Oakland Raiders: Week 1 – Pressures, Hurries and Knockdowns

HURRIES

• Very disappointing to hear Mario Edwards Jr. is on short-term IR with his hip issue. After recovering from a scary neck condition he was poised for a big year. The Raiders will need UDFA Darius Latham and second-round pick Jihad Ward to play well and pickup the slack.
• I wish I had, but I just didn’t see the “vast improvement” that D.J. Hayden was supposed to have made during the preseason. He still looks unsure and hesitant — and that trumps any talent or practice strides he may have under his belt. He needs to believe in himself and play more aggressively or else he needs to go. T.J. Carrie still looks like a better player.
• Interested to see how DeAndre Washington is used on offense in the first game. He looked positively dynamic both running and catching the ball in preseason, and should get plenty of opportunities to spell Latavius Murray as the Raiders are overly wary of putting too much on Murray after the way last season ended.
• Speaking of Washington — he, Jalen Richard and Johnny Holton looked quite good returning kicks in the preseason. Seabass is down 10 pounds and kicking like it’s 2005 and Marquette King punted like a man possessed in the preseason. With the additions of coverage men Daren Bates and Brynden Trawick on special teams, the overall unit may be one of the best in football.
• Al Davis’ final draft pick, supplemental third-round quarterback Terrelle Pryor, is now a starting wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns.  Davis was always great at spotting athletic ability, and Pryor has that in spades to go with a massive 6’4″, 210-pound frame and exceptional speed. Though he didn’t make it as a Raider or a quarterback, he will always be remembered by many as a fitting last pick by the old rebel — who was right one last time.

Next: Knockdown - No East Coast Success