Shilique Calhoun is making a run at a roster spot as an outside rusher.
The Rams averaged 2.3 yards per carry against the Raiders reserves.
• With Griff Whalen catching a 10-yard touchdown pass from Manuel, and Ryan Switzer aboard as a slot receiver and punt return specialist, incumbent slot receiver Seth Roberts will have to make great strides to secure a roster spot.
Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant are secure. (Even with Bryant’s issues with headaches and missing practice, the Raiders spent a third-round draft pick on him). Marcell Ateman offers a jump-and-catch option and Johnny Holton and Dwayne Harris have some special teams skills.
With three carved in stone tight ends (Jared Cook, Lee Smith and Derek Carrier) and as many as five running backs, it will be difficult to take on six receivers.
With the Raiders resuming practice Monday in the privacy of their own facility, they can begin to implement plans out of the prying eye of the media.
Week 2 of the preseason gave few clues as to what those might be.