Plugging a third-string right tackle in at left tackle seems like a recipe for disaster. That what the Raiders had to do on Sunday due to the losses of starting tackles Kolton Miller and Trent Brown, leading to Brandon Parker starting at left tackle. And shockingly, it worked out ok.
Let me explain why this is such a shocking development.
Under ideal circumstances, Parker wouldn’t even be active on game day. That’s not to try and trash him, it’s simply the truth. That’s where he was for the season opener when all the tackles were healthy.
Miller and Brown are supposed to be the starters with veteran Sam Young as the swing tackle. In the opener, that lasted literally three snaps. That’s when Trent Brown went out with a calf injury and Young came in at right tackle. And that lasted another 11 snaps before he too left with an injury. But with Parker inactive, the team turned to reserve guard Denzelle Good at right tackle.
Even without Brown and Young in weeks two and three, the team still went with Good over Parker. Once Young returned, he stepped in at right tackle and it was only injuries to him that led to Parker stepping in.
Just last week in Cleveland, when Trent Brown looked like he would be returning to the lineup, Jon Gruden was open about how Parker didn’t expect to be active for the game. Then Brown had an IV accident, Young got injured in the game again, and Parker came in at right tackle.
Now a week later, the guy who has been their last resort at right tackle started at left tackle. Not only did he start at left tackle, he played every snap. And he didn’t give up a sack. Meanwhile Sam Young gave up two sacks at right tackle. That earned Brandon Parker one of two game balls from Jon Gruden as the Raiders pulled out a 31-26 win over the Chargers.
Other notable snap counts include WR Bryan Edwards seeing just one snap in his return from injured reserve. Veteran Nelson Agholor earned the right to remain the starter and he caught a long touchdown in the game.
| Offense | Number | Spec Tms | |||
| Player | Pos | Num | Pct | Num | Pct |
| Brandon Parker | T | 50 | 100% | 5 | 17% |
| Gabe Jackson | G | 50 | 100% | 5 | 17% |
| Denzelle Good | G | 50 | 100% | 5 | 17% |
| Sam Young | T | 50 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Derek Carr | QB | 50 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Rodney Hudson | C | 50 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Darren Waller | TE | 44 | 88% | 0 | 0% |
| Nelson Agholor | WR | 42 | 84% | 0 | 0% |
| Henry Ruggs III | WR | 39 | 78% | 0 | 0% |
| Hunter Renfrow | WR | 29 | 58% | 3 | 10% |
| Josh Jacobs | RB | 28 | 56% | 0 | 0% |
| Jason Witten | TE | 21 | 42% | 0 | 0% |
| Foster Moreau | TE | 13 | 26% | 18 | 62% |
| Devontae Booker | RB | 13 | 26% | 9 | 31% |
| Jalen Richard | RB | 9 | 18% | 7 | 24% |
| Alec Ingold | FB | 6 | 12% | 7 | 24% |
| Zay Jones | WR | 5 | 10% | 0 | 0% |
| Bryan Edwards | WR | 1 | 2% | 0 | 0% |
| Defense | Spec Tms | ||||
| Player | Pos | Num | Pct | Num | Pct |
| Nevin Lawson | CB | 79 | 100% | 12 | 41% |
| Johnathan Abram | SS | 79 | 100% | 9 | 31% |
| Cory Littleton | LB | 78 | 99% | 8 | 28% |
| Lamarcus Joyner | CB | 70 | 89% | 0 | 0% |
| Maxx Crosby | DE | 69 | 87% | 5 | 17% |
| Erik Harris | FS | 67 | 85% | 20 | 69% |
| Nick Kwiatkoski | LB | 62 | 78% | 12 | 41% |
| Maliek Collins | DT | 58 | 73% | 5 | 17% |
| Clelin Ferrell | DE | 57 | 72% | 0 | 0% |
| Isaiah Johnson | CB | 50 | 63% | 8 | 28% |
| Johnathan Hankins | DT | 44 | 56% | 5 | 17% |
| Carl Nassib | DE | 37 | 47% | 5 | 17% |
| Trayvon Mullen | CB | 27 | 34% | 1 | 3% |
| Nicholas Morrow | LB | 26 | 33% | 16 | 55% |
| Kendal Vickers | DT | 21 | 27% | 0 | 0% |
| Daniel Ross | DT | 18 | 23% | 0 | 0% |
| Jeff Heath | SS | 11 | 14% | 22 | 76% |
| Chris Smith | DE | 7 | 9% | 0 | 0% |
| Amik Robertson | CB | 6 | 8% | 2 | 7% |
| Kyle Wilber | LB | 1 | 1% | 24 | 83% |
| Keisean Nixon | CB | 1 | 1% | 21 | 72% |
| Raekwon McMillan | LB | 1 | 1% | 17 | 59% |
| Special Teams | |||||
| Player | Pos | Num | Pct | ||
| Derek Carrier | TE | 24 | 83% | ||
| Daniel Carlson | K | 11 | 38% | ||
| Trent Sieg | LS | 9 | 31% | ||
| A.J. Cole | P | 9 | 31% | ||
| Patrick Omameh | G | 5 | 17% | ||
| Andre James | C | 5 | 17% | ||
| Jaryd Jones-Smith | T | 5 | 17% |
[lawrence-newsletter]