Scratch two preseason games for Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock to do roster evals for the Las Vegas Raiders upcoming 2020 regular season campaign. The Silver & Black, along with the other 31 teams, will only have two exhibition slates before jumping right into games that count after the NFL reportedly decided to wax a
Quick Slants: Preaseason slashed, rosters limited, 2020 is … intriguing
-Carr needs to be better when things break down in the pocket. However, I think we’ve seen all of what he can do in that regard. He’s not great at improvising out of the pocket. Gruden wants that in his QB (ala Rich Gannon) and that’s what many have surmised that Gruden might move on after this season.
-I agree that Marinelli is the DC in waiting, esp if the defense struggles. Marinelli has already influenced some of the FA signings (Collins, Heath)
-I’m not optimistic at all that teams will play all 16 games. COVID will run through a locker room quicker than ants on sugar! NFL may have their plans, but COVID will bend the NFL to its wishes.
@Ghost –
I agree somewhat with your analysis that DC needs to be better when things break down in the pocket. It doesn’t have to be major, sliding left or sliding right. Running out of the pocket, that’s when the opposing defense has left a large portion of the field open. This is how Brady has lasted so long. Also, I would pin part of this on Gruden. He has to become better at play calling. In the two seasons back as HC, his play calling has been conservative and short on imagination. It’s no secret DC has athletic ability, but Gruden hasn’t utilized that ability fully.
Marinelli as the defensive coordinator in waiting, fully agree. If the defense performs poorly out of the gate, Guenther is likely a goner. And, when Marinelli takes over, he, too, will need to get the defense going quickly.
COVID, I’ll be surprised if the season starts on time, let alone camp starts on time. It shows no sign of slowing down. The new mutated version is aerosolized which makes it more transmissible, is making younger people more sick, and very aggressive. Sick today, tomorrow dead. If the season does start, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’ll be a start-stop-start kind of season. I like your line: “COVID will run through a locker room quicker than ants on sugar!”
What’s your take on the new Mahomes contract? I think they haven’t told him for $40M per season, he also needs to be a full-time, two-way player. The rest of the team will be one-year hires.
The Mahomes contract is not tied to the overall percentage of the salary cap, which increases flexibility as cap increases. Nonetheless, it does make it more difficult for Chiefs to spend. They didn’t invest in the FA market this past off season (they didn’t have major holes).Chris Jones still wants to get paid, so curious how that will play out with his contract.
Nonetheless, the Raiders led by Gruden will see Mahomes until Gruden leaves. It’s going to be tough beating a generational talent like Mahomes. Pass rushers and corners please!
Credit to KC for signing up their superstar for so long – what a commitment to the face of the franchise!
Key for us in playing him at least twice a year will also be keeping Mahomes off the field as much as possible. An offense that can move the ball on the ground, keeping the clock moving while Mahomes sits on the sidelines will be a great help for any defense.
Taking this guy on in a shootout is just not the right answer if you’re looking to win on a regular basis…
Will also need to harass him with a strong pass rush. Good for KC for locking up their young superstar.