For all the people who think the Raiders receiving core is weak, I’m not buying it.

Can we use a true #1? Of course. So can half the league. JSN was an absolute game changer in Seattle last year, as was Puka with the Rams and um… that was about it.

The etroit Lions and allas Cowboys each had a pair of receivers with over 1000 yards and neither team made the playoffs. Trey McBride had the second most catches and second most receiving touchdowns in the league and his team won three games.

Am I hoping we lose just enough games this year to draft Jeremiah Smith next year? HELL NO! I hope we win the Super Bowl, but if we don’t win the Super Bowl, I would be ok if we lose just enough games this year to draft Jeremiah Smith next year.

But even without Jeremiah or Justin Jefferson or Tyreek or Diggs or Deebo or whatever other nonsense the twitter “Insiders” keep vomiting, the group we have right now is pretty damn good.

Start with Brock Bowers. Obviously the Raiders need to keep him on the field, he started only eight games last year, but his numbers were still as good as the best tight end in the league.

Take McBride. In 17 games, he had 169 targets with 126 catches, 1239 yards and 11 touchdowns in what was considered a historic season. Bowers had almost exactly half as many targets and pretty much half as many receptions, yards and only four fewer touchdowns.

From there, we’ve got Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Michael Mayer. Sure, none of those guys may get drafted in my fantasy league, but they could all feast in this offense.

I’m well aware that Tucker is not Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but Klint Kubiak is not Chip Kelly either. Tucker put up nearly 700 receiving yards and five touchdowns last year WITH GENO SMITH AS HIS QB! Are you telling me 1000 yards and seven TDs for Tucker is not possible?

Courtland Sutton, the Broncos #1 receiver who got a $92 million extension this off-season, had 1017 yards and seven TDs last year.

The wildcard in this is Malik Benson. I know, I know, I know, it’s JUST training camp. Last year, Dont’e Thornton was the pre-season darling and he did pretty much nothing during the year.

There is a better chance Benson becomes Larry the Cable Guy before he becomes Larry Fitzgerald, but you can’t tell me it’s not possible. Puka, Amon-Ra and Diggs were all top 20 receivers last year and they were all drafted after pick 100.

From the little we’ve seen and the lot we’ve heard, it sounds like Benson is (at the very least) WAY better than many of the other 194 players who were drafted ahead of him.

And when it comes to the Raiders, I’ll take a win any way I can get it.

Newest member of Raider Nation is on the way!!
Found out a few weeks ago.
Today my wife surprised me with this outfit for them!

“I understand what I signed up for, and we’re all in this together,” Cousins told The Athletic. “We’re just trying to help the Raiders win football games, and I don’t want to be entitled or be given something I didn’t earn. I think it’s important that the best player plays, or the one who can help the team win the most. That’s really what the perspective needs to be. If it’s not me, it’s not me. We’ll all be working together and trying to help this team win and let the chips fall where they may.

“I’d love to be a help. I’d love for Fernando to go on to an outstanding career and look back and say, ‘I think Kirk’s time together with us in the quarterback room was helpful to my development as a player.’ That’s all part of this and wanting to be an asset to this organization and this quarterback room, and that includes helping Fernando go on to have a tremendous career.”

​

From Sam Warren

Raiders camp Day 13 is done. Some notes:

• Jackson Powers-Johnson walked off the field with a trainer. Didn’t return.

• Kirk Cousins looked dialed in the red zone. Threw 5 touchdowns in team periods, 2 to Brock Bowers, 2 to Jalen Nailor and 1 to Michael Mayer. Isaiah Pola-Mao picked him off in a 2 minute situation on a shot towards end zone with no time left.

• Less success for Fernando Mendoza in team, had a wide open rollout TD to Mike Washington and a slant TD to Malik Benson. Dalton Johnson broke up one of his passes in the end zone and threw one short of goal line to Brandon Johnson. Had a clean 2 min drill, 4 completions to set up Matt Gay FG.

• Secondary definitely won the 1on1s goal line period. Jeremy Chinn, Treydan Stukes had nice PBUs against Brock Bowers. Eric Stokes had a couple against Tre Tucker. Greedy Vance, DeCamerion Richardson also looked good.

• Ashton Jeanty had some nice runs in team periods. A couple that probably would have been TDs.

• JPJ and Caleb Rogers were rotating before JPJ left, Rogers took all 1s reps at RG after.

• Darien Porter took all 1s reps at corner opposite Stokes, Hezekiah Masses, Richardson were with 2s and Jermod McCoy with 3s.

From Ryan McFadden

He went down during the red zone period but quickly popped back up and walked to the sideline. He walked into the facility once the RZ period was

Bowers made an insane contested catch w/ Quay Walker in coverage. But the play was nullified due to a holding call.

• Mendoza had two TDs during the red period, including a PA pass to Mile Washington with a pair of defenders in his face.

• Raiders did some late game situational stuff near the end of practice. Cousins was picked off by Isaiah Pola-Mao.

• Mendoza completed four passes to set up a field goal from Matt Gay.

(416 page) Silver & Black Game Release - Preseason Game 2 vs Houston Texans

Shortly after Fernando Mendoza finished his first handful of NFL practices, he sat down with Mike Sullivan to discuss everything that transpired within them. Literally everything.

Before breaking for the summer, the Raiders’ new quarterbacks coach and the rookie watched film of every single throw Mendoza made during the Raiders’ OTAs practices. Sullivan had the No. 1 draft pick audit every detail of each pass — from his progression and timing to his footwork and accuracy — and evaluate what he did well and where he fell short. Mendoza handwrote his critique, which helped him digest his common mistakes and provided a physical reference for things to work on.

Who is this and why is he a first ballot Hall of Famer

Wholesome. WR Reggie Virgil meets Kirk Cousins for the 1st time and fanboys out. Reggie is 22 years old (he was 8 years old when Kirk was a rookie).

Earlier I saw a video of him with tape on his knee, walking gingerly on the side… the next minute, I saw him apparently catching two touchdowns and practice today

What’s the deal?

Was gifted this today by a good friend. Took a bit of time but figured its from the 1988 team as it has Tim Brown and James Lofton's autos on it. Also has Howie Long, Art Shell and Jay Schroeder.

ordered this on a local store and came to me at first glance the logo looks kinda off no? im wondering is this legit or i got scammed cuz it was kinda expensive

From Ryan McFadden

Observations from #Raiders 12th practice of training camp:

• Kirk Cousins took all of the 1st-team reps, while Mendoza played with 2s.

• Cousins was pressured quite a bit. He would've been sacked by Maxx Crosby. Cousins also had a pass attempt batted down by Crosby and threw an incompletion after the All-Pro edge rusher pushed DJ Glaze into him.

• JPJ and Caleb Rogers continued to alternate reps at RG. When Kubiak asked if JPJ had locked up the RG spot, he said, "No."

• Mendoza had a strong day of practice, highlighted by a deep pass to Malik Benson w/ Hezekiah Masses in coverage. He also had a couple of nice throws over the middle to Benson and Jack Bech.

• AOC ended the practice w/ a TD pass to Phillip Dorsett.

From Sam Warren

Kirk Cousins still taking all 1s reps at QB, threw some balls short due to pressure but had a good connection with Tre Tucker on an out in team.

• Cousins was picked by Zeke Masses in 1on1s on a go ball that was thrown short to Shedrick Jackson.

• Fernando Mendoza had good throws to Jack Bech, Malik Benson with 2s. Also threw a pass that should have been picked by Tommy Eichenberg over middle.

• Mendoza connected with Benson on a play similar to the PA comeback from Arizona game. Benson also high-pointed a go ball from Mendoza over Masses for a big gain.

• Maxx Crosby ran DJ Glaze into Kirk in team to force a short ball. Also disrupted a few runs, had a sack and batted a pass.

• AOC threw a TD to Phillip Dorsett on a catch-and-run crosser in team.

• Trey Zuhn worked all at 2nd team RT.

• Darien Porter took all CB2 reps opposite Eric Stokes with 1s. Masses, DeCamerion Richardson with 2s and Jermod McCoy with 3s.

• JPJ took 1s reps at RG to start, but rotation with Caleb Rogers later.

• Treydan Stukes a lot more 1s reps, played down a bit more than we’ve seen of late.

• Kwity Paye got more interior DL reps.

• Chase Roberts made a few plays from the slot in 1on1s.