"They Don't Know Its Us, Not Like Were The Raiders" Official 2016 Oakland Raiders Off-Season Thread

Chris Cool

Chris Cool

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depth chart


Offense
WR 15
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Michael Crabtree 85
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Kenbrell Thompkins 10
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Seth Roberts 83
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Kris Durham 80
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Rod Streater 19
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Josh Harper
LT 72 Donald Penn 69 Khalif Barnes 79 Anthony Morris
LG 66 Gabe Jackson 68 Jon Feliciano 74 Mitch Bell
C 61 Rodney Hudson 70 Tony Bergstrom 63 Lamar Mady
RG 76 J'Marcus Webb 73 Matt McCants 67 Quinterrius Eatmon
RT 71 Menelik Watson 77 Austin Howard 65 Dan Kistler
TE 86 Lee Smith 81 Mychal Rivera 88 Clive Walford 87 Brian Leonhardt 82 Gabe Holmes
WR 89 Amari Cooper 18 Andre Holmes 12 Brice Butler 17 Milton Williams 13 Austin Willis 16 Trindon Holliday
QB 4 Derek Carr 9 Christian Ponder 14 Matt McGloin 8 Cody Fajardo
RB 28 Latavius Murray 33 Trent Richardson 26 Roy Helu, Jr. 22 Taiwan Jones 40 Michael Dyer 34 George Atkinson
FB 45 Marcel Reece 49 Jamize Olawale
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Defenese
DE 91
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Justin Tuck 97
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Mario Edwards Jr 96
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Denico Autry
DT 90 Dan Williams 98 C.J. Wilson 93 Ricky Lumpkin
NT 78 Justin Ellis 92 Stacy McGee 99 Leon Orr
DE 52 Khalil Mack 95 Benson Mayowa 75 Shelby Harris 94
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Max Valles
SAM 57 Ray-Ray Armstrong 58 Neiron Ball 54 Gary Wilkins 47 Josh Shirley
MIKE 50 Curtis Lofton 51 Ben Heeney 48 Spencer Hadley 56 Chase Williams
WILL 53 Malcolm Smith 55 Sio Moore 46 Horace Miller
LCB 25 DJ Hayden 39 Keith McGill 41 James Dockery 30 SaQwan Edwards 35
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Chimdi Chekwa
RCB 38 TJ Carrie 31 Neiko Thorpe 36 Ras-I Dowling 21 Dexter McDonald 32 Rob Daniel
FS 20 Nate Allen 29 Brandian Ross 23 Jonathan Dowling 37 Tevin McDonald
SS 24 Charles Woodson 42 Larry Asante 43 Jimmy Hall
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Specialists
P 7
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Marquette King 2
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Steven Clark
K 11 Sebastian Janikowski 6 Giorgio Tavecchio
H 7 Marquette King 9 Christian Ponder
LS 59 Jon Condo 86 Lee Smith 48
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Spencer Hadley
KR 16 Trindon Holliday 28 Latavius Murray
PR 16 Trindon Holliday 38 TJ Carrie




*Edit apparently the coaching staff had nothing to do with this.

"I'm just going to be honest with you, it's Will taking a stab at it and it's going to be fine until the season gets here. It's not going to really be my list until the season gets here, so whatever he put down, good for Will. If he's been watching we'll be in good shape."
 
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ManxOfxThexYear

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Oakland Raiders: 5 Most Impressive Training Camp Performances so Far

As the Oakland Raiders move closer to their first preseason game, training camp practices become increasingly important. The preseason games give players the opportunity to earn roster spots. For that to happen, they need to get on the field. And that playing time is earned in camp.

With 90 players currently on the roster, it's tough to stand out. And with so many practices and so many reps, almost every player will make a nice play now and then.

But anyone at this level can look good for a play or two. What the team is looking for are players who consistently make an impact.

When looking for players who have impressed so far, several expected names pop up. Defensively, Khalil Mack has looked very good as a pass-rusher. On offense, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have continued to increase the distance between themselves and the other wide receivers on the roster.

But these players are supposed to look good. Instead, we'll take a look at some of Oakland's less-heralded players who have shown the potential to be contributors in 2015.

The players mentioned here aren't unknowns. However, as camp has gone on, they've begun to assume larger roles than what was initially expected. While they were already going to be important players, they've begun to emerge as leaders and especially important factors in the team's success.

TJ Carrie

Of all the positions on the Oakland roster, no single one inspires more questions, doubts and concerns than cornerback.

