Game #1 at NE - Game and Post Game Thread

[RunOverByHubbard]

Here we go - new coach, new QB, new exciting RB, and a no-name defense. Not the toughest opening day match up possible as the Patriots also have issues. We are clearly in rebuild mode right? So if we lose I hope this board doesn’t go into melt down mode. Have fun with the new product Raiders fans

May today be the dawning of a new winning tradition for this hallowed franchise that we love so much.

[Atlasffa]

[NoThanksSir]

Jamal Adams looked like a difference maker at LB, despite not filling up the box score. Fantastic pickup so far.

[NoClapsPlease]

We have some dogs at the LB position for sure.

[BG3428]

We have some dogs at the LB position for sure.

I was a bit worried about LB coming in but they’re pretty stout. I am worried about depth because after White, Pratt, Roberts, and Adams who isn’t every down, it’s rough.

[Jeevo]

LOL got me, you never know on this board, you see some ridiculous takes

He got me too, I almost never get sarcasm when it’s written.

[Trainnvain]

He got me too, I almost never get sarcasm when it’s written.

the /s at the end of his post kinda gave it away

[Trainnvain]

We have some dogs at the LB position for sure.

The thought White played really well too, he made some really nice stops.

[raider_kin]

The thought White played really well too, he made some really nice stops.

Agree. He was probably coasting on being the 7th pick earlier in his career but now he is playing for his job. Fear is a great motivator.

[SkullCrusher]

Word from multiple sources has been actually that they needed to field the best line they had. Meredith worse than JPJ at guard and ok at center, so that is why..not that Meredith straight out beat him at that position.

Edit: Next post was Chucker pretty much echoing what I wrote right before. I'm responding to something a few pages back now...

I haven't heard that, is there something to link? I've heard Meredith took the bull by the horns during the offseason to prep as center and did it well from Pete's interviews on the subject a couple times.

I see the conversation has been ongoing, people are asking where was this said, google my friends it's east. First one I got this:

1.
“Jordan is really holding on to his spot,” Carroll said. “I really like him playing there for us. I think it just helps everybody, and that’s a real positive aspect if your front cover and your center can really communicate, be consistent and be on point all the time.”

2.
While many anticipated Powers-Johnson’s ascension to the starting job, the Raiders had their sights set on Meredith since the offseason training activities (OTAs). In a candid moment, Meredith recounted the team’s approach: “They came up and said, ‘Get ready to play center.’ And I was like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’”

3.
"Jordan Meredith has done a really good job. ... He's really taken that thing over and done a fine job with it," Carroll said. "JPJ's battling at the guard spot, and we know we've got a real physical guy who's fired up and helps us out as well. The moves were well chosen, and I think we're going to benefit from them."

There's more out there. What doesn't exist is any negativity towards JPJ not being the center, 'cause coaches are professionals.

There is an argument to be had we were better late last season running, there were line changes but there was also a OC change that was dramatic to. It wasn't a singular thing of moving JPJ to Center and look we can run now, it did not happen like that.

I'm one of the toughest on our Oline and overall I did see improvement over last year, the Pats we sending 5 and 6 often (it's a bit of my approach to D) you always have to have penetration, with that in the 2nd quarter as the best example they were getting to Geno now and that effected us a lot, one of the other key things with 5 and 6 man rushes is that we'll take the runner down to on our way to the QB.

Pats sold out quite a bit yesterday. IMO Chip needed to make a play call change faster to make them pay for those 6 man rushes and/or Geno needs to audible into a play to take advantage of that. I know our line isn't great in any way, but we need to be serviceable and imo we "just" hit that mark yesterday, it was far from great, a little better play-calling to. I hope they address the oline accordingly next year or can this unit gel over 17 games?

Geno overall was great with a few forces, while some QB's may not throw into as tight of areas as he would, that also means they are probably checking down and not getting big chunks, Geno had 9 plays of over 20 yards, that's very good. He was strong in the pocket zero panick and looks far down field often, this might not be super efficient play but it's fun and should open up holes in time when running.

[SkullCrusher]

We have some dogs at the LB position for sure.

Mlb vs Mlb while many were taken a back by Spillaine leaving, on this day we won that indirect battle for sure.

11 vs 3 tackles.

Minimum vet vs 34 million dollar contract.

Advantage White.

Pratt very solid to at 2 mil per...

[SkullCrusher]

Agree with the sentiment that JPJ was probably overrated coming into the season. People don’t seem to care much for parham and yet he graded significantly better then JPJ last year per pff. Meredith graded very well last year.

The weird part of our o-line is that individually… there’s really no glaring issue. If you’re going by PFF at least - miller, parham and Meredith both graded in the top quartile of their positions while JPJ and glaze were average. And yet our o-line as a whole was historically bad particularly run blocking.

Part of me wonders if that’s what motivated the change. If you’re going by analytics, it looks like we’re lacking chemistry and execution more than lacking talent. Kind of seen glimpses of it today where for the most part nobody’s getting abused… but good lord every time they ran a twist or sent pressure we had free rushers constantly.

Olines need gel time as we know, new staff changes things up to. Not only the line getting better, but this is Chip's first time really seeing the offense in real games, hopefully there are things he see's here that can help it all out. He didn't call near a perfect game himself.

JPJ was preseason HOF material last year. I guess this is what you get when everyone felt he was a real strong bargain when we picked him and we were (still are) desperate for help here. We over-hyped him, he didn't earn it yet, hopefully he does.

[CWood24]

I wasn't keying on him so it's not like I can definitively say he was very good..... but what I noticed about Meredith was very good. I thought he and Miller were our best linemen. I think JPJ will be a really good lineman, but he wasn't good yesterday - especially when you include the stupid penalty.

The only lineman i really noticed having a bad game was JPJ as he made 3 or 4 glaring errors but i can let that slide as he really hasn't had a settled position since we drafted him

Parham & Glaze weren’t great either but in a way where you didn't notice they weren’t good, they kinda of flew under the radar

Kolton was solid as he always is & i can see us having a few more years of solid play on the left

Meredith didn’t look like a guy who just got dropped into playing C a few months ago which was impressive

I just hope we can get the run game going & get Jeanty into it more

[Jeevo]

the /s at the end of his post kinda gave it away

But you’d have to know what that /s meant. I thought he had gone into convulsions and was randomly hitting keys.

[SkullCrusher]

JPJ is an emotional player. I can guarantee he doesn't take kindly to being a guard. Last year he walked right up to Pierce and pretty much demanded to be a starting center. Pierce obliged. I don't think JPJ can do that with Carroll, so he's stuck at guard. No doubt he's not giving his all.

NFL - Not for Long then, his mommy also went on Social if I recall to tell him to accept the position and man up in so many words.

[SkullCrusher]

Geno is likely the best QB we’ve had since Ganon.

Carr with NFL-testicles would have been a very good QB to.