Las Vegas Raiders

Oakland Raiders: End of Preseason Thoughts

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker Ben Heeney (50), defensive end Greg Townsend Jr. (94), defensive tackle Leon Orr (93), defensive lineman Denico Autry (96) and long snapper Jon Condo (59) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Thoughts on the Oakland Raiders before their last preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks and after their first round of cuts.

The dreaded “Turk” swathed his way through 14 NFL careers in the late Oakland night, into the morning. The Raiders made their first wave of cuts to get to the league-mandated 75 players by 4 pm today, and as our intrepid analyst Nick Hjeltness points out in this article on JBB, there were few surprises.

Now, the Raiders have one more preseason game to gauge the remaining 75 players and decide who is worthy of the last 53. Again, our man Nick has outlined his thoughts on the final roster here. As you can see, he was pretty bang-on in his assessment of the first round of cuts.

Upcoming Schedule

As Nick and our editor, Chase Ruttig, have done a great job breaking down the Raiders potential final roster, I won’t bother. Instead, I’ll turn my eye to things of interest as the games soon turn from meaningless to meaningful.

Enter the fourth. As in fourth preseason game. We well know the fourth preseason game isn’t exactly McGregor – Diaz III in terms of scale or hype. It is, however, quite important to fringe players who don’t want to go home after months of hard work. And to the uber die-hard fans looking for the next Spurgeon Wynn.

Aside from the final roster, there are other things the Raiders are looking to solidify as preseason winds to a close and the games begin to count. Like their backup running back.

Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders running back DeAndre Washington (33) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

WHO BACKS UP MURRAY?

Or, based on what we’ve seen this preseason, who does Murray back up? Continuing a disappointing trend of mediocre running that dominated his last six games in 2015, Murray has been pedestrian this preseason.

He’s running upright à la Darren McFadden, not really making moves and just falling down after contact. It’s been disappointing to watch, frankly.

The “Tay-train” is in danger of being derailed if it can’t stay on track as two younger, hungrier engines roar up behind and ready for a takeover.

DeAndre Washington has been downright fun to watch. The fifth-round pick is electric, engaged, and passionate when running, catching the ball, or pass blocking. He’s honestly been the Raiders best back this preseason, and it hasn’t really been close.

With big plays over 30 yards in both the running and the passing game he’s shown great versatility. There’s been no problem torching any lineman or linebacker trying to cover him space.

He’s shown great strength and toughness when willing to run between the tackles, and plays with grit and toughness, but he’s also having fun out there. His enthusiasm is contagious and a great compliment to Murray’s stoic workman-like approach.

Jalen Richard has been a revelation. Richard and Washington are nearly identical physical clones – both are 5’8, while Richard is slightly heavier at 208 pds than Washington at 206. They both have shiftiness and explosion, and don’t shy away from contact.

Richard was blowing people away in camp until he tweaked his knee, missing the first two preseason games as a result. Against Tennessee he showed some good moves but saw limited action in garbage time.

He’s expected to get the bulk of the work Thursday against the Seahawks, and if he can continue to impress the coaching staff with his speed, decision-making and athletic ability the Raiders could have a problem – albeit a good one – in the backfield.

Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Justin Ellis (78) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

STOPPING THE RUN

When Darius Latham has been your best interior lineman, that’s a problem. This is not meant to slight Latham at all, as he’s played incredibly well this preseason – Tennessee game aside.

No, this is more of an indictment of the rest of the big boys up front who are supposed to be big bad bullies this season. Yet it’s an UDFA who has led the way for this group, who have frankly been pushed around a little.

Justin “Jelly” Ellis was playing well enough to relegate big Dan Williams to backup NT, but he’s been pushed around a bit this preseason. The Raiders run defense has been atrocious, and it’s not just the typical preseason concerns. Preseason concerns are vanilla scheme and personnel. The Raiders concerns are fundamental – which is daunting since they were emphasized all camp long.

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Lack of run fits, getting out of lanes, not getting off blocks, over-pursuit of runners, and poor tackling have been the major factors in opponents’ success against the Raiders run defense. They allowed Eddie Lacy to run all over them. Marcus Mariota looked damned-near like a HOFer running the option against them. DeMarco Murray though it was 2014 again.

DC Ken Norton Jr. doesn’t appear to have figured out how to best use all the talent on this defense properly as of yet. It is preseason so expect the defense to get a lot more complex and exotic once the lights come on – but the run defense in particular, whether it be first team, backups, or fringe players, has been downright terrible.

It all starts up front – and if they can’t run the ball better and stop the run, then all those shiny new pieces and feel-good stories won’t matter a lick.

Nov 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio reacts after no penalty was called against the Minnesota Vikings on a pass play in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Vikings defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCIPLINE

This team needs to address their run game, their run defense, and their discipline first and foremost. I may have mentioned this once or thrice throughout the offseason. Well, until it gets better – it’ll keep getting mentioned.

A quick glance at the preseason, particularly game three, will show you the passing offense is on track; the offensive line is pass blocking like gangbusters; and pass defense, while hit here and there, has been solid. Pass rush has been good, and coverage mostly as well with the exception of a couple of busted plays.

It will also show you the running game, particularly Murray, is not doing much (other than a big play or two by Atkinson III and Washington); that the OL is struggling to run block and open holes in the middle; that the run defense is not nearly where it should be, nor is their tackling; and that they’ve taken way too many penalties for a team with aspirations of success.

Preached from day one by both GM Reggie McKenzie and HC Jack Del Rio, the Raiders culture has changed. You can hear it when teams talk about them, when players talk about the team itself. The passion and verve with which Carr and Khalil Mack talk about a return to greatness is contagious. This is a team who finally believes they belong and have the pieces to do something special. They preach accountability and football intelligence. It’s a good mandate to have.

Those are nice, motivational words. The actions in preseason have shown something different.

The Raiders have incurred more than 30 penalties in three games in the preseason, many of them of the pre-snap variety. Carr committed a delay of game. Mack jumped offsides. Many OL have moved pre-snap, many have held.

It’s not one group – it’s not one player. It’s not even one level. It is a fundamental lack of discipline and football intelligence at every level, and that’s concerning. It’s a theme I’ve hammered on for weeks, but until it gets fixed, that will happen. It’s time to re-write the unwritten rule (haha) that says the Raiders have to lead the league in penalties. It needs to be cleaned up. Now.

Aug 18, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) kicks a field goal in the first quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

SEABASS’S LAST?

With Giorgio Tavecchio officially cut – though don’t be surprised if he lands somewhere – Sebastian Janikowski is still the Raiders kicker. And he should be. He outplayed Tavecchio this offseason. All feels right with special teams.

Drafted in the first round of the 2000 draft – yet another unconventional pick by the master, Al Davis – Janikowski has had quite a career. Long known for a strong leg and a stronger desire to have a good time, in recent years Janikowski has calmed down off the field. He became a father and dedicated himself more to conditioning.

It’s paid off. He’s 38 years old and looks in midseason form. He nailed all his FG attempts (including a 53 yarder down the middle) this preseason while showing decent touch on kickoffs.

Janikowski is back for what may be his last hurrah, and few players have suffered professionally like he has. When he arrived, the Raiders were a good team poised for a run of success. They dominated the AFC West for three years – until that one Super Bowl.

But from 2000, when he arrived, to 2002, things were good.

For the next 14 years, they were not, and the big man suffered as much as anyone. He was derided, ridiculed, his draft position became a punch line. But it was never fair to him.

Nobody on this roster deserves a return to Raider greatness more than Seabass.

He’s always been a true Raider – a big, strong kicker who speaks his mind, loves to party, and apologizes for nothing. If this is his swan-song, he has his best chance since the early days for it to be a successful one.