Most of these issues revolve around DJ Hayden and Keith McGill. Hayden was expected to be the the team's No. 1 cornerback, but he's lost first-team reps to McGill. These two seem to be jockeying for position on the cornerback depth chart.

But as Hayden and McGill battle it out for one of the starting jobs, it's been TJ Carrie who's provided the position with some stability.

Following Oakland's sixth day of camp, CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair declared the secondary the winners of the day. Perhaps most interestingly, he referred to Carrie's performance that day as "predictably strong." Carrie's solid performances throughout camp have been so common, they're starting to be expected.

Carrie has continued to build off of a surprisingly impressive rookie season, and he's consistently played with the first-team defense throughout camp. Quietly, he's turning into the Raiders' most reliable option at cornerback and a leader for the unit.

While Oakland tries to figure out what it has in Hayden and McGill, it's Carrie who's stood out the most and given the team hope that the cornerbacks will be able to hold their own this year.

Mychal Rivera

Aside from the selection of Amari Cooper, no Oakland draft pick from this year has been as consistently praised as third-round selection Clive Walford. A solid blocker on running and passing plays with the ability to create big plays through the air, he was expected to come in and immediately contest for the starting job at tight end.

Unfortunately, he's yet to participate in camp, which has left Mychal Rivera with no major competition for the starting spot. But this shouldn't be taken to mean that Rivera hasn't earned the job.

More importantly, what this camp has allowed Rivera to do is find a role better suited to his abilities. He's never been an elite blocker, but that's not the role in which he best helps the offense. As SilverandBlackPride.com's Levi Damien points out:

"There will be different things Rivera will be asked to do in Musgrave's offense. Rivera was expected to fill mostly the H-back role, with an emphasis on his receiving abilities, which plays to Rivera's strengths."

Rather than playing closer to the line, Rivera has been able to spend more time this camp doing what he does best: catching passes. And he's looked good in the process, something that hasn't escaped the eye of head coach Jack Del Rio (via Damien): "He's an athletic guy. I think he showed some of that athleticism here early in this camp with a couple of nice catches. "

Exactly what position Rivera will play remains to be seen, but he is still listed as a tight on the Raiders' official roster. More importantly, what he has been able to do so far is establish a more defined role in the offense. He's a receiving tight end, and he's proving that he's very good in this role.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave acknowledged this when he said of Rivera (via CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair), "He’s done a super job. He’s terrific in the passing game."

Rivera had been somewhat written off after the arrival of Walford. But as camp continues, Rivera is showing that he can be one of the offense's most dangerous weapons.

Remember Jonathan Dowling?

Oakland's 2014 draft class was an excellent one that included Khalil Mack, Derek Carr, Gabe Jackson, Justin Ellis and TJ Carrie, all players who are currently starters. But along with these foundational players, the Raiders also took Dowling with their final pick of the draft.

As a seventh-rounder, it's understandable that Dowling hasn't received as much attention. It doesn't help that he was little used during his rookie season.

But this doesn't take away from how talented he truly is. SFBay.ca'sJason Leskiw points out that when the Raiders took Dowling in the seventh round, NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt was a huge fan of the pick and considered Dowling a major steal that late in the draft.

This year, Dowling is starting to show that potential. CSNBayArea.com'sScott Bair points out that "Second-year safety Jonathan Dowling has been around the ball quite a bit, and made some nice plays on Sunday."

For now, the Raiders are set at the starting safety positions with the ageless Charles Woodson and new addition Nate Allen. But the depth chart behind them is unsettled, which means that it's an open competition. The coaches will go with whoever is playing the best. This bodes well for Dowling, who's been consistently effective throughout camp.

Brandian Ross and Larry Asante have also played well, and their experience gives them an advantage. However, neither has the upside that the 6'3", 190-pound Dowling has. As he continues to have a strong camp, he'll continue to earn more playing time. And this will continue to increase his chances at making the final roster.

Taiwan Jones has been an interesting and somewhat frustrating player since he joined the Raiders in 2011 when the team selected him in the fourth round of the draft.

A running back with big play potential, Jones never quite found a role at the position. Since then, he's moved to cornerback and back to running back as the team continues to look for a way to make use of his tremendous potential.

According to the Raiders' official site, Jones has looked good since returning to the running back position this year: "Running back Taiwan Jones shows his quickness time after time when he gets chance to kick any run outside. He also looked good returning kicks today and continues to build upon a strong camp."

There are two important things to take away from this. First, Jones is as fast and quick as ever. This is a great sign given that he missed all of last season due to injury, and it provides another dimension to Oakland's running game.

