At midpoint of preseason, questions need answers
You want answers? After preparing for tonight’s road game against the Arizona Cardinals with two walkthroughs and a single practice, it’s better to focus on the questions that face the Raiders as they hit the midway point of the exhibition season.
1. CAN THE RAIDERS GET DEREK
CARR IN AND OUT OF THE GAME WITHOUT A SCRATCH? >> Coach
Jon Gruden said Wednesday that Carr would play “a little,” which is at least a mild surprise. As has been made clear on “Hard Knocks,” the idea of “protecting the merchandise” is paramount as is practice etiquette. There is no etiquette in an exhibition game, just players hoping to make a name for themselves.
So expect to see Carr for a series or two, and all the encouragement to his feet when plays break down will not apply. Throw it out of bounds. Then it’s on to Mike Glennon vs. Nathan Peterman for the backup job.
Glennon can’t afford turnovers like the two he had against the Rams. Peterman got flambeed by the head coach as well, although to be fair, it’s not nearly as fun to zero in on Gruden when he’s giving an attaboy as it is when he’s breathing fire.
2. WILL WE GET A GLIMPSE OF THE REAL JOSH JACOBS? >> The first-round draft pick from Alabama has had exactly one live carry as a Raider. He scored a touchdown during a fullon snap from the 1-yard line during training camp. As for the rest of it, it’s impossible to tell how good he is when players cannot be tackled to the ground.
Jacobs has looked, in some inside running drills, as if he has a subtle wiggle that will enable him to get more yards. He’s also shown skill as a receiver and has shown a wantto as a pass blocker. So far, so good.
Even if Jacobs does play, it’s doubtful he’d get more than a few carries.
Then it’s on to the rest of the backfield. If Jalen Richard’s value is as of a runningreceiving satellite back, Doug Martin and DeAndre Washington could be competing for a spot on the 53-man roster. And Washington, who had a 7-yard touchdown run against the Rams and a firstdown reception, has had a very good camp.
Fullback Keith Smith is back as well, giving Alec Ingold some competition with only one making the roster.
3. TIME FOR CHANGING OF THE GUARDS? >> You wouldn’t have known it from “Hard Knocks” episode 2, but the Raiders took a big hit with the loss of right guard Gabe Jackson to an MCL strain for what could be a quarter of the season or more. They won’t have left guard Richie Incognito for the first two weeks while he’s under suspension.
As it stands, the Week 1 guards will be Johnathan Cooper on the left side and Jordan Devey on the right. Devey, Gruden said, gets first crack on the right side. He’ll be pushed by Denver Kirkland, and the waiver wire will be watched closely.
The Raiders will soon be working Cooper and Devey with the first team in exhibition games, with Arizona, Green Bay and Seattle still to go.
4. CAN ANTHONY RUSH DUPLICATE HIS PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE RAMS? >> Rush, at 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds, was very good against the Rams’ reserves. Four stops, all at or behind the line of scrimmage, in 32 snaps. Rush signed Aug. 1.
“He’s only been here eight or nine days,” Gruden said. “Caused some tackles for loss, made a couple of plays and pushed the pocket pretty good. We like him. We’re going to try to keep working him into great shape and looking forward to see him play here against Arizona.”
With Johnathan Hankins, Maurice Hurst and Justin Ellis on the roster, it’s crowded at defensive tackle. Keep in mind that on some passing downs, Clelin Ferrell will move inside.
What’s missing in this scenario? It’s P.J. Hall, a secondround pick a year ago who came in overweight and who has been called out by Gruden in front of the team in practice. Could be tough love, and Hall will be fine. Or it could be Hall joins Obi Melifonwu as a second-round pick who lasted just a single season.
5. WHO MAKES IT AT SAFETY? >> Much has been made of rookie Johnathan Abram, who got a vote of confidence from none other than Charles Woodson this week. Karl Joseph has also had a solid camp, and LaMarcus Joyner can man the back end on plays when he’s not the slot corner. Erik Harris seems to be in a good position to stick.
Veterans brought in during the offseason were Curtis Riley and Jordan Richards, and they’re both competing for a spot on the 53-man roster. Riley is listed as the third-team free safety, Richards as a thirdteam strong safety. Pay no attention. The Raiders insist the positions are interchangeable.
Riley, 27, started 16 games for the New York Giants last season (with four interceptions) and might have the upper hand on Richards, who started 12 games for Atlanta. Richards is a former second-round draft pick out of Stanford.
“He’s a good coverage safety,” Gruden said of Riley. “We want to see him be more impactful on special teams. He’s off to a really good start. He’s definitely in the mix here.”