Tag: Kolton Miller

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at offensive tackle

What the Raiders offensive tackle position looks like, who is headed for free agency, and whether an influx is talent is needed.

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ offensive tackle position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Kolton Miller, DJ Glaze

Backups: Thayer Munford, Dalton Wagner, Gottlieb Ayedze

Free agents: Andrus Peat

Miller had a down season overall. Though there’s plenty to suggest that had a lot to do with the poor coaching and scheme change. Glaze was the team’s third round rookie. He took over for the injured Thayer Munford early in the season and played well enough to keep the job even after Munford was healthy.

Condition: Stable

The team may have a find in Glaze. I would expect they at very least give him the opportunity to prove it. Miller has proven in previous seasons that last year’s performance may be the outlier and figures to bounce back. That isn’t to say they will ignore this position entirely. After all, depth and competition are important. But they don’t have to make it a high priority, especially with several other positions in much more need of attention.

Raiders 2024 season Busters

Rounding up all the performances that most contributed to the Raiders struggles in 2024.

We’ve detailed the Raiders 2024 season Ballers. Now we move on to the second part…

Busters

HC Antonio Pierce, OC Luke Getsy

This team was doomed from the start. The team had little of the mojo it had over the latter half of last season. And having one of the worst offenses in the league was not helping.

Pierce was out of his depth in terms of game management and while he preached not getting too high or low, no one rode the emotional roller coaster more than he did.

Getsy simply walked in a ruined any chance the Oline had of succeeding by changing up their blocking scheme. The result was disastrous.

In the the nine games with Getsy still in place, either he or Pierce (or both) were a Buster six times. And three times a Top Buster.

QB Gardner Minshew

For all the talk about how the Raiders should have gone with Aidan O’Connell from the start, Minshew did actually look better in training camp. Even though it was clearly a lesser of the evils situation. Then Minshew went out and looked downright terrible. He had one good game — that miracle win in Baltimore. Outside of that, he was a Buster six times, and twice a Top Buster.

CB DeCamerion Richardson

He was thrust into a starting role when he was not ready for it. Jakorian Bennett was lost for the season and the rookie Richardson was the Raiders best option. He routinely got torched by opposing receivers and was named a Buster four times over the final eight games, including twice a Top Buster.

S Isaiah Pola-Mao

Pola-Mao also stepped in as an injury replacement. And overall, he showed enough that he could get a shot. That game he had with two forced fumbles spoke well of him. But he has some work still to do, including his penchant for not keeping his head up when he tackles. He was a Top Buster three times down the stretch.

LT Kolton Miller, RT DJ Glaze

This was tough. Because the blocking scheme put Miller in a tough spot early in the season and Glaze is a rookie. The result was Miller giving up seven sacks along with seven penalties, while Glaze gave up three sacks with eight penalties.

The two of them could be the Raiders starting tackles for years to come, so it’s important not to take this as a judgment of their talents. Glaze showed a lot of signs he will be a talented tackle in this league and Miller just had a down year, from which I expect he will bounce back.

RB Zamir White

White came on strong late last season when he had a fresh body and the rest of the NFL did not. I was still skeptical he could sustain it because I hadn’t seen anything special about his running abilities. And this year he was an utter liability. He was a Buster three times in eight games and every other back the Raiders played looked like an upgrade.

See the Ballers

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 loss to Chargers

Breaking down the best and worst individual performances in the Raiders season-ending loss to the Chargers.

The 2024 NFL season came to a close for the Raiders on Sunday. Not for the Chargers, however, they had already punched their ticket for the playoffs. But they were playing for better seeding and the game played out very much like these two teams had very different fates.

Ballers

WR Jakobi Meyers

This game saw Meyers have his second career 100-yard game and, in turn, his first career 1000-yard season.

The Raiders had three scoring drives in the game. The first gave them a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. That drive saw Meyers catch three passes for 35 yards.