Second, Jones' reps as a kick returner are a great sign for him and for the team. The Raiders are searching for a reliable presence in this role. Having Jones' speed and special teams experience at kick returner would be a huge boost to the return game.

One of the issues that Jones is facing is that while he's certainly an incredible talent, he doesn't have a clearly defined role. This makes it difficult for the coaches to find a roster spot for him.

So far in camp, Jones has made great progress in addressing this issue. While he can serve as a reserve running back, his true role can be that of an all-around special teams ace. Claiming the return man role in addition to his stellar coverage on kicks and punts would be great for him and for the team, and he's in the process of making that happen.

Still only 27 years old, Jones can be a major asset for Oakland. The issue is finding him a defined role. Return man would be ideal, and Jones has shown that he's ready for the responsibility.

Michael Dyer faced a steep uphill climb when he joined the Raiders as an undrafted rookie. Oakland is crowded at running back with Latavius Murray and Roy Helu sure to make the final roster and players likeTrent Richardson, George Atkinson III and Taiwan Jones battling for roster spots behind them.

Playing time opened up in camp with Richardson and Helu both missing practices, and Dyer has taken the opportunity to make a strong case to not only make the team, but possibly battle for the No. 2 or No. 3 running spot behind Murray.

CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair had this to say about Dyer's performance early in camp:

"Dyer, built like a bowling ball at 5-foot-9, 218 pounds, has shown power and explosiveness throughout camp. On Sunday, the team’s first practice in pads, Dyer broke free on a few runs that impressed head coach Jack Del Rio."

Even head coach Jack Del Rio admitted being impressed by the rookie (via Bair):

"Michael’s done a nice job of developing. From what we saw in the spring until now, he seems more comfortable, accountable and dependable on offense and special teams. Every now and then he’ll pop through a hole and turn on the speed. He’s off to a nice start."

There's a long way to go before Oakland has to cut down to 53 players, and a lot can happen between now and then. But early on, Dyer has made a strong case to make the team and earn playing time once the season kicks off.

Most of the talk at tight end this offseason for the Raiders has revolved around Mychal Rivera and rookie Clive Walford. But the most surprising performer at tight end so far has been undrafted rookie Gabe Holmes.

Holmes has ideal size for the position at 6'5" and 254 pounds. He has excellent speed for his size, and he's displayed it in camp. And despite going undrafted, he's worked his way into reps with the second unit, according to SilverandBlackPride.com's Levi Damien:

"This former basketball star is making a strong impression on the team and as a result has seen a lot of reps with the second team offense. If the team keeps more than three tight ends, he is making a case to be that fourth guy."

The San Francisco Chronicle's Vic Tafur tweeted a similarly positive opinion. When asked which player had a real shot to surprise and make the final roster, his response was Holmes.

Holmes is a long shot to make the final roster. He has Rivera, Walford and Lee Smith ahead of him on the tight end depth chart, all of whom are virtual locks to make the team. That leaves Holmes to battle it out with Brian Leonhardt, himself an undrafted tight end back in 2013, for the No. 4 tight end spot.

But it's unlikely that Oakland carries more than three tight ends, which makes Holmes the odd man out even if he beats out Leonhardt.

However, Holmes could prove to be useful on special teams. At worse, if he doesn't make the team, he's sure to be added to the practice squad. And if any tight end ahead of him falters, it wouldn't be surprising to see Holmes on the field once the regular season starts.

One of the most intriguing positions in Oakland's camp has been wide receiver. While rookie Amari Cooper and seven-year veteran Michael Crabtree are set firmly as the top two receivers, the entire depth chart behind them is wide open. With projected No. 3 wide receiver Rod Streater yet to participate in camp, every spot after the first two is up for grabs.

So far, it's been Kenbrell Thompkins who's taken the most advantage of the opportunity to move up the depth chart. CSNBayArea.com'sScott Bair points out that "Kenbrell Thompkins has been the best behind the top two [Cooper and Crabtree], and has seen significant action with Streater out."

In fact, Bair reports the third-year receiver has been so impressive that "Kenbrell Thompkins is the Raiders’ No. 3 receiver at this stage, and was playing in the slot in first-team, three-receiver sets."

At the beginning of camp, Thompkins was a bottom-of-the-depth-chart receiver with his best shot of making the team being as a No. 5 or No. 6 receiver behind guys like Cooper, Crabtree, Streater and Andre Holmes.

However, Streater continues to fall further behind with each missed practice. As for Holmes, he's had some of the same problems with inconsistency that he had last season, which the San Francisco Chronicle's Vic Tafur pointed out in a tweet: "Holmes goes up for a nice catch over [cornerback Neiko] Thorpe ... He then dropped very next one."

With Streater out and Holmes' reliability still in question, Thompkins has stepped up and begun to make a case for himself as a the permanent third option at wide receiver. He's gone from a player on the roster bubble to one that's beginning to establish a major role in the offense.

The competition for the No. 3 wide receiver spot will really heat up once Streater returns. But if he takes too long and Thompkins continues to impress the coaches, the competition might already be over.
 
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Note: The Raiders don’t practice Monday, resuming Tuesday in Napa at 4:25 p.m.

With the admission that I missed the first three practices while on the media physically unable to perform list (OK, I made up the designation, but the dislocated shoulder was real), jumping to some conclusions through the first nine sessions with seven to go before the Raiders leave Napa and return to their facility in Alameda:

— Once the preseason begins, it should be one series and out for Derek Carr.

The Raiders simply can’t afford a third quarterback flip-flop in three years, and the only way this happens is if Carr gets hurt. It’s impossible to know how good Carr will be, but he’s light years ahead of Christian Ponder and Matt McGloin, who look to be in a dead-heat to be the backup.

— Ditto Latavius Murray.

Murray is the lead back. Trent Richardson could get the treatment Tyrone Wheatley got in 1999 _ lots of preseason work to determine what he’s got in the tank.

Roy Helu Jr., although injured, appears to have a role. Undrafted free agent Michael Dyer was making things interesting before he started missing practice with an injury.

Really interested to see Taiwan Jones in a game situation. Back at running back, he’s had some sensational moments in camp. But beware _ speed backs can dominate in non-tackling situations (see Darren McFadden, any year).

— Crab, Coop and then . . .

Michael Crabtree has caught everything in sight and seems to have an immediate connection with Carr. Amari Cooper, despite the odd snaps when he looks like a rookie, is even-money to be a legit playmaker in his first season.

After that, it’s a jumble. Rod Streater is out with an illness the club has yet to diagnose. Andre Holmes has had his moments, but so has 6-foot-5 Kris Durham, third-year player Brice Butler and Kenbrell Thompkins. Plus anyone who can excel on special teams.

— Mystery on the right.

The right side of the offensive line is currently made up of J’Marcus Webb at guard and Austin Howard at tackle. But Howard, who played right guard last year, was running behind Menelik Watson until Watson was injured and began missing pracitice.

Waiting in the wings, as always, is Khalif Barnes _ at both positions. As is Matt McCants.

Early indications are that fourth-round pick Jon Feliciano is not a factor, at least not this early in the season.

— Mario Edwards Jr. can play.

We’ll know more when the games begin, but Edwards , the Raiders second-round draft pick, appears to be responding to being pushed and prodded. The skill was never an issue

If Edwards is anything remotely close to Khalil Mack, the ability to run both of them off interior tackles Dan Williams and Justin Ellis can give Raiders an edge they haven’t had in years at the point of attack.

— Secondary is a primary consideration.

DJ Hayden, the 2013 first-round pick, has been a mixed bag. The good news is he’s been out there every day, and has followed up some bad days with good days. Keith McGill and TJ Carrie are in the same boat. McGill looks to have the press corner size to defend fade routes and the like.

At safety, at some point Charles Woodson will show his age, but it’s hard to bet against him. Nate Allen bears watching. Not a lot of big plays in camp, but no glaring errors either _ and that’s the part of his game he took criticism for in Philadelphia.

A darkhorse at safety is Jonathan Dowling, who has had a solid camp.

— Special teams is a craps shoot.

Then again, it always is. Without full contact, it’s impossible to know who really will run full speed, stay in their lanes and knock heads when it matters.

Return specialists remain up in the air. The fact that Cooper (punts and kickoffs) and Murray (kickoffs) are getting practice work means it’s wide open. Given their importance on offense, it’s unlikely either will be a factor unless it’s a game-changing situation and they don’t trust anyone else.
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:leon: DJ has made a nice recovery from his first couple of days in training camp, he hasn't been hurt either. As long as he is healthy, he could be alright. The hell is up with Streator though, is he sick or still hurt? :obama: Crabs & Coop look like they both can get 1000 yards this season. :beli: Should have drafted him instead, but looks like he will have his best year with us, just have to see if McCaczie will pay him after though. :whoo: They weren't lying about Ray Ray, Ken Norton doing wonders already, hopefully Sio is able to recover from injury and start again.
 
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