From the Athletic
The A to Z of Raiders’ offseason work, with one minicamp to go before training camp
By Vic Tafur Jun 8, 2018
The Raiders have a three-day minicamp next week, concluding their offseason program of workouts and organized team activities. Players got a crash course in the new staff’s offensive and defensive systems, and got to know all 39 free agents and rookies signed.
(And yes, it’s cool to call someone by his jersey number for weeks, maybe even a month.)
What did coach Jon Gruden and his staff learn? What did we learn, in the one day a week reporters were able to watch?
Here is the A to Z of the OTAs:
Arden Key: Some people (cough) thought the Raiders might have reached with their top four draft picks this spring — offensive tackles Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker and defensive linemen P.J. Hall and Key. Key had some off-field issues at LSU, but it’s safe to say that Gruden doesn’t see him as being any riskier than the Raiders’ underwhelming draft picks from the last three years.
So far, Key has looked as if he will be the team’s No. 3 pass rusher behind Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. He is built like a young Aldon Smith and is very bendy.
BeastMode: We have covered this plenty, but Marshawn Lynch could be sharing time with free-agent and former Buccaneers running back Doug Martin. They split first-team reps on Tuesday, as Martin, 29, has shown some fresh legs after two down years.
Carr: Derek Carr has looked sharp and has some new toys to play with, in Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant, a deep threat he’s never had with the Raiders. Greg Olson is back after being the offensive coordinator in Carr’s rookie season, and has seen a lot of growth.
“Probably in the maturity really, more than anything,” Olson said. “Certainly, physically he’s matured in the three years that I was gone. Also, I just think his knowledge of the game, he’s taken that to a new level in my opinion. His knowledge of defensive schemes. Understanding how to attack different schemes that he’s seeing in the passing game and also understanding protection phases.”
Dance moves: MC Hammer came out to Wednesday’s session, hitting the team with his positive energy before practice and serving as the deejay during it. Afterward, he offered dance tips. Hammer said the atmosphere was “electric” and that Gruden “is going to take us back to where we were.”
Eddy Pineiro: The undrafted rookie from Florida took all of the field goal attempts in Tuesday’s session while Giorgio Tavecchio, last year’s kicker, was merely a spectator. Gruden is very fired up about Pineiro’s leg strength and accuracy.
Fadol Brown: The 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive end is just the right size for Paul Guenther’s scheme up front, and the Ole Miss product has been one of the biggest surprises this offseason. But not to Guenther. He watched practice film from last year and said the practice-squad player’s effort always stood out.
Gucci: Former Giants receiver Dwayne Harris apparently wears it head to toe. He has some juice in the return game and will need to beat out Ryan Switzer and/or Seth Roberts to be able to buy the high-end designer’s line next year.
Hurst and Hall: Rookies Maurice Hurst and P.J. Hall will ideally give the Raiders something they sorely lacked last season: an interior pass rush.
Hurst, arguably a first-round talent, fell to the fifth round due to a heart condition and Guenther said he couldn’t keep quiet as the second round became the third and the fourth.
“I was saying, ‘Draft him, right here!’” Guenther said. “When you look at these players in the draft, you have an eye for what you’re looking for. … When you watch him play at Michigan, he had certain traits for a three-technique in our defense.
“When he started to slide and he was there for us to pick in the fifth round, I couldn’t believe it, really. He has great (push). The three-technique is the penetrator of our defense. He does a great job with that.”
There will obviously be a learning curve:
“He’s going to have to learn big man’s game a little bit,” Guenther said, “where you don’t get the double teams as much in college. You’re going to get a lot more of that in the NFL. Then obviously in the pass rush. He’s slippery in the pass rush. He has good side to side movement. He’s a powerful guy.”
Instant reaction: Left tackle Donald Penn left an angry phone message for Gruden the night that the Raiders drafted Miller and Parker in the first and third round. He and Gruden have laughed about it since, and Penn is working hard to come back from a gruesome foot injury and at least delay Miller’s takeover of his spot by a year.
Jordy Nelson: Strength and conditioning coach Tom Shaw said the former Packers receiver is in great shape, and it’s safe to say that Nelson is more hands-on than Michael Crabtree when it comes to meetings and dealing with younger receivers.
“He’ll just be like, ‘What if we did the route like this or like that?’” Carr said. “Jordy is very detailed. He wants to do everything exactly how you want it done. I see why Aaron (Rodgers) loved throwing him the ball. He knows if you’re comfortable, you’ll throw it to them. …
“You just see when you add a guy like that, it just trickles down throughout the whole room of guys. Just their study habits. You see Jordy off to the side when another group is in, he is probably just telling somebody something about a route or a technique or a coverage.”
Kolton Miller: I tweeted out that the future left tackle took a couple of snaps at right tackle on Wednesday, and some thought that meant a departure from Gruden’s earlier comments that Miller would focus on practicing on the left side. I wouldn’t put too much stock into the two snaps, as he was likely just getting his feet wet. Parker was drafted in the third round to start at right tackle and that is still the early plan.
Lee: Marquel Lee has surprised Guenther a little bit, and the second-year linebacker may carve out a role for himself on running downs. As of right now, veterans Tahir Whitehead, Derrick Johnson and Emmanuel Lamur are the three starting linebackers. Second-year player Nicholas Morrow could also factor in on passing downs.
Mack: “Return of the Mack, Return of the Mack …” Sorry, no, don’t play the classic Mark Morrison jam quite yet. Khalil Mack is still not reporting, as he is waiting for his big contract extension. The defensive end is surely in great shape, and will be ready to jump in when he finally hits the facility (or Napa, for training camp). Guenther is not too concerned about it.
“Well, he’s going to have a lot of catching up to do,” Guenther said. “We’re going to have to have a plan for that for sure. Really, I’m really concerned about the guys that are here now working. These guys have been busting their tails every day.”
Mack could be fined up to $84,000 for missing next week’s minicamp.
Nelson: Raiders safety Reggie Nelson will be a big part of the Raiders defense under his old coordinator Guenther. He is also excited about last year’s No. 1 pick, cornerback Gareon Conley.
“Oh man, I’m happy to see Conley out there running around,” Nelson said. “A player of his caliber — long, just like (Rashaan) Melvin — he’s showing why he was the first-round pick. I think there’s a high standard out there for him and he’s holding that up. I think Conley is doing a great job right now doing what the coaches ask him to do.”
Obi Melifonwu: The second-year safety took an inside football from Gruden last month about not being close to being ready to play, after injuries last year. But he has started participating in team drills the last two weeks and a Raiders player or official actually had something nice to say about him.
“I think Obi is working out all of his kinks and stuff right now,” Nelson said. “I’ve always been a fan of Obi, his size and how athletic he is and what he brings to the table when he’s healthy and stuff. So, I just can’t wait to see more out of Obi.
“He’s flying around, doing a good job competing like everyone else. I think Obi is going to be one of those shocking (us), because I like him. He’s a great athletic guy, tall, you know, just his body build period. Only he can stand in his way, to be honest with you.”
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