After two preseason games, the Oakland Raiders roster is starting to take shape.
With two games left to play in the preseason, there's still time for players to make an impression, but this is mostly for reserves fighting for playing time. For the coaching staff, the process is now shifting toward letting the projected starters get in important reps and figuring out what needs to be worked on heading into the regular season.
There are still some position battles to clear up. While certain positions, like the defensive line, are already settled, others positions, like cornerback, will remain a work in progress ...
The Oakland Raiders hired Greg Olson to be their new offensive coordinator this past offseason.
What has he seen from rookie quarterback and second-round pick Derek Carr so far in camp? Which other newcomers have stood out?
Watch as Olson and Bleacher Report NFL analyst Chris Simms go in-depth at Raiders training camp in the video above.Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
Most early reports indicated that the Oakland Raiders were having a very good training camp, which is why the team's subpar performance in the preseason opener was so disappointing. The second preseason game was supposed to provide a clearer indication of just how much this team has improved.
But after the team's second preseason game, against the Detroit Lions, it now seems like this really is the state of the 2014 Raiders.
Matt Schaub played better, but he still didn't live up to the expectations that were set when he arrived in Oakland. This was reflected by the offense as a whole, ...
Much of the Oakland Athletics' success this season has stemmed from manager Bob Melvin's implementation of platoons in the field. Quality players like catchers John Jaso and Derek Norris split time based on the opposing pitcher's throwing arm.
Jaso would hit against righties, Norris would hit against lefties, and everyone's knees stayed well-rested. That worked until Stephen Vogt was called up from Triple-A Sacramento and proceeded to mash the stitches off the ball, forcing Melvin to keep him in the lineup, though often away from his natural position.
An overflow of talent is certainly not a bad thing, especially considering the physical ...
Updates from Saturday, AUg. 23
CSN's Scott Bair has the latest on Carr:
Updates from Thursday, Aug. 21
Kevin Patra of NFL.com provides an update on Derek Carr's status:
Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr won't see action in Friday's preseason tussle in Green Bay.
Coach Dennis Allen said Carr has been cleared from a concussion, but the quarterback still has sore, bruised ribs and the team doesn't want to expose him to injury, per NFL Media's Steve Wyche.
Updates from Monday, Aug. 18
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com passed along Derek Carr's status after his injury:
Original Text
Derek Carr had a promising start to the preseason, but ...
If Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen's head-coaching career comes to an untimely end this offseason, there's no question what quote will be used in the obituary.
"We brought Matt Schaub in to be our starting quarterback," Allen told the media in a March conference call, per the team's official site. "He’s been a top 10 quarterback throughout his career."
After two preseason games, he's completed just 55 percent of his passes for just 5.4 yards per attempt, no touchdowns and an interception. Whatever spark the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback used to impart to offenses has gone out.
Meanwhile, second-round rookie Derek Carr ...
After a disappointing start to the preseason, the Oakland Raiders are looking to show major improvement against the Detroit Lions. Oakland wasn't terrible in any one area, but it didn't meet expectations anywhere. After another week of practice to continue to gel and develop as a unit, expectations are high that Friday's game (7 p.m. PT) will provide a clearer picture of just how much this team has improved.
Most of the attention will be paid to starting quarterback Matt Schaub. He has been impressive in practices, but none of that was evident against the Minnesota Vikings. Schaub has the opportunity ...
Driving to work is the worst.
Spending hours of your life shoving a vehicle through traffic is tantamount to torture, but not knowing exactly how to get to your destination makes it that much worse.
This is Jon Lester’s daily grind, and he's using technology to help make his adjustment to life with the Oakland A’s easier.
Lester told The Dan Patrick Show, via NBC on Yahoo Sports (h/t For The Win’s Nate Scott), Thursday that he’s still using the GPS on his smartphone to make his 40-minute commute to O.co Coliseum: "Every day, I do the GPS on my phone, so I don’t get lost."
Lester also confirmed ...
The Oakland Raiders selected quarterback Derek Carr in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.
How is Carr adjusting to life in the NFL? Does he feel pressure to follow in the footsteps of his brother, former top pick David Carr? What is his relationship like with veteran QB Matt Schaub, his competition for the starting job?
Watch as Carr sits down with Bleacher Report NFL Analyst Chris Simms at Raiders training camp in the video above.Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
Acquiring Jon Lester—a veteran hurler forged in the postseason crucible—was a decidedly good thing for the Oakland A's as they prepare to make a run at their first World Series in the Billy Beane era. The guy they gave up to get Lester, though, was pretty good, too.
Just as Lester has had an immediate positive impact on the A's, Yoenis Cespedes has made his presence felt with the Boston Red Sox.
Since arriving in Beantown, Cespedes has smacked a pair of game-winning home runs and collected eight RBI in just 11 games. And he's grabbed the attention of his new teammates, ...