The Raiders had plenty of ups and downs in their first preseason game, and one of the more interesting breakdowns of the game on the morning after (or afternoon in this case) came from Raider Nation Radio host ‘JT the Brick.’
Speaking on the Raiders’ flagship radio station, JT was candid about what he believes the team needs to figure out before the start of the regular season opener.
“The biggest takeaway of the game… the Raiders better figure out this offensive line. They better figure it out,” JT said on his Raider Nation Radio show.
“I think they can. They’ve got to figure out the personnel and their communication with Geno [Smith] and their coverage and their… overall scheme of what they’re going to do under Chip Kelly. Because I’m here to tell you today, the confidence that Chip Kelly has in this offense, with all due respect, and you know I respect everybody, from Luke Getsy to Josh McDaniels to Jon Gruden to Norv Turner to Scott Turner, I don’t have an enemy in the world in that building, because I treat everyone with respect. This is different [with] Chip Kelly. [He is] really similar to Jon Gruden with the mind.”
JT talked about production meetings and private conversations with Kelly, and he believes the team has a mind in their new offensive coordinator that isn’t rivaled by many.
“Al Davis used to like to put people on the whiteboard and go over schemes. I would have loved to have seen Mr. Davis and Chip Kelly in a seven-hour session on the whiteboard because Chip Kelly’s next level,” JT continued.
“And that comes from Rich Gannon and Matt Millen. Not me. Forget about me. That’s what Matt Millen and Rich Gannon are talking to Chip Kelly about, and Chip will have a scheme in place, a scheme in place that should be pretty good for the Raiders to be explosive on offense if they figure out the offensive line.”
For what it’s worth, JT isn’t the only host or media personality around the team that has questions about the Raiders offensive line.
Now that the coaching staff appears to have the starters sorted out on the O-line, it would make a lot of sense for the starters to get at least a full half on the field together in week 2 of the preseason.
x: @raidersbeat
I have been saying, all off-season, that last year’s edition of the Raiders offensive line gave up 50 sacks. The truth is that the Raiders have some good pieces ie. Jeanty, Bowers, Miller, Crosby and some young players. What is also true is that the Raiders have some concerns that need to be addressed. All is not lost but a realistic look at and approach to fixing these concerns needs to be taken.
As the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will the Raiders next championship team be. So, I advocate the approach that Jimmy Johnson took in building the Cowboys into a championship team. Trade Kolton Miller while he still has some trade value for draft picks. Look at and acquire young players cut by other teams after the preseason. Start the wholesale youth movement now. It’s going to take 3 years to assemble the competitive players that the Raiders are looking for.
Al Davis said that the greatness of the Raiders is their future. It took the Kansas City Chiefs 50 years to win their second championship and Andy Reid did it through the draft. Accept the fact that this team has significant needs and start planning for the future today. Sure, everyone wants to win now but before you build a skyscraper, the foundation must be laid.
Inexpensive youth contracts will give the Raiders financial flexibility. Having a long term as well as a short term goals should be plan of action. Realistically, the Raiders probably won’t be winning a Super Bowl anytime soon but that should not deter their long term objective.
Al Davis, at one time, put together a franchise that had the best winning percentage of ALL professional sports teams. How did he do it? With long as well as short term planning and tweaking. This type of thinking comes from leadership. That’s what Jimmy Johnson had and what Jerry Jones has not been able to replicate. Jerry has ownership but Jimmy had leadership. Fortunately, for the Raiders, AL Davis had both.
Pete Carroll doesn’t have 3 years, and Jimmy Johnson had the Hershel Walker trade haul to build his roster.
Bad blocking and tackling.