Oakland Raiders Make or Break Unit: the Secondary

Aug 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) holds up the ball after catching a pass in front of Oakland Raiders cornerback Tarell Brown (23) for a first down in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Vikings win 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Current Corners

Tarell Brown is the only one that was supposed to be a starter from the very beginning and he got beat like a drum early in the preseason. But he seemed to pick it up in the third preseason game against the Green Bay Packers before resting in the preseason finale. We’ll see what happens when the season starts but I already don’t like the fact that he plays way off the receiver and peaks into the backfield.

Carlos Rogers also started off getting cooked but that was more because he was playing outside instead of the slot, his preferred position. But he seemed to be able to adapt to the outside spot  as he came on for the Packers game so  we’ll see if he can hold up outside. But one thing we do know is he’s pretty good in the slot and that’s where he’ll be on third downs for the Raiders this year.

As of right now, T.J. Carrie will be manning the outside corner spot on third down, when Rogers kicks inside. Carrie is scary for the Raiders in this spot because while he has made some plays, he’s also given up a catch over 20 yards every time we’ve seen him this preseason. Head coach Dennis Allen can pump him up and sell him to Raider Nation all he wants but he’s only there until guys come back from injury.

The Raiders just need these three corners to hold up a couple of weeks for Chekwa and Thorpe then they can handle it until Hayden gets back.