The second scoring drive he had a 22-yard catch and then the touchdown from 26 yards out. He had a 24-yard catch in the fourth quarter that put him over 1000 yards on the season and put the Raiders in field goal range, but they needed a touchdown and the drive ended with a turnover on downs.

DT Jonah Laulu, DT Zach Carter

The Chargers’ first drive ended in a three-and-out with Laulu making the run stuff for no gain on third and one. A couple drives later, Laulu got pressure up the middle to force an incompletion and the Chargers settled for a field goal to tie it up at 3-3.

Late in the second quarter, Carter got in the passing lane to bat a pass down on a drive that went for a field goal. He would then end the first drive of the third quarter with consecutive run stuffs for no gain from the one yard line. Laulu had a couple run stuffs early in the drive, including a tackle for loss.

Each of them would have run stops in goal to go on the Chargers’ final scoring drive, though the Chargers would eventually get in on third and goal from the two to put the game away.

LT Kolton Miller

The one sack that came from his man was not his fault. Aidan O’Connell was attempting to escape pressure up the middle and ran into the sack. Miller had a flawless game in protection.

Continue to the Busters…

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 17 win over Saints

Who stood out among the individual performances in the Raiders win in New Orleans?

It’s too little, way too late, but the Raiders had their best overall game of the season on Sunday in New Orleans.

After falling behind 7-3 early in the second quarter, they came back to take a 13-10 lead before the half and never looked back. The offense added 12 points in the second half while holding the Saints scoreless for the 25-10 win.

Ballers

QB Aidan O’Connell

O’Connell passes were the catalyst for both the Raiders’ touchdown drives. The first pass was a gorgeous, perfect throw to Jacobi Meyers, who made an over-the-shoulder grab for 29 yards to put the Raiders in scoring range. He connected with Brock Bowers for 17 yards on the next play. Then after a run to mix it up, the found Meyers again for the touchdown from three yards out.

The other touchdown drive, O’Connell found Bowers again on third down for 13 yards. A few plays later, on third and six, he bought some time, and while falling away, launched a pass, finding Tre Tucker in the back corner of the end zone for the clincher.

He also had a deep completion to Terrace Marshall on the Raiders’ second scoring drive, and a tight window completion to Meyers on the first scoring drive of the second half.

LB Robert Spillane

Spillane terrorized the Saints in the third quarter. The first possession he had a run stuff and a pressure on third down to force an incompletion. Next drive he ended by nearly intercepting a pass that may have been a house call. He was frustrated he didn’t get the pick, so he took it out on Spencer Rattler by breaking up another pass and then sacking Rattler to end the next possession.

He led the team with eight tackles (four solo), with two for a loss, a sack, and two pass breakups.

RB Ameer Abdullah

Abdullah had his first career 100-yard rushing game. He finished with 115 yards on the ground and added three catches for 32 yards for a total of 147 yards from scrimmage.

He was the main factor in the first drive, rushing seven times for 41 yards and catching a 12-yard pass that looked for a moment like it might be a touchdown, but was ruled just short of the end zone. Unfortunately the Raiders couldn’t get that extra few inches and settled for a field goal. But the run was established.

Abdullah added an 11-yard run on the next scoring drive that put the Raiders in field goal range. Then his 13-yard run set up the Raiders with first and goal at the three and they retook the lead before the half.

He would get over the 100-yard hump late in the third quarter on an eight-yard run that led out a field goal drive that gave their their first two-score lead.

TE Brock Bowers

Not only did he lead the Raiders in receiving with seven catches for 77 yards, he set three huge records along the way.

Late in the second quarter, he made a 13-yard catch that broke Mike Ditka’s rookie tight end receiving yards record that had stood for 63 years. He added a 17-yard catch a few plays later and the Raiders went on to get their first touchdown of the day to take a 13-7 lead.

Late in the third quarter, he caught two passes for 26 yards and broke the rookie receptions record which was set last year by Puka Nacua. Of course, Nacua set it in 17 games and Bowers just broke it in 16. But who’s counting. The Raiders went on to add another field goal to take a two-score lead at 19-10.

