raiderkoch wrote: Sun Sep 07, 2025 5:33 pm
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.