When it was decided that Oakland Raiders’ offensive lineman Austin Howard would switch back to his natural position at tackle, he became the front-runner for the starting position in the upcoming season. As College GameDay anchor Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast my friends.”
Of all the competition battles heading into training camp, the battle at right tackle is the least talked about competition. Usually when a player reverts back to their natural position, vast improvements are expected. Howard will likely have a better season as a tackle, but his track record doesn’t indicate he should become the front-running starter:
In ...
The Oakland Raiders selected tight end Clive Walford in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft.
What will Walford's role as a rookie be? Will he have success with the Raiders?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and Bleacher Report NFL Analyst Chris Simms discuss Walford in the video above.Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
Who's more important to a team's success: the players or the coaches?
It's a common argument in sports that's unlikely to reach a conclusion anytime soon. Both sides have a good argument. There may never be a consensus. But one thing that both sides can agree on is that the players and coaches both play an important role, and one can't succeed without the other.
For the Oakland Raiders, there's been a dearth of talent on the field in recent years, and it's undeniable this fact has played a major role in the team's struggles. But what can't be ignored is that the same is ...
Three weeks of organized team activities have concluded, and the Oakland Raiders are setting up for a mandatory minicamp in the upcoming week before a bit of a layoff.
No pads, no real heated competition, but skills are on display during these team activities. Coaches want to see players absorb the playbook and execute the basics as a foundation to a productive offseason.
Who has impressed in the first three weeks? Who’s making an early case in their positional battles? We’ll go through all the juicy details coming out of Alameda, California.Begin Slideshow
The Oakland Raiders undoubtedly improved the talent of the roster this offseason, but they didn’t address the cornerback position or bring in a top pass-rusher. After finishing last in the NFL in points allowed last season, the Raiders focused on rebuilding the front seven.
That means the No. 1 cornerback on the roster is 2013 first-round draft pick D.J. Hayden and the top pass-rusher is 2014 first-round pick Khalil Mack. That should be a good thing, but Hayden has yet to develop into a shutdown cornerback.
Hayden enters a make-or-break year as a key player on a defense hoping to improve ...
Pat Venditte was a feel-good story in February and March.
He was thrown into the hype machine in April and May, and it was ramped up to full bore Friday after the Oakland A’s called up the ambidextrous relief pitcher from Triple-A Nashville.
While the novelty of a pitcher with a weird glove who can throw with both arms was certainly real, Venditte’s talent at the major league level was still uncertain as the 29-year-old switch-pitcher made his major league debut Friday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
He erased the questions surrounding him by throwing two scoreless innings in Oakland’s ...
How much better are the Oakland Raiders at wide receiver this year?
We won't know until the season begins, but on paper, the wide receiving corps is vastly improved from last season, when Andre Holmes led the team with 693 receiving yards.
The Raiders added major reinforcements through free agency and the draft. Those additions, combined with the continued development of last year's returning wide receivers, have this unit suddenly looking like it might be dangerous.
A lot can happen between now and the start of the season, and battles for positioning on the depth chart are going to continue through training camp. ...
There is a lot of excitement building this offseason for the Oakland Raiders.
What has new head coach Jack Del Rio brought to the team? What is the latest on quarterback Derek Carr's finger injury?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle discuss the Raiders in the video above.Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
The Oakland Raiders' new regime has created an air of optimism after addressing the weaknesses of a roster that turned in a third consecutive sub-.500 record in 2014.
There are conflicting opinions on whether the Raiders are ready to turn the corner in the upcoming season.
Peter King of MMQB released his early power rankings. He slotted Oakland in the 31st spot with a disturbing suspicion about quarterback Derek Carr:
"It’s not that I don’t trust Derek Carr. It’s that I don’t trust Derek Carr’s health after what I’ve read about the problems with a finger on his throwing hand. That plus the fact ...
Why isn't Marcel Reece getting more carries? It’s the most frequently asked question when surveying the comment section of any Oakland Raiders article pertaining to optimizing the offense.
It’s a good question without a good answer.
Logically thinking, last season would have been the most appropriate time to tinker with the offense a bit. Running back Darren McFadden was Oakland’s lead back with 534 rushing yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry on 155 attempts. As a team, the Raiders ranked dead last in the NFL in rushing yards (1,280).
Former offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s play-calling was part of the problem. Oakland also ranked ...