On the next drive, Bowers would catch a 13-yard pass on third and five and break the Raiders franchise single-season receptions record. Three plays later, the Raiders scored the touchdown to put the game out of reach.

CB Jack Jones

Jones led the team with three pass breakups. He also had a diving interception off a deflection and the Raiders scored the game-clinching touchdown on the ensuing drive.. Then he nearly had a second interception to end any chance the Saints might try and come back.

WR Jakobi Meyers

The first touchdown drive saw Meyers get behind his defender and Aidan O’Connell drop on in his bread basket for a 29-yard completion. Meyers tracked the ball over his shoulder to make a nice grab. Three plays later, he went on a quick out from three yards out and caught the touchdown.

Meyers also had a tight window 19-yard grab on the Raiders scoring drive to lead out the third quarter.

DT Adam Butler. DE Tyree Wilson

Butler’s run stuff for no gain ended the Saints first possession. And he made the stop to end their first drive of the second quarter.

At the end of the second quarter, the Saints drive into scoring range. It stalled with Wilson getting a QB hit and then a pressure to force an incompletion.

Late in the fourth quarter, on the Saints last gasp, Butler led a three-and-out with a tackle on a short catch and Wilson teamed up for the sack to clinch the win.

LT Kolton Miller

Not only did he give O’Connell plenty of time to throw, but he was also several times opening holes and getting the second level to help Abdullah have his career day on the ground. Best game of the season for Miller.

K Daniel Carlson

Carlson scored 13 of the Raiders 25 points in the game. He was four for four on field goals including a 54-yarder in the third quarter that put the Raiders up 16-10.

Busters

None

While there were mistakes made, none were glaring and no one had a particularly bad day. Any Busters from this one would be reaching.

Busters for Raiders Week 16 win vs Jaguars

When you have to come from behind to just barely beat the worst team in football, there were mistakes made.

Beating the Jaguars is a W just like any other. But the Jags may just be the worst team in football. And Mac Jones is not a starting QB. Hell, he may not be an NFL QB. And yet the Raiders still just managed a come-from-behind win while failing to hit 20 points.

Busters

LT Kolton Miller

The second Raiders possession lasted just four plays. On third-and-14 Miller didn’t switch on the stunt to give up the sack.

In the second quarter, the Raiders moved into scoring range at the 24, at which point Miller gave up a tackle for loss. Two plays later, they settled for a field goal. The next drive, they were in third-and-six and Miller was flagged for a false start. They would end up punting.

A holding penalty on Miller would kill a drive in the third quarter.

RG Dylan Parham

The Raiders got a big play on their first play of the day with the 32-yard catch and run by Brock Bowers. But the drive would back up from there. First with Parham flagged for holding. Then with him giving up a six-yard sack on the next play. They didn’t even try to pick up the third-and-26, choosing to run for a few yards and then punt.

Early in the second quarter, the Raiders got their first touchdown. Alexander Mattison ran it in from one yard out. But it was harder than it had to be because Parham was slow on the pull block and ended up just getting in Mattison’s way. First with him running into Parham’s back, and then trying not to trip over him rolling on the turf in front of him.

In the third quarter, he gave up a batted ball at the line on third down to force a punt.

He gets credit for laying the key block on the Raiders’ second TD run, but on the two-point conversion attempt, he gave up the pressure causing Aidan O’Connell to have to throw the ball away.

He would give up a tackle for loss on a drive in the fourth quarter to lead out the final series with a punt.

CB Jack Jones

Twice in this game, the Jaguars had the lead. Both times it was on a catch given up by Jones. The first touchdown drive, Jones gave up 16-yard catch on third and nine to keep the drive alive and set them up at the 12-yard-line. They would get the touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.

Late in the third quarter, with the Raiders clinging to a 13-7 lead, Jaguars rookie phenom receiver Brian Thomas got wide open on the left side. He got so wide open because Jack Jones blew the coverage, staying with the short receiver despite Tre’von Moehrig already there. Thomas went 62 yards and literally walked in for the score to give the Jags as 14-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

He also gave up a 20-yard catch on the Jaguars final drive which was their final first down of the game.

