Tag: Thayer Munford

Something’s got to give: Raiders and Panthers biggest weaknesses face off

If there was ever a game the Raiders could get their run game going, it’s this one.

How the Raiders were able to win last week confounded quite a few NFL people. Mainly because the Raiders were expected to rely on their run game this season and that’s the one thing that’s been historically bad over the first two games.

That seems like a recipe for disaster. And yet they were able to shift gears in the second half last week and pull out a win.

Even as terrible as the Panthers have been through the air, they’ve been even worse on the ground. Leading to a situation where each team’s biggest weakness will face off against each other.

Raiders run game vs Panthers run defense

Or, in this case, the lack of both.

The Raiders have run for 98 yards this season. Not per game. Total. They average 2.5 yards per carry.

Meanwhile the Panthers run defense has surrendered 200 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry with three touchdowns. So, basically double what the Raiders have put up.

The problem is simple for each team, really. It’s the Raiders offensive line that’s been bad and the Panthers defensive line.

Run stops have been coming from across the line for the Raiders. No one is immune. While the Panthers’ defensive line hasn’t been stopping anything. Mainly because Derrick Brown is lost for the season.

So, either the Raiders are going to get their run game going in this game, or they never will.

Busters for Raiders Week 2 win vs Ravens

Those whose play required heroics to overcome.

There wouldn’t have been a need for heroics had the Raiders not put themselves in a hole in this game. And it was pretty obvious at times what the problem was.

Busters

LT Kolton Miller, LG Andrus Peat, RT Thayer Munford

Let’s be clear, no one on this offensive line was good. The run game was historically bad and that falls on everyone. But these three were SO bad, they get special mention.

Last week Kolton Miller had what seemed to me to be the worst game of his career. Well, that wasn’t a fluke. He had another brutal game in this one.

Miller gave up a sack on the very first play of the game. And it was a strip sack which he luckily fell on or the Raiders would have been looking at going down a score seconds into this one.

Getting the start next to him was Andrus Peat, taking the place of Cody Whitehair. Three plays in, he was shucked out of the way to give up a run stuff for a two-yard loss. The Raiders moved backward on two of their first three plays and punted it away.

Second drive, Miller didn’t block the end to give up a free sack on third down.

The second quarter, the Raiders finally got a first down. They even drove into scoring range. But it ended with Peat missing his block to give up a tackle for loss, leading to a 53-yard field goal.

They got into scoring range again later in the second quarter. But Munford was beat around the edge and since Peat was also beaten up the middle, Minshew had nowhere to go and was sacked, leading to a 51-yard field goal.

Peat was sent back to the bench for the second and Cody Whitehair took over.

Munford had a disastrous possession in the third quarter. Starting out by blocking no one to give up a run stuff. Then two plays later losing his block to give up another run stuff for no gain, following immediately be giving up a tackle for loss. They convert on third and long and ended up turning it over on downs.

The offense may have come up late in this one, but the run game never did. And Minshew still had to overcome poor pass blocking as well. Miller gave up another sack, as did Munford.

S Tre’von Moehrig, S Marcus Epps

Weird to think all the starting cornerbacks are Ballers and both starting safeties are Busters. Not sure I’ve seen that happen before.

The biggest play of the Ravens first drive of the game was a 19-yard catch given up by Epps on third and seven. And they got on the board with a field goal.

The next Ravens scoring drive started with Moehrig giving up a 17-yard catch. And the final scoring drive of the first half saw Moehrig give up an eight-yard catch that put them in scoring range at the 34.

They would go for a touchdown to open the third quarter and the big play was a 30-yard run by Derrick Henry on which Epps missed the tackle near the line. Two plays later, Moehrig gave up the touchdown catch from eight yards out.

To begin the fourth quarter, the Ravens would drive for another TD. They would drive into Vegas territory at the 48 and Epps would miss a tackle to give up a 15-yard run. Two plays later came the biggest play of the drive with Epps getting blocked to give up a 17-yard run and Moehrig tacking on a few more with a late hit out of bounds call. This put the Ravens in first and goal at the six-yard-line. They scored two plays later.

DE Charles Snowden

That first touchdown drive to start the third quarter saw Derrick Henry break off a 30-yard run. He got the edge to begin with because Snowden was blocked. Then Snowden tried to recover and chase Henry down only to embarrassed by a wicked stiff arm.

Their second touchdown drive, that 17-yard run mentioned a couple paragraphs back began with Snowden missing a tackle. He showed some pass rushing prowess in the preseason, but his tackling leaves much to be desired.

Also see the Ballers

Ballers for Raiders Week 1 loss to Chargers

Ballers for Raiders Week 1 loss to Chargers

Even in a tough loss like this, the plain truth is not everyone was bad. In fact, through three quarters, the Raiders had a lot going for them and it was still a two-point game. That doesn’t happen by accident.

So, before we get into how it all fell apart, let’s give credit to those who kept the Raiders in this game through three quarters.

Ballers

DE Maxx Crosby

While the Chargers are pumping their chests at how well their rookie tackle held up against Crosby, he still was a major factor in this game. The Chargers started the game with a three-and-out. And the final two plays featured a Maxx Crosby tackle for loss and a sack off a stunt. So much for Alt deleting Crosby.

He ended another drive in the second quarter with a QB hit on third down to send the two teams into the locker room with a 7-6 Raiders lead.

The Chargers went on a long drive early in the third quarter. but it also featured two Crosby run stuffs and ended with a Crosby pressure for an incompletion, so the Chargers settled for a field goal.

He finished with a sack, three QB hits, and five tackles, one for a loss.

LB Robert Spillane

Spillane led the team with ten combined tackles (seven solo). Two of those tackles ended drives. On one possession in the second quarter, he made the tackle on all three downs including a tackle for loss. He started out a three-and-out in the third quarter with a tackle as well.

CB Jakorian Bennett

He stayed in Quentin Johnston’s hip pocket up deep up the left sideline to knock the ball away and end the Chargers’ second possession with a three-and-out. He didn’t give up a catch all day after that either.

RB Alexander Mattison

After a couple of drives with Zamir White going nowhere, the Raiders put in Mattison. And he had the highlight reel play of the game for them. Mattison caught a pass in the right flat and looked to be stopped, but he evaded one tackler and hurdled Asante Samuel Jr without breaking stride and took it 31 yards to the house. He finished with nine touches for 62 yards and a TD.

DT Christian Wilkins

With the way the Chargers were able to break through on the ground in the second half, it may be hard to remember the Raiders had them hemmed up before that. Wilkins led the way in that department with three run stuffs. He finished second on the team with six combined tackles (five solo).

P AJ Cole

His first punt went 57 yards and was fair caught at the 13. His second punt went 52 yards and was also fair caught. His pooch punt in the fourth quarter was fair caught at the eight. He finished averaging 53 yards per punt with three stopped inside the 20 and one touchback.

T Thayer Munford

While Kolton Miller was having all kinds of issues on the left side, Munford held his own on the right side. Not giving up any sacks or run stuffs.

Honorable Mention

WR Davante Adams — Led the team with 59 yards on five catches. His two catches for 29 yards on the Raiders third drive both came on third down to set up the team’s only touchdown of the game.

CB Nate Hobbs — Chased down two long runs to keep it from being a touchdown. The first one ended in a field goal.

Continue to the Busters…

3 Key matchups for Raiders in season opener vs Chargers

Keep an eye on these matchups as they could be the key to who wins this game.

With most season openers, there’s a lot of mystery. Each season brings new breakout players and new challenges. While some players just remain a force to be reckoned with.

Both teams have players who fall into the category of dominance. And in some cases, those players will be going up against players who still have something to prove. Those matchups could be the deciding factor in Sunday’s season opener in Los Angeles between the Raiders and Chargers.

DE Maxx Crosby vs T Joe Alt

Alt is the Chargers’ top rookie this year. They selected him with the fifth overall pick in April’s draft. And right away he will have one of the toughest assignments in the NFL — containing Maxx Crosby.

The Raiders will need Crosby to win that battle, especially with Malcolm Koonce out with a knee injury. This defense lives and dies by its ability to get to the quarterback, so this matchup is a big one.

DT John Jenkins vs RB Gus Edwards/JK Dobbins

The Chargers figure to run the ball a lot under Greg Roman. They haven’t named a single starter at running back, so either it’s a mystery or a true dual role. In either case, the man who will played the most outsized role in trying to contain the run will be Jenkins.

Jenkins is the team’s nose tackle. Stopping the run is his primary job. Whether he makes the actual tackle on a given play is not the most important detail. His job will be to be in his gap and not get overpowered to either make the stop or force whoever is running the ball to re-direct somewhere else.

T Thayer Munford vs DE Khalil Mack

Munford will face the former Raiders All Pro edge rusher the majority of the time in his debut as Raiders starter. Mack absolutely demolished the Raiders in their first matchup last season. He lit up former RT Jermaine Eluemunor and got Kolton Miller a couple times as well to put up SIX (6) sacks against them.

Mack has had some of his best games against the team that drafted him and then opted to trade him rather than give him a new contract. He will be rearing to go for this one and facing a new starter in Munford who has a lot to prove to keep his job.

Other matchups to watch:

TE Brock Bowers vs S Derwin James

WR Davante Adams vs Asante Samuel Jr

Busters for Raiders Preseason Week 2 vs Cowboys

We continue to the Busters for Raiders Preseason Week 2 vs Cowboys

After the Raiders jumped out to a fast start in the preseason opener in Minnesota, that didn’t happen against the Cowboys in Week two. Not much was working on offense and even the Cowboys backups were getting the better of Raiders starters on both sides of the ball.

Busters

QB Gardner Minshew

Antonio Pierce was hoping either Minshew or Aidan O’Connell would step up and claim the starting job. Neither of them did that and from the looks of things, Pierce had to look past his performance in this game in order to name hm the starter.

O’Connell threw a pick six in this game, but Minshew was lucky not to do the same on the first drive of the game. Twice, in fact.

The first drive, he missed an open Tre Tucker, opting to throw into coverage, having the pass broken up and threw a ball too high for Jakobi Meyers to get. Then on fourth and three, the linebacker stepped in front of his pass and would have had a clear path for a touchdown, but he dropped it.

A 48-yard connection with Tucker would get the Raiders in field goal range on their next drive, but another overthrow for Meyers would have them settle for a field goal.

Next drive, he waited too long to throw it and again nearly had it intercepted. It was only Michael Mayer turning defender that that pass was knocked down instead of picked.

Minshew’s final drive ended with him throwing it too high for Harrison Bryant on fourth and six.

G Dylan Parham

Just after the Raiders got to the 12-yard line on the 48-yard completion to Tre Tucker, Parham gave up a run stuff at the line. In the second quarter, he was slow to get into position on a screen, causing the ball to fall incomplete. On the final play of the third quarter, he was flagged for holding. Two plays later, O’Connell threw his pick six.

T Andrus Peat

Two plays following the 48-yard bomb, Peat gave up a pressure resulting in an incompletion. The drive would end on the next play. The next drive Peat would miss his block on a screen and it was blown up for a one yard gain.

T Thayer Munford

Peat was replaced at left tackle in the second quarter with Munford moving from the right to the left side. And on his second play at LT, Munford gave up a pressure, causing Misnhew to have to scramble for yards.

The final drive of the second quarter ended with Munford giving up another pressure, leading to an incompletion. After the Raiders finally got in the end zone in the third quarter, the two-point conversion fail in large part due to Munford giving up pressure on Minshew as he went back to pass.

DT Byron Young

It looked like the Cowboys game plan at one point was just simply to run at Young. He was getting pushed around a lot. On one drive in the second quarter, it seemed like every play. He was driven back on a seven-yard run, then gave up the first down on the next play, gave up a five-yard run two plays later, then later, with the Cowboys in first and goal at the four, he gave up a three-yard run. They scored the go ahead TD on the next play.

QB Carter Bradley

Bradley came in to start the fourth quarter. He was actually allowed to throw the ball this time. And he looked good at first, going six-for-six to start his day. Then the wheels fell off. His next two passes were an overthrown ball and a pass batted at the line. With a delay of game penalty in between.

His second and final drive featured two more batted passes and a ball behind his receiver on third and short.

CB MJ Devonshire

The final long drive for the Cowboys saw Devonshire give up a 17-yard catch, a 30-yard catch, and the third down catch that put the Cowboys in first and goal at the four.

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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.

Raiders RT Thayer Munford injures left hand in practice

Raiders RT Thayer Munford injures left hand in practice

The first day in pads for the Raiders began with the usual first team offensive line of LT Kolton Miller, LG Cody Whitehair, C Andre James, RG Dylan Parham, and RT Thayer Munford. But midway through practice, Munford headed for the locker room and rookie DJ Glaze was lining up at right tackle with the first team.

The question then was just what the injury was and how serious. The team went a couple team sessions with Glaze in for Munford and then late in the day, Munford returned with a wrap on his left hand.

“I’ll be fine,” said Munford when asked about the injury. “Just got to get ready for tomorrow and what’s next.”

This is the first time since Munford was drafted that he comes into camp as the favorite for the starting right tackle job and clearly he doesn’t want that to change.If he were an established veteran, the team may have let the young fella get some reps, but Munford is just getting his shot. Letting the rookie get his first team reps risks opening the door for a more heated competition.

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.

Zamir White joins 7 other Raiders players to participate in ‘Battle for Vegas’ charity softball game

The full roster of Raiders playing in ‘Battle for Vegas’ charity softball game

Coming up on July 13th is the fifth annual Battle for Vegas charity softball game. This year it will feature seven Raiders players with punter AJ Cole as team captain.

Here is the full team Cole roster:

Raiders punter AJ Cole
Raiders RB Zamir White
Raiders K Daniel Carlson
Raiders RB Alexander Mattison
Raiders G Dylan Parham
Raiders S Tre’von Moehrig
Raiders CB Jakorian Bennett
Raiders T Thayer Munford Jr
Former Oakland A’s legend Jose Canseco
Former Oakland A’s legend Ozzie Canseco

This team will face off against Jack Eichel and current members of the Vegas Golden Knights including Zach Whitecloud, Keegan Kolesar, Nic Hague, Brendan Brisson along with former Golden Knights players Ryan Reaves and Logan Thompson. They are joined by Athletics alumnus Terrence Long and Ricky White.

The game will take place the Las Vegas Ballpark at Downtown Summerlin on Saturday, July 13 at 8 p.m.

Ticket prices start at $35 each with proceeds once again to be directed to the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation with beneficiary charities including Best Buddies Nevada and select other local charities.

Gates open at 6:00 p.m. The Home Run Derby, sponsored by the Athletics, begins at 7:00 p.m. with the ceremonial first pitch by Chance, mascot of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Stomper, mascot of the Athletics.

Raiders Top 25 players ranked

Ranking Raiders Top 25 players

It’s the heart of the big break before training camp. So, let’s do some rankings! In this case we rank the players on the roster and we count it down from 25-1. For these rankings we’re going to try to stick with what we know about the players so far and not go too much on projections, so these rankings should not considered in terms of where they might be after this season. That will be for next year’s rankings.