Starters will be hard to find in exhibition opener
NAPA >> The home fan base gets its lone shot at seeing the Raiders this exhibition season, but what they’ll be watching will bear little resemblance to the team that takes the field in Week 1.
Projected starters got lots of work over two days of joint practice sessions with the Los Angeles Rams. Whatever drama emanates from the Raiders’ exhibition opener tonight will come from position group battles and those fighting for spots on the 53-man roster against Rams players who are in the same boat.
In other words, expect Derek Carr and a host of others to be a safe distance from the action.
“You’re not going to see some of the starters,” coach Jon Gruden said Thursday. “You saw them today. You saw them yesterday. They took about 120 reps so we’re going to take a look at some younger players, some guys that need the opportunity.”
Here are five areas to watch once the Raiders’ exhibition season begins at 5 p.m. tonight at the Coliseum:
1. GLENNON VS. PETERMAN AND THE RACE TO BACK UP CARR >> Since it’s the natural inclination of the media and social media to mock quarterbacks who got a shot and then had a rough go of it, the Mike Glennon-Nathan Peterman duel for No. 2 is getting buried in ridicule.
Glennon is listed as No. 2 on the initial depth chart and appears to have the lead. He throws a much better ball than Peterman in terms of touch and loft downfield and needs to throw on time because he’s not going to use his legs much to extend plays.
Peterman has had some good practices, which is no surprise given he played well enough before the lights came on in Buffalo to twice win the starting job. Gruden likes Peterman’s ability to understand and work within the system and believes he was a victim of circumstance who simply needs to regain his confidence.
If either player ascends to No. 1 because of injury, it would be mass panic among the fan base. Little known fact: Donald Hollas was 4-2 as a starter under Gruden in 1998.
Also keep in mind last year’s E.J. Manuel-Connor Cook battle ended with both being released in favor of sending a fifth-round draft pick to Buffalo for A.J. McCarron.
2. PASS RUSH, ANYONE? >> The Raiders defenders have had “13” drilled into their collective brain, with the unluckiest number of all representing the shockingly low total of sacks for a 16-game season in the post-Khalil Mack era.
We may not see rookie end and No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell at all against the Rams, and if he does play, it could be just for a series or two. Two players to watch include second-year end Arden Key and rookie Maxx Crosby, a fourth-round selection out of Eastern Michigan.
Both figure to be situational pass rushers. Key was forced into fulltime duty because of lack of depth a year ago and had a single sack and otherwise played horseshoes (where getting close counts). Crosby has already bulked up to 266 pounds and insists he’s lost no get-off.
Ideally, these two alone can combine for the 13 sacks the Raiders had as a whole last season.
3. HOW DOES THE WR CORPS SHAKE OUT AFTER ANTONIO
BROWN AND TYRELL WILLIAMS? >> Hunter Renfrow, a fifth-round pick out of Clemson, has a feel for being a slot receiver and looks to have opened a wide lead on veteran Ryan Grant, who is now battling a sore back. J.J. Nelson, a smallish burner who played with Arizona, is the fastest receiver on the roster and seems to have a rapport with Carr.
Veteran Dwayne Harris seems assured a spot on the 53 because of his special teams work, not just as a returner but as a gunner who makes tackles and draws penalties. We’ll assume Antonio Brown is back at some point soon, and Tyrell Williams for the most part has been extremely impressive. Overall, the speed and athleticism of the unit is dramatically improved.
As for tight end, Darren Waller will sit out the Rams game with a shoulder injury but looks equipped for the Jared Cook role, even if he doesn’t get as many targets.
Fourth-round pick Foster Moreau likely sticks, with Derek Carrier, Luke Willson and Paul Butler fighting for one or two spots. The Raiders also added Brandon Barnes Friday, an undrafted free agent out of Alabama State in 2018.
4. WHICH CORNERBACKS EMERGE BEYOND CONLEY, WORLEY, MULLEN? >> Gareon Conley, pretty much MIA in the last two camps because of injury, hasn’t missed a practice. That counts for a lot. Worley is holding off Mullen for the time being, but even if he doesn’t both men will play. Lamarcus Joyner is listed as a safety and he could see the back end occasionally but his primary role will be slot corner.
There looks to be considerably more talent competing for spots than in years past, and at least one player will benefit from Nevin Lawson’s self-announced four-game suspension for being in violation of the league policy and performance enhancing drugs.
Isaiah Johnson, a fourthround pick, has had his moments and Gruden is once again talking up Nick Nelson, a rookie last year.
5. IS A.J. COLE THE REAL DEAL? >> Signed as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State, visual evidence suggests he’s far ahead of incumbent Johnny Townsend in terms of kicking the ball higher and farther. Cole has the “ooh” and “aah” factor on some of his kicks and would be more palatable to a fan base used to the likes of Ray Guy, Shane Lechler and, yes, Marquette King.
Of course, the job also entails being a holder and being able to kick directionally. The latter, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia believes, is a strength of Townsend. This battle figures to go on throughout the entire camp. And if Cole comes down to earth in preseason games and Townsend continues to struggle, it’s possible the punter is not yet on the roster.