See the Ballers

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated Week 16 vs. Jaguars

The Raiders finally won a game after 10 straight defeats. Which players looked best on film according to Pro Football Focus?

Winning football games is fun, but the cherry on top is watching the tape and reliving your team’s best moments on the way to victory.

After 10 straight weeks of reviewing a loss, the Raiders can enjoy a winning effort after defeating the Jaguars on Sunday. Their top performer according to Pro Football Focus was tight end Brock Bowers. He earned a solid 81.5 score as he amassed 11 receptions and 99 receiving yards; Bowers surpassed 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards on the season.

Two other members of the Raiders offense join Bowers on PFF’s grading list. Offensive tackles Kolton Miller and DJ Glaze each made the cut. Miller is a veteran in his prime and Glaze is a rookie, and that’s a great sign for general manager Tom Telesco. The Raiders roster has issues, but at least his offensive tackle situation seems handled. Not every team can say as much.

The Raider’s starting linebackers continue to shine, as Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo also graded highly. Telesco will have to decide whether to sign these players to long-term contracts this offseason. They’ve provided solid defense in the middle of the field, which has long been an area of concern for the Raiders.

But those are decisions for another day. For now, these players can finally enjoy a winning effort after months of reliving one agonizing defeat after another as they study the tape.

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated Week 15 vs. Falcons

The Raiders almost earned a miracle win on Monday Night Football against the Falcons but came up short. Which players graded the highest?

The Raiders’ losing streak hit double digits after they fell to the Falcons on Monday night, and Las Vegas’ last NFL win is a distant memory.

Despite looking awful for most of the game, the Raiders had a chance at victory on the game’s last play. But quarterback Desmond Ridder, starting in place of an injured Aidan O’Connell, missed the mark on a desperate hail mary pass as time expired.

Still, some players will be happier than others when they watch the game film with teammates and coaches. Linebacker Robert Spillane earned the highest grade on the team this week from Pro Football Focus, earning a solid 86.9 score.

Two other defenders join Spillane as high-scorers this week. Safety Tre’von Moehrig continued his strong season with another standout performance. Combined with Spillane’s fellow linebacker Divine Deablo, these three give Las Vegas hope for a strong middle section of the defense in 2025.

Two offensive linemen complete the list. Offensive tackle Kolton Miller earned the No. 2 spot with an 82.6 score. Guard Jordan Meredith took the No. 5 position with a 72.2 grade. Miller is a veteran while Meredith is a young player and took over as starter midseason. They figure to play a large role next season and performed well according to PFF, but each player committed multiple penalties against the Falcons, including a false start on Miller on the game’s first snap.

Everyone on the roster has to be better, however. Coaches have to perform better as well. If they can, perhaps they’ll earn a win over the season’s final weeks, potentially saving coach Antonio Pierce’s job in the process.

Busters for Raiders Week 13 heartbreaker vs Chiefs

How it started out poorly and then went wrong in the end for the Raiders in their week 13 matchup with the Chiefs.

A valiant effort by the Raiders, but alas they were unable to come away from Arrowhead with a W. This is where I am looking for why that may be.

Busters

S Isaiah Pola-Mao, CB DeCamerion Richardson, CB Jack Jones

Let’s talk about how the Raiders found themselves in a 16-3 hole in the first place.

The second play of the game, Richardson gave up a 14-yard catch. Later Jones was flagged for pass interference to put the Chiefs in field goal range.

The next drive me gave up a catch and missed the tackle for a ten-yard gain. And. few plays later, Pola-Mao gave up the longest catch to that point of 24 yards to put the Chiefs in field goal range.

The first Chiefs’ touchdown, Pola-Mao was out of position to give up a wide open 27-yard catch to the tight end — a new long for the game. That catch put them in scoring range in one play. But it was Jones who would give up the touchdown catch from six yards out.

And on the next drive, Jones it on the double move and Pola-Mao was late getting over to give up *another* 24-yard catch to midfield.

The first drive of the third quarter, Richardson gave up an 11-yard catch to make for an easier field goal to make it a 13-3 Chiefs lead. And then on the next drive, in third and ten, he allowed a 30-yard catch to put them in field goal range again. And there you have that 16-3 lead.

After the Raiders scored two quick touchdowns to take the lead, the Chiefs drove right down to take a back. They did so in part because Jones gave up a a 15-yard catch on second and 20 and on third and five Pola-Mao was late helping again to give up a 19-yard catch to put the Chiefs in first and goal.

LT Kolton Miller, RT DJ Glaze

There were several opportunities for the Raiders to close that 16-3 well before they actually did it. In the second quarter a drive began with a two runs for 28 yards. But it ended three plays later with Glaze giving up a sack.

The first drive of the third quarter began with a 12-yard run and a 25-yard catch and run to put the Raiders in field goal range. But when they went for it on 4th and one, Miller gave up the run stuff for no gain for the turnover on downs.

The next drive, the Raiders got as far as the KC 22-yard line off a crazy Brock Bowers one-handed grab. Then Miller gave up the sack for a 15-yard loss and Daniel Carlson missed the 55-yard field goal attempt wide left.

Miller was called for holding on the next Raiders drive which threatened to spoil a 69-yard return. But this time a long TD pass from O’Connell to Bowers dug them out of it.

After the Chiefs re-took the lead in the fourth quarter, the Raiders picked up a first down, but got no further when Glaze gave up pressure on third and nine, leading to an incompletion and a punt.

HC Antonio Pierce

Aidan O’Connell took the blame for the errant snap on the final play. And, yeah, it was his fault. He was clapping to hurry things up and right guard Dylan Parham took that to mean he wanted the ball snapped, so he tapped Jackson Powers-Johnson’s leg to get him to snap it. But here’s my bigger issue — they never should’ve been in that situation in the first place.

There was too much to lose and not enough to gain from calling that play. He shouldn’t have been in shotgun. He probably shouldn’t have been running a play at all. They were in field goal range with 11 seconds left. That should be the game winner. And instead the team was a panicky, discombobulated mess.

Even if there hadn’t been a botched snap, there would’ve been an illegal shift penalty that wiped out whatever they did and backed them up because they weren’t set when the ball was snapped. They simply have to be more poised in crucial moments like that. Or they shouldn’t be put in that position in a hostile environment like that.

We should be talking about *another* huge come-from-behind, improbable victory in KC. But instead we’re talking about a massive missed opportunity.

See the Ballers.

Busters for Raiders Week 12 loss to Broncos

Those whose performances were most responsible for the Raiders failing to pull out the win over the Broncos.

We move on to the performances that most led to the Raiders losing to the Broncos on Sunday.

Busters

CB DeCamerion Richardson

It seemed whenever the Broncos needed a big play, they looked to whoever Richardson was guarding. Their second score of the game was set up when Richardson gave up a 24-yard catch. Their third score was thanks for Richardson not playing the ball and being called for a pass interference.

The fourth quarter was led out by another Broncos field goal that was made possible when Richardson gave up an 18-yard catch on third and ten. The next drive, Richardson gave up the touchdown catch to make it a 26-16 game. The Raiders couldn’t catch up after that.

QB Gardner Minshew

Minshew had some nice throws in this game. But in the end, the bad plays far outweighed the good.

He fumbled the first snap of the game, with was not a good sign. That first drive would end with him throwing off target for Brock Bowers on third and three. That was followed by a three-and-out on their second possession.

Three straight scoring drives in the second quarter made things very interesting. And had it continued, Minshew would surely have been a Baller for this one. But as often happens, come the third, the good feeling disipated.

Four possessions in the third for the Raiders went like this — three-and-out with a batted pass at the line on third down, Minshew running into a sack and then getting picked off leading to a Broncos TD, a five-play possession ending with Minshew throwing incomplete for a well covered Brock Bowers, and a three-and-out ending on a low pass into the turf.

