(08-05-2022, 09:15 AM)Bullseye Wrote: For the first time in a long time, I'd say we had a pretty favorable offseason.  Last year's excitement over getting Trevor Lawrence was more than offset by the horror that was Urban Blight.  

Anyway, here are my thoughts on the game.

1.  Great to see Boselli walk across the field as a member of the 2022 Hall of Fame class.  He looked pretty happy walking across the field.  Congrats again, Boselli.

2.  It was NOT great to see the first series pn both sides of the ball.  The defense allowed the big pass play on the first play, and got gashed in the running game.  They did hold them to a FG, which I suppose was good, but generally it was not a good showing.  I was disappointed with Devon Hamilton on on a big run.  The sieve like run defense continued on the second drive.  Offensively, we went three and out.  If you don't understand preseason football or were just looking for many positive signs, you left those first two series disappointed.

3.  Glad to hear Tyson Campbell is okay.  Also good to see Andre Cisco starting at S. Eventually we may be pretty good on the back half of the defense.

4.   What was NOT good to see was two former Jaguars WRs-Keelan Cole and Tyron Johnson-showing more burst and big play ability than our current group.

5.  Conner had some tough runs, but did not have a lot of room.  I will say the RBs seemed to be utilized in the passing game more than in the past.  It was tough sledding running the ball last night mainly because we got whipped at the line of scrimmage. The O-line is going to be a work in progress to begin the season. Well, until they can work as a unit.

7.  Rookie watch:

     A.  Travon Walker:  Admittedly, I was less than enthusiastic about the Walker pick.  Since then, I've heard some good things about the pick, but I largely dismissed the reports as being premature minicamp optimism.  But if last night is any indication, we seemed to have gotten the gamble on potential over production right.  The very first play, Walker got a good pressure on the QB, although he got a roughing the passer penalty.  This is the pre-pre season refs are going to be paranoid about protecting the QB's. If his arm was 6 inches lower no flag. It was a fluke the pass was even completed as it fluttered out of Stidham's hand because he was hit as he threw. Can anyone tell me what exactly he did on that play?!?  The hit didn't seem to be late.  I couldn't tell if he made contact with Stidham's helmet.  His hands were around Stidham's shoulder pads, but it didn't appear to be a horse collar.  The ref did not elaborate on what exactly Walker did.  In any event, he affected the QB on that play and got a sack in the next series.  He appeared to show a strong punch to the tackle's chect and disengaged well to get the QB as he stepped up.  Was last night enough to show Walker is ready for a future Canton enshrinement?  No, but it's an encouraging start. Agreed, a good first step. After the sack he got a lot of o-line attention.  This will be much harder to do with Josh on the other side during the season.

     C.  Luke Fortner-I did not watch him closely.  There weren't any errant snaps, nor did I see any penalties called against him.  On the other hand, there didn't seem to be much room inside running the ball. Luke appeared to play well the times I watched him. We will be ok there with the rest of the starters in.

     D.  Chad Muma-With Devin Lloyd and Oluakon out for the game, Muma got a lot of my focus in this game.  Though the raiders ran a few successful screens, I maintain that the breaches in the defense were NOT his fault.  He seemed to diagnose the screen passes early on.  One pne play, while he did not make the tackle, he slowed the RB down so he could be tackled after a minimal gain.  On another screen. again he diagnosed the play quickly and was in position to make a stop immediately, but he got blocked.  On yet anothe one, his assignment seemed to take him away from the direction of the screen.  In the running game, he showed the ability t reach the sideline in pursuit on a run to the right.  However, I did not notice him in runs straight at him.  There were too many missed gap assignments, but I don't know how many were attributable to him, nor do I know how he fared when he had to stack and shed a blocker.  Bottom line is I saw some good things-but still an incomplete.  I'm not prepared to blame Muma for all of the failures in the run defense the way some are.

     H.  Willie Johnson-Was a star of the game.  The UDFA out of Marshall showed a smooth change of direction and a sudden burst a few times during the game, including on an 88 yard punt return that was called back due to penalty.  He helped himself last night. Holding call on that play was bogus. Happens all the time in fact saw the same thing un-called on a couple Raider returns.

     I.  Kevin Austin-Got a lot of buzz and the most prominent UDFA signing this year, but hasn't done much of anything.  I barely noticed him last night. When he was in he seemed to run along side the DB.

 8.  Arden Key looks like he will contribute to the pass eush. Yep, quality depth.

10.  Bottom line:  It's preseason and I'm not too worried.  There's no game planning, many of the starters didn't play.  But it's somewhat concerning for this team to declare the defensive emphasis will be stopping the run and for the defense to perform so poorly on that area, even for the first preseason game.  We play Cleveland next and they have a very strong running game.  We will have had the advantage of playing in a game already.  I am hoping to see a better run defense.  But thank God football season is back!!!

Summary: Really nice write up there...Was I disappointed?  Yes, I would have preferred a more competitive showing.

QB's
Stidham has played in McDaniel's system before with the Patriots and it showed.  The reads were second nature to him and he was accurate. A quality backup for the Raiders.  Luton on the other hand has yet to put it together and was limited by our O-line not being able to open any holes for the RB's. He also missed a few passes badly.  
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Trenches
Both lines were stonewalled pretty effectively by the Raiders.  No one got pancaked or anything just moved around some. Just goes to show on both lines our depth has a ways to go. This will determine our success this year, so maybe it was a good thing they now know how much work they need to do.

Recievers
They got open a few times, had a step down the sidelines a few times.  A little improvement, but vanilla routes so not a lot to say here.  The TE catches didn't excite me as after they got up 20 points the Raiders did as agreed (and not BEFORE they were up 20) and played a prevent type D so yea the TE was open underneath.  

Personnel
Last night was depth on depth. The Raiders personnel that played last night were superior to ours. We will get there in a few year if we stay the path.