Tag: Raiders training camp battles

DJ Glaze steps up for Raiders as Thayer Munford now nursing injuries to both hands

DJ Glaze stepping up with Thayer Munford now nursing injuries to both hands

The hits just keep coming for Raiders tackle Thayer Munford. He came into this offseason with the right tackle job in hand. And as of today, having anything in hand would prove problematic for the third-year man.

Two weeks ago, on the first day in pads for the Raiders, he had seen almost all the snaps with the first team at right tackle. Then he left practice for a couple of team sessions, and rookie third round pick DJ Glaze stepped in for him.

Munford eventually came back out and resumed his work with the first team at right tackle. But he did so with his left hand wrapped up. He has been practicing with that wrapped up left hand since then, and even started the team’s preseason game last weekend.

But in the team’s evening practice tonight, it was like a deja vu for Munford. Only this time, it was the other hand.

Injuring one hand is not ideal. Injuring both is just plain unfortunate. Especially when you consider Munford had bided his time and finally was being given a real shot at the starting job.

Glaze played well enough when he stepped in for Munford two weeks ago that he earned more first team reps. He seems to be making the most of the increased opportunity to be the starting right tackle should Munford be hampered by his injured hands. And you’d have to think he would be.

It stands to reason we could get an even longer look at Glaze in the Raiders next preseason game on Saturday against the Cowboys.

Davante Adams: Raiders QB1 job is Aidan O’Connell’s to lose

Davante Adams: Raiders QB1 job is Aidan O’Connell’s to lose

There is a full on QB competition happening in Las Vegas. The battle is between second year man Aidan O’Connell and journeyman veteran Gardner Minshew. And from the vantage point of the team’s number one receiver, the job belongs to O’Connell’s to lose.

The All Pro receiver appeared on FS1 this week where he said his starting QB last year has the inside track on the job, at least for now.

Adams noted that he “doesn’t have a preference” as to who ultimately gets to nod to get him the ball, just that he wants that person to be “confident and ready to go.”

But he added that as he sits right now, that O’Connell has the job because “he was here before.” and that will remain “until Gardner comes in and takes the job away from him, I think it’s Aidan’s job right now.”

O’Connell has been running with the first team throughout the offseason with Minshew running with the second team. But come training camp, Minshew should be more acclimated to the offense and his new teammates which will be the true test as to whether O’Connell can continue to hold him off.

Raiders 2024 camp position battle: Return specialist

New special teams rules makes for a very interesting battle for Raiders return specialists.

Kick returns this season are going to be a whole new experience. One that may require a whole new breed of return specialists. Punt returns should stay relatively the same. But there could still be a battle for who gets that job this season.

The new kickoff rules are such that neither team moves until the ball lands. So, there will be no running start for the coverage team. That means the previous ideas of what a kick returner will look like have changed.

It becomes a new job with a new set of skills that should be more akin to that of a running back than a speedy wide receiver or cornerback as was previously most common. Though some receivers could also thrive in this role. There are a lot of unknowns and therefore a position truly up for grabs.

For that reason, I can’t do a simple player vs player here.

A topic of discussion when the team drafted Dylan Laube in the sixth round of April’s draft was that perhaps his skillset would translate perfectly to the new kick return duties. We shall see.

Second year receiver Tre Tucker would figure to be the favorite for the punt returner job. Others who fielded punts in minicamp included Tyreik McAllister, Ameer Abdullah, Tulu Griffin, DJ Turner, and Nate Hobbs.

My take:

I must say, I don’t have one. Mainly because I don’t think the Raiders have one just yet. The rule is so new that there is a lot still to figure out. Each team’s special teams coordinator will have their own ideas of how to best attack the new rule. Who they like handling those duties will change as their plans change.

In the meantime, special teams may actually be something worth watching in camp and preseason this year. The hope being that there are fewer touchbacks and therefore kick returns become a bigger part of the game than they were before.

Raiders 2024 camp position battle: Cornerback

One of the cornerback spots is wide open for the Raiders. Is the starter currently on the team?

Outside cornerback was a bit of a revolving door last season. The starters at the beginning of the season were rookie Jakorian Bennett on the left and veteran Marcus Peters on the right. And neither were starting by season’s end.