It was a six-point Bronocs lead by the time the Raiders got the ball in the fourth quarter. They would score two more times, but couldn’t get more than a field goal, which wasn’t enough. Then Minshew was tackled on a roll out, breaking his collarbone and was lost for the season. Just to be clear, I am not blaming him for breaking his collarbone. Just detailing that it happened.

LT Kolton Miller, RT DJ Glaze

A holding penalty on Glaze stalled the Raiders second scoring drive after driving to the 11-yard line.

The Raiders still carried a 13-9 lead into the third quarter. But on their second possession, both Miller and Glaze gave up pressure from each side that caused Minshew’s pass to sail and get intercepted. The Broncos got the ball at the Vegas 18-yard line and scored the TD two plays later to take a 16-13 lead.

Late in the game, with it still a one-score game at 26-19, the Raiders got the ball. Minshew was knocked out of the game and two plays after Desmond Ridder came in, Miller gave up a strip sack, the Broncos recovered, and added a field goal to put the game away.

See the Ballers

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 11 loss to Dolphins

Singling out the individual performances for the Raiders week 11 vs the Dolphins.

Despite the lopsided score, things weren’t all bad on Sunday for the Raiders. And when you’re in the midst of a six-game losing streak, it’s important to try and find the little positives to suggest things won’t always be this way.

So, as always, let’s start there.

Ballers

TE Brock Bowers

Bowers set single game records for catches by a rookie tight end (13) in a game while going over 100 yards (126) for the first time in his young career. He just seems to get better and better all the time. Which is saying a lot considering he was already on pace for some record numbers on the season.

His first catch of this game went for 14 yards to put the Raiders in first and goal at the ten and they added a field goal on their opening drive. The second scoring drive, he had three catches for 38 yards, including an 11-yard catch on third and ten to the 18 and they added another field goal to make it a 10-6 game at the half.

In the third quarter, with the Raiders in third and nine from the Miami 23, he went in motion, Gardner Minshew saw single coverage, threw it to him in the flat, and Bowers did the rest. He shot out of a cannon for the end zone, breaking a tackle and scoring to make it a five-point game at 17-12.

After falling behind 24-12 in the fourth quarter, Bowers went to work again, making three first down catches, including a third down conversion, fourth down conversion and the final catch that put them in first and goal at the ten. Three plays later, they were in the end zone to bring it back to a one score game at 24-19. Things got out of hand after that.

LT Kolton Miller

His primary job is protecting Gardner Minshew’s blindside and he did that flawlessly in this game. No pressures or penalties on his part and I saw no instances where his man made a run stop either. Just a nice clean game for Miller which he needed in a rough season.

DT Adam Butler, DT John Jenkins

Jenkins had two run stuffs on the Dolphins’ first drive; one for a loss and the other on first and goal from the five, forcing them to have to end up going for it on fourth and goal to get the touchdown.

The first actual stop by the Raiders defense was made by Butler. The Dolphins drove to first and goal. On the Dolphins’ second drive, they were once again in first and goal. Butler got containment and Jenkins made the stop for one yard. Two plays later, Butler made the sack on third down to force the Dolphins to settle for a field goal.

The next full drive, the Dolphins were in first and goal yet again and Jenkins beat his man at the line to draw a holding penalty.

Butler would add two more tackles for loss in the game in the fourth quarter. He finished with five combined tackles, two for a loss, a sack, and a QB hit. Jenkins had four combined tackles, two for a loss.

DE Charles Snowden

Snowden got into the backfield to make a tackle for loss on the second play of the game. It was a preview of the kind of day he was going to have.

The next full drive came in the third quarter, and he forced an incompletion in coverage and on another play got pressure that led to a tackle for loss. He added a pass breakup later.

Honorable Mention

LB Robert Spillane — Led the team with 11 tackles, four of which were on runs of three yards or less.

WR Jakobi Meyers — Had key third down plays on each of the Raiders first two scoring drives. His 20 yards on one run led the Raiders in rushing.

Continue to the Busters…