Michael Mayer was at the center of trade rumors a few months ago, but the Raiders held on to their former second-round pick and now it sounds like Mayer might be moving into a significant role in Chip Kelly’s offense.
Mayer talked to members of the media in June and dropped a hint about Kelly’s offense and a couple of personnel packages the team has been working on in the offseason.
“With me and Brock [Bowers], it’s pretty interesting because we do a lot of 12 personnel stuff,” Mayer said. “You know, this spring we’ve also been doing a lot of 13 personnel, too, which has been awesome. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Additionally, Mayer’s optimism is shared by at least one beat writer covering the team.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore commented on Mayer’s role this week on the team’s flagship radio station.
“I felt like the Raiders could have done a better job getting him more involved [last year],” Bonsignore said on Raider Nation Radio’s JT The Brick Show. “And you fast forward to this year, and you look at what happened in OTAs, and you look at what happened in mini-camp, and the times that we were out there, I think it was five, six total practices that the media was allowed to watch. It was really conspicuous how much Michael Mayer was involved in the passing game.”
“They really made it a priority, it felt, to get him involved, to throw him the ball. And I think that’s something that needs to continue I can definitely see a scenario where Michael Mayer might be that number three, along with maybe a Jack Bech.”
Going back to last month, Bonsignore made another series of comments on Mayer that were in line with his more recent statements.
“A guy that caught my eye throughout this phase was tight end Michael Mayer,” Bonsignore said in June on the Vegas Nation podcast.
“Quite honestly, not throwing anybody under the bus that was here previously, but I can’t understand how those coaches didn’t get more out of Michael Mayer,” Bonsignore continued. “This is a guy that was a highly, highly productive player in college, and despite week after week [saying] they need to get Michael Mayer more involved… it never really happened which was mind boggling to me.”
x: @raidersbeat
Hey Mr Bonsignore, didn’t the TE miss half the season because of some personal issues? So how could they have used him in different situations if he wasn’t even available? Just curious?
LMAO! Exactly what I was thinking. Vinny is Mark’s shill. Of course the way sports journalism profession is going you probably have to do what they say to keep a paycheck.
This is the be the best dou we have had at Tight End since 1978 & 1979, in Dave Casper and Raymond Chester. Kenny Stabler called the plays and Tom Flores was our our O.C. under John Madden and we ran a lot of 12 personnel or two tight ends these years. It was a productive Offense and we got a lot of chunk yardage plays but our defense was in decline these years after peaking as World Champions in 1976 and 1977. I anticipate the same thing this year as then, a good offense and struggles on defense. Both these seasons, 1978 & 1979 this is, we finished with nine wins and seven losses (9&7). I anticpate the same thing again this year, a very improved offense with a struggling defense. Take the OVER allright, the Raiders will win eight games, perhaps nine if we take calculated risks that work out. The Raiders will have to work on the defense next off season to become a playoff team.
John Spytek is my dude, but he did not do enough in free agency on defense for the defense. We are siting far below the salary cap limit and there is no brownie points for this, Mark Davis is not complicted he counts wins and losses. For Spytek to stick and stay he must pay, on defense to build a champion.
Raider ON Nation,
West Side
Senior Advisor
Since 1974
This is the best dou we have had at Tight End since 1978 & 1979, in Dave Casper and Raymond Chester. Kenny Stabler called the plays and Tom Flores was our our O.C. under John Madden and we ran a lot of 12 personnel or two tight ends these years. It was a productive Offense and we got a lot of chunk yardage plays but our defense was in decline these years after peaking as World Champions in 1976 and 1977. I anticipate the same thing this year as then, a good offense and struggles on defense. Both these seasons, 1978 & 1979 this is, we finished with nine wins and seven losses (9&7). I anticpate the same thing again this year, a very improved offense with a struggling defense. Take the OVER allright, the Raiders will win eight games, perhaps nine if we take calculated risks that work out. The Raiders will have to work on the defense next off season to become a playoff team.
John Spytek is my dude, but he did not do enough in free agency on defense for the defense. We are siting far below the salary cap limit and there is no brownie points for this, Mark Davis is not complicted he counts wins and losses. For Spytek to stick and stay he must pay, on defense to build a champion.
Raider ON Nation,
West Side
Senior Advisor
Since 1974