There's been a lot of misinformation out there about the Raiders as usual. The media (ESPN, PFF, etc.) think we're going to be worse this season than last season because of the offensive line which is lazy on their part because they don't mention our starting line never even played together in 2020. The line was in complete disarray last season and we still managed to finish 10th in offense. The line is actually improved this season and with even more weapons (Drake and a healthy Moreau) the offense will finish top 5.

QB 2021 Carr > 2020 Carr (another year in Gruden system, more weapons and better offensive line)
QB 2021 Mariota > 2020 Mariota (missed camp and part of season with pectoral but still played great in only start - best backup in league)
RB 2021 Jacobs > 2020 Jacobs (injured hip last season week 1 vs. Carolina and never fully recovered plus couldn't run a lot of outsize zone with injured line)
RB Drake > 2020 Booker (Booker was a nice surprise but Drake is a much better and explosive player)
FB 2021 Ingold = 2020 Ingold (with Drake signing probably less opportunities)

LT 2021 Miller > 2020 Miller (Miller was elite last season (2 sacks, 4 penalties in 1000 snaps) and should continue to get even better)
LG 2021 Incognito > 2020 Incognito/Simpson/Good (100% healthy and looks to be in great shape - Simpson with a full camp and another year should be very solid backup - love his power)
C 2021 James < 2020 Hudson (only position where there is a drop off but played well in his only start and they know him and seem confident he can do job)
RG 2021 Good = 2020 Jackson (Jackson one of the best pulling guards in NFL but has worn down 3 seasons in row - Good is a better pass blocker and a mauler on inside zone)
RT 2021 Leatherwood > 2020 Brown/Young/Parker (Brown was 450 lbs., injured, and couldn't move, Young is old and always hurt and Parker a disaster as usual - Leatherwood very athletic and we can run outside zone to right side again)

WR 2021 Ruggs > 2020 Ruggs (Team averaged .5 yards more per play when he was in lineup which might be best in league - Carr needs to throw his way more even if not the mismatch)
WR 2021 Brown = 2020 Agholor (Tough one as Agholor had a breakout season largely because he was one on one due to attention Ruggs received - Brown should get same treatment)
WR 2021 Renfrow > 2020 Renfrow (should only get better but wonder if Drake, Edwards and Moreau will reduce opportunities)
WR 2021 Edwards > 2020 Edwards (injured ankle so season almost a wash - looked very good in limited opportunites late in season - breakout candidate)
TE 2021 Waller > 2020 Waller (will only keep getting better and Gruden/Carr finally realized he's a deep target - set TE record for yards last 5 games - 200,75,150,112,117)
TE 2021 Moreau >>>>> 2020 Witten (what a disaster Witten was - Moreau lead league in passer rating when targeted and is set for a big year and fully healthy)

The vaccine will divide at least one team this season...but it won't be us.

Yep. Big year for both.

Looks like Gruden dropped about 25 pounds...

A 3 year starter at Alabama, Outland winner, and the traits to back it up. To be fair it was the dipshits that were knocking this guy. The real guys had a 1st round grade on him.

A 3-tech opposite Hankins in base was the final piece of the puzzle. Good signing.

2nd fastest player last season according to NextGen. He's going to see a lot of single with backers and safeties trying to cover him...good luck with that.

I see the over/under on the Raiders is 7.5. Apparently the Vegas sharps don’t read your posts.

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

Foster Moreau. He's going to have a big year. We ran 12 about 20% of the time last season with Witten...that's going to increase with him gone and Moreau 100% healthy. He's been killing it in camp.

This. The reason the "experts" will be off on their predictions is they consider Guenther as just another re-tread. He was an incompetent 1st timer who had complete autonomy. In Cincy he was DC in name only. He was so inept he would make calls not even in the gameplan or that didn't match the package on the field. Bradley is a huge step up from Guenther.

Mongo, what was the raiders problem with Bowden?

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They say there were questions about his maturity but I think the main issue was his lack of speed. He didn't run at the combine and his pro day was cancelled by Covid. His coaches at Kentucky told us they'd clocked him at 4.38. I would be surprised if he could run a 4.60. His lack of speed and explosiveness was obvious from the beginning. Even our beat guys noticed it when he finally arrived at the unofficial practices at the park. I think maturity questions come from him not showing up for the park practices when everyone else was there. He didn't turn up until his grandma's house was raided by the DEA.

I've been following him a little bit and it looks like he's 50/50 to make the Dolphins roster. The beat guys down there have also noticed his lack of explosiveness.

He looked really quick on one reception yesterday.

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Is Braylon edwards worth a late round flyer in FF?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I think he has difficulty getting separation. It was a perfect throw but the defender was in his back pocket so he couldn't turn it into something more. He averaged 7.5/R last season which is pretty bad. I guess time will tell if he's more than a possession slot guy.

He's pretty old so I'd probably say no.
The problem with Raiders in fantasy is we have so many targets I don't know if anyone will really break out. Bryan Edwards should have a good year if he can stay healthy but I don't know how many opportunities he's going to get near the endzone with Waller, Moreau, Drake, and Renfrow. Edwards has looked great in camp though. From what little I've seen on twitter it seems Edwards and Moreau are getting some buzz in fantasy.

I have to admit I liked Jenkins more because of his run blocking but Leatherwood has looked great so far.

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I'll be out there in September/October so I'm hoping this helps the secondary market.

Coaching.

Raiders RT Alex Leatherwood named one of the most ‘disappointing rookies’ in preseason
In a recent article by Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, he took a look at a few high-profile picks who disappointed in Week 1 of the preseason. Leatherwood did show up on the list after allowing a few pressures. Here is what the site had to say about the former Alabama tackle against Seattle.

“With an offensive line in the midst of an overhaul, Las Vegas really needs Leatherwood to pan out and hit the ground running. He may yet, but his debut showed there was still some work to do. He was fine against the Seahawks when actually blocking the right guy, but he gave up a pair of pressures on plays where he failed to read the correct rusher and allowed them a path to the quarterback.

Leatherwood was stood up a couple of times in the run game, but those are mistakes you can live with. Not being on the same page as the rest of the line and letting free defenders get at the quarterback is something you can’t. It’s only his first game action, but Leatherwood needs to clean that up before the regular season.”
https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-rt-alex-leatherwood-named-152645044.html

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

Monson is an Irishman who never played a down of football in his life. My nephew that just started Rocket ball has more playing experience than that turd. Nobody takes that guy or PFF seriously. If you want to read something hilarious you should read the interview he did with the Belfast Times where he claimed to have the ears of every team in the league.

Seriously man...PFF is a joke.

I counted 8 brawls in 2 days...

Nate Hobbs the 5th round pick out of Illinois will be our starting nickel. It looks like he might be one of the guys that slipped thru the cracks due to Covid. He would have helped himself a lot if there was a combine.

Who knows if Mack rumor is true. Tafur is a bum and his sources within the team are questionable. He thought his fat ass was getting left behind in Oakland so he started a rumor that Mayock didn't want to go to Vegas and he was going to take a job with the Patriots. He had to apologize and for some reason The Athletic didn't fire him. It sounds unlikely with Bears cap situation. I haven't looked but it seems the cap hit would have made it impossible.

Fire Ryan Pace

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Long overdue.

Ok, how about ESPN? The Raiders are 1 spot above the Bears at #21.

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance