Raiders Opinion: Sweating Small Stuff

Immersed in the proverbial dog days of summer, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves with a roster filled with talent. Whether this talent propels them into serious playoff contention remains to be seen. The roster feels initially disjointed. However, the Raiders enjoy time on their sides. While fans and certain media types attempt to launch into hysterics over early depth charts, sensible minds need to lead. Deeper than who runs with the first team, this collection of players seem to evoke a litany of varied responses from the fanbase.

Offensive Tackle Depth Fear

In three career games in the NFL, Raiders backup tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith never took a single offensive. Meanwhile, he did line up fourteen times on special teams. Tom Cable and by extension, Jon Gruden seem rather comfortable with the unproven Smith. On the other hand, Brandon Parker will assume the role of the primary swing tackle. To the delight of few, the former third-rounder earned the trust of Cable and Gruden. Parker, throughout his career, lacks the patience and timing required to operate for long stretches as a tackle. For instance, six of his fifteen career penalties are false starts. He knows the snap count and still can’t prevent flinching or taking a false step. Additionally, what happens when a rusher with a quick first step gains the corner? Root for Miller and Leatherwood’s continued health.

19 Yards

In 2020, the Raiders return kickoffs for nineteen yards a clip. In what world is this helpful? A strong kickoff, despite the rules, could mean the difference between a field goal attempt and a punt. One person they need to need to deploy back there is Henry Ruggs. Regardless of speed, Ruggs’ main worth resides on offense. You can’t endanger a first-rounder on kickoffs. While some will proclaim the utter safety of the position, remember Jason Sehorn’s injury. Rich Bisaccia needs to find a returner that accelerates in a hurry, generating positive yards. Who? Honestly, Kenyan Drake feels like the right answer here. First, he’s averaged 24.9 yards per kickoff. Next, he managed to run one back. Lastly, if the Raiders really want to use Drake all over the field, why not let him return kickoffs.

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Filling Holes, Making Sense

While the above topics may not seem even tangentially related, in the micro, they could help the Raiders. Injuries happen in football. As a result, making sure Parker and Jones-Smith rise to the occasion is necessary. By the same token, allowing Kenyan Drake to return kickoffs will energize the offense, letting them set up near midfield with the entire playbook open. In order for the Las Vegas Raiders to make the playoffs, they need the little things.