Antonio Pierce wasn’t in the mood to hand out compliments after the Raiders 36-22 loss to the Panthers, but there was at least one detail to feel good about in the game, says The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen.
On the Just Win podcast this week, Nguyen said Tyree Wilson played a “much better” game in week 3, and offered a glimmer of hope as the team moves forward without Maxx Crosby (ankle), who is not expected to be available against the Browns.
“The most encouraging part [of Sunday’s game] was, I thought, Tyree Wilson actually played a pretty good game as far as run defense,” Nguyen said.
“I was watching his get-off. His get-off looked much better. He created a lot of problems for the Panthers run game,” Nguyen continued. “He didn’t play a ton of snaps. I think they’re trying to work him back in from injury. And like we mentioned, he had a really good rush on the left side where he got in almost untouched just based on his get-off. So [there were] encouraging signs and they’re going to need him to have a pretty big game against the Browns. I think that’s the one bright spot from this Panthers game.”
Wilson posted the highest Pro Football Focus run defense grade of his career in week 4, and said this week that he is continuing to work on his technique as a pass rusher.
“Technique is the biggest part,” Wilson told Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter on Friday.
“I feel like I came a long ways,” Wilson continued. “You know, usually it was rushing chest to chest, now [I’m] trying to rush from extension to be able to convert off them… I feel like in the NFL, that’s what’s different than college. You can win just because you got an advantage on some other players. But in the NFL, everybody’s good.”
Without question, Wilson is one of the most physically-gifted players in the league, and it has been a massive learning process for him since he was drafted with the seventh-overall pick a year ago.
A breakout game is coming for Wilson and there won’t be many times this year where the Raiders need one from him more than this week.
Football aside, Tyree is one of the most genuine personalities on the team, and it’s easy to see in his interviews why the locker room likes him so much…
x: @raidersbeat
Honestly, feel like we are going to have a mass exudes at the end of the year and some key trades before the deadline. I think Adam’s will be gone, I think Max wants out as well. It’s so disappointing to see what I felt was going to be a dominant year, now injuries, bad play calling, 4th and 1 was probably my oh shi+ moment, then ladt week says a lot.
Being at the game, it was hard to see much good. I did watch #9, he did seem to be getting up field. I would like to see him improving every game and become a force to be reckoned with.
I’m rooting for the guy. It must be awful to have all that pressure on you, and then find yourself struggling to do something you’d always been good at. The Raiders need him, and he does seem like a good, hard working young man.
It’s great to be liked. It’s hard to be great.
I hope the youngster can come thru for the team, especially with Madd Maxx hurt.