Raider Nation going to be loud
And the host Chargers are preparing for the noise
ALAMEDA » Of the Raiders’ next six games, no opponent currently owns a winning record.
That group includes the Chargers twice, Seahawks, Colts, 49ers and Cardinals.
Despite an abysmal 0-3 start, the Raiders have a chance to go on a run and make everyone forget about the Khalil Mack trade and the slow start and everything else that doomed the start of Jon Gruden’s second go- around in Oakland.
That stretch starts Sunday in Carson with the Chargers (2-2).
Here are a few things we learned about the Raiders on Thursday, two days before they fly south for their second divisional game of the season.
THE CHARGERS ARE PIPING IN
CROWD NOISE » Most opponents who visit StubHub Center will have the crowd in their favor. Last season, even the Philadelphia Eagles had a virtual home game against the Chargers all the way across the country. Last weekend, 49ers fans invaded Southern California. This weekend is Raider Nation’s turn to take over Chargers territory.
In last year’s regular-season finale, a meaningless game for the Raiders, silver and black loaded the stadium. Sunday should feature more of the same, and the Chargers are preparing for it by practicing with piped-in crowd noise.
During Week 2 oft hep reseason, Raiders fans out numbered Rams fans at the L. A. Coliseum. Such a turnout is expected for the team that used to call Los Angeles home, and probably still has the most fans in the city.
HURSTA DRAFT STEAL » If you had to pick the Raiders’ best defensive player through four weeks, rookie defensive tackle Maurice Hurst from Michigan should be your choice.
Due to health concerns relating to his heart, Hurst dropped to the fifth round in April’s draft. He was irritated, as he should’ve
been, because he was probably a firstround pick based on talent alone.
Hurst had a strip sack, three quarterback pressures, a batted pass and three run stops against the Browns. He earned Pro Football Focus’ highest game grade Sunday (90.5) for any Raider in 2018. He also has two of the Raiders’ five sacks on the season after taking down Broncos quarterback Case Keenum in Week 2.
“He’s just getting better every week,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said Thursday. “He’s understanding the techniques in there, both in the run and the pass game. He’s a bright guy. Bright future ahead of him. I’m really glad we have him.”
The Raiders have needed Hurst to step up with starting nose tackle Justin Ellis on injured reserve with a foot injury suffered in the season opener and fellow rookie defensive tackle P. J. Hall missing two games with a sprained ankle. Hurst has played nose tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end, supplying a muchneeded push up front for a Raiders team lacking one at multiple positions. GUENTHER REALLY IS DONE TALKING ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL PENALTIES» Last Wednesday Guenther went on a 540-word rant expressing his displeasure of the NFL’s controversial roughing the passer rule following a slew of questionable calls around the league, including one against Hurst in Week 3 that gave the Dolphins another third-down play that they scored a touchdown on in an eventual 28-20 win.
Guenther vowed to only complain about the rule once, and hemeant it.
Sunday, defensive end Arden Key tapped Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Yeah, Key was flagged for roughing the passer.
Asked Thursday about the call, Guenther had this to say: “I said I wasn’t going to talk about it anymore,” he said with a smirk. “It is what it is. It’s a tough deal.” INJURY REPORT » Starting left guard Kelechi Osemele didn’t practice for the second consecutive day as he nurses a right knee injury suffered against the Browns. Osemele missed eight offensive snaps in the game but finished the Raiders’ gamewinning overtime drive on the field.
It’s hard to imagine Osemele won’t play against the Chargers, but if he’s somehow sidelined Jon Feliciano would start at left guard.
The only other DNP was safety Karl Joseph, the Raiders’ 2016 first-round pick who hasn’t practiced since injuring his hamstring on his lone defensive snap against the Dolphins on Sept. 23 when he chased after a scrambling Ryan Tan nehill. Defensive end Bruce Irvin was added to the injury report with a knee issue, and he was limited in Thursday’s practice.
Center Rodney Hudson (ankle), Hurst (shoulder), right guard Gabe Jackson (pectoral), left tackle Kolton Miller (knee) and running back Marshawn Lynch (abdomen) were all limited on Thursday.