Four games in, Bennett was benched in favor of Amik Robertson. Then ten games in, Peters was benched for waiver pickup Jack Jones.

Jones played well enough to keep the starting job. Amik Robertson left in free agency, leaving the left side up for grabs this offseason.

As of right now there are two guys competing for the job.

Jakorian Bennett vs Brandon Facyson

The veteran Facyson might have been the starter coming into last season had he not been injured in camp, thus opening the door for Bennett. Now they battle for that spot once again.

The two rotated work with the first team defense during minicamp, with Bennett coming away with a couple interceptions. Bennett has speed to burn while the seventh-year veteran Facyson is more of a proven talent, though only once starting more than four games in a season.

My take:

This competition is far from settled. It could be one of these two or…someone else entirely.

I wouldn’t be surprised if by the time camp begins, there is another name who enters this competition. There are still a few good cornerback options unsigned who would either offer an immediate starter or heat up the competition at that spot. Stephon Gilmore, Adoree Jackson, and Ahkello Witherspoon top that list.

Raiders 2024 camp position battles: Right tackle

The Raiders have to unproven and versatile tackles set to battle for the starting right tackle job this summer.

Ah, right tackle. That position at which the Raiders always seem to be searching for a definitive answer. An annual effort that always seems to fail.

Many thought the new regime would make the right tackle position either their top priority or close to it this offseason. Whether that be in free agency or the draft. That didn’t really happen.

Their top free agent addition came on the defensive line and the top draft picks came at tight end and guard. Leaving right tackle one again a position at which there will be a competition.

Thayer Munford vs DJ Glaze

Munford is a former seventh round pick who has hung around as the team has hoped he would develop into a starter for them. Entering his third season, he appears to have his best shot.

He started nine games last season — five at right tackle and four at left tackle. Appearing to play his best football on the left side, which is why his OL coach recently said Munford is most comfortable on the left side. But that doesn’t mean that’s where he will play. Because it’s more important that they field the two best tackles, and the starting left tackle job belongs to Kolton Miller.

Entering the competition is rookie third round pick DJ Glaze. Glaze played both left and right tackle equally at Maryland, but his immediate job with the Raiders is to compete for the right tackle spot.

Both Munford and Glaze have position versatility, so whoever doesn’t win the right tackle job, can be the team’s reserve swing tackle.

My take:

As of now it’s Munford’s job to lose. And I don’t foresee him losing it before the start of the season. That doesn’t mean he is the long term answer. It means I expect the team to give him at least part of this season to find out if he *can* be the long term answer. If not, then Glaze will get his shot.

Raiders 2024 camp position battle: Tight end

Two high picks the past two seasons at tight end makes for a heated competition heading into camp for Raiders.

A year ago the Raiders were heading into camp with one of the top tight end prospects in the draft. They had traded up in the second round to select former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer at 35 overall.

Many people thought Mayer was the best tight end in that draft and thus were shocked when he fell into the second round. The Raiders included it would seem. So, they made sure they got him before anyone else could.

Then in last April’s draft they went and shocked the world at 13 overall. Thus setting up quite the camp position battle.

Michael Mayer vs Brock Bowers

Moments after Bowers was selected, people began imagining how he and Mayer would co-exist. Discussions of two tight end sets became commonplace. But there is still only one ball on the field. And there’s the likes of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers to think about as well.

Bowers dominated the SEC the past three years, most expect he will be an immediate star. But you might recall that Mayer also carried some high expectations as an immediate starter and difference-maker and he didn’t exactly cement himself as a surefire star at the tight end spot.

Even if Bowers is a star in the making, there’s no guarantee he will come flaming out the gates. Meanwhile Mayer is hoping to take the second-year leap.

My take:

It’s one thing to trade up in the second round for a guy. It’s entirely another to take a player at 13 overall with glaring needs at other critical positions. It’s also worth noting that Mayer was selected by the previous GM and head coach. So, there’s some pressure to prove Bowers was the right pick. Along with, you assume, is specific plans for him. So, while Mayer will see plenty of snaps, Bowers will be given every opportunity to shine right away.