2018 Oakland Raiders Training Camp: From A-Z

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden (L) and Raiders owner Mark Davis pose for a photograph during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden (L) and Raiders owner Mark Davis pose for a photograph during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 12: Eddy Pineiro #15 of the Florida Gators reacts after kicking a 54-yard field goal during the second half of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 12: Eddy Pineiro #15 of the Florida Gators reacts after kicking a 54-yard field goal during the second half of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

Pineiro or Tavecchio?

The great kicking debate of 2018.

That is what we are going to call it, as the starting kicker job will be up in the air heading into Napa. During mandatory minicamp, both Eddy Pineiro and Giorgio Tavecchio had their chances to be the only kicker to participate in the practices, and the reviews on each kicker were quite mixed.

Last season, Tavecchio stepped in for the Raiders in place of the injured Sebastian Janikowski, and kicked pretty well for the Silver and Black. Still, the Raiders went out and signed Pineiro as a undrafted free agent after the 2018 NFL Draft, and he has wowