After a weather delay, the NFL season kicked off Thursday night in Canton Ohio. The crowd was overwhelmingly silver and black to welcome Coach Josh McDaniels and his Raiders back to the Hall of Fame city. A few starters got playing time while most sat out the first preseason game. I’ll take a look at what stood out in my Hall of Fame Game review.
Running Game
Josh Jacobs surprisingly started the game for the Raiders and played a decent amount. Jacobs had 5 rushes for 30 yds and added 2 receptions for 14 yds. Josh looked explosive and determined hitting the holes. It was a good start for Jacobs who is poised for a big season in his contract year.
Rookie RB Zamir White made his Raiders debut Thursday night. Zeus was as advertised as he showed power and quickness in a punishing style. With 11 carries for 52 yds the rookie is clearly ready for a role in his first season. Also adding 3 grabs for 23 yards. White is a dual threat and combined with Jacobs can form a dynamic 1-2 punch for the Raiders ground attack.
Drake and Abdullah had quality carries with Walter finishing the night. McDaniels said after the game the wanted all the backs to catch or carry in the preseason opener and it looked like the team was ready for that approach. A tough and physical running game is what the Raiders need and Thursday night showed a good foundation of that.
Backup QB
Star Quarterback Derek Carr got the night off. Starting the game was Jarrett Stidham. After being acquired from New England in the off-season Stidham had a chance to show his familiarity in McDaniels system. Quick reads and decisions helped move the offense with ease early in the game. Jarrett was 8-15 for 96yds while adding a 12 yard rushing TD. Nick Mullens was next in line and while he displayed some positives a fumbled exchange isn’t going to sit well with the new staff. It felt like it would be Stidham’s job to lose this off-season. After the first preseason game it seems almost certain the Raiders have their backup Quarterback for the season.
Darius Phillips
After signing a 1 year contract in March , Thursday was Phillips first game in silver and black. Starting at CB and returning punts. Phillips was all over the field for the Raiders. Forcing a fumble on a big hit and plenty of plays around the ball helped Darius stand out. The new regime has mentioned countless times how much they value versatility. The Raiders have a need for depth and Phillips ability and willingness to contribute in multiple ways could win him a roster spot .
Penalties
The Raiders are known to kill themselves with penalties especially presnap ones. The new regime has stated multiple times the importance of not beating themselves. This was on display Thursday night and a welcomed change for the Raiders. The first three drives resulted in points and no penalties proved to pay immediate dividends. The penalty issue will be worth watching as camp progress through the preseason and beyond. If McDaniels and his staff can eliminate the self inflicted pre snap penalties the Raiders can begin to take the next step.
Thank you for your time reading my article. For more Raiders talk follow me on Twitter http://@BrianRobert85 and also check some of my previous articles here 3 Raiders Rookies Ready For Immediate Impact. The 2022 season is finally underway and the Raiders will play Minnesota next Sunday August 14 for the 2nd of 4 games this preseason.
