Football is back!
The Las Vegas Raiders preseason campaign kicked off last night in picturesque Canton Ohio with a 27-11 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 60th Annual Hall Of Fame Game gave us our first chance to address some the preseason’s biggest storylines and question marks, including how RB Josh Jacobs will factor into the rushing attack.
As each week progresses and we advance towards Week 1 of the regular season, we’ll begin to learn more and more about who is winning position battles, who will make the roster, and how each piece may fit into new Head Coach Josh McDaniels’ offense.
Raider Running Backs Named Josh Jacobs
The crowded Raider RB group will be an ongoing situation to watch all month. While McDaniels has in the past utilized a committee approach, Josh Jacobs has been the dominant force in the Raider backfield since his arrival in 2019.
Last night, Jacobs again showed why he is held in such high regard — ripping off 30 yards on five carries and demonstrating his customary blend of patience, vision, and explosion. Playing only on the first two Raider offensive drives, Jacobs used his acceleration to find success on the inside while corralling two passes for another 14 yards. The fourth-year vet figures to continue to sprinkle in through the preseason before playing a major offensive role this year.
..Everyone Else
Behind Jacobs is an eclectic mix of RBs including veterans Ameer Abdullah and Kenyan Drake as well as 4th-round rookie Zamir “Zeus” White, all of whom factored heavily into the contest.
Ameer Abdullah was the first to spell Jacobs, finding success on a 17-yard outlet from QB Jarrett Stidham on the Raiders’ second drive. Zamir White, who only returned to training camp participation this past week after prolonged absence due to an undisclosed injury, followed quickly with his own 19-yard screen pass. Drake mixed in as well but was largely ineffective in tallying a scant nine yards on five carries.
As the second half progressed, it was Zamir White who continued to soak up work en route to leading Las Vegas in carries, rushing yards, and receptions. He has clear explosiveness and is a decisive runner. As the game slows down for White, he is going to have the potential for significant impact out of this backfield.
3rd-year RB Austin Walter took over late, and factored into efficient offensive production, converting a toss-sweep off RT for a pretty 8-yard TD. RBs Brandon Bolden and 7th-round pick Brittain Brown did not see the field on offense.
Quick Hits:
– Former UDFA and multiple-times-released OL Lester Cotton has been a favorite story around the Las Vegas Raiders over the offseason. Cotton has stepped up his game and managed to earn serious consideration as a starter going into the 2022 campaign.
Cotton was stationed at RG for the entirety of the first half, and comes out of the contest with a mixed but mainly positive report card, demonstrating good hands and good footwork right from the opening drive, and effective push off the line. His worst moment came on the fourth offensive drive in the second quarter, when he was turned around by a DL stunt leading to a drive-ending sack.
However, Cotton was able to recognize the very same stunt on the following drive, staying home and providing the needed protection for QB Jarrett Stidham to sneak out for a 12-yard TD scamper. An easy player to root for, Cotton will be a factor to follow closely throughout the preseason.
– No Raider Wide Receiver did anything to separate themself as a candidate to seize playing time across from Davante Adams, with Tyron Johnson creating the most production in the box score and looking a step faster than everyone else, but also contributing two egregious drops. Former Jaguar Keelan Cole suffered a scary looking helmet-to-helmet hit but seems to have come out unscathed, while former Chief Demarcus Robinson did little to distinguish himself.
– On the defensive side of the ball, new addition CB Darius Phillips ran with energy and physicality in the first half, racking up four tackles (three solo; tied for team lead), while fellow Raider debutante OLB Jayon Brown stood out with his vision and field-covering athleticism. The new-look Raider defense will be another major early storyline and its performance is crucial to Las Vegas’ overall success in 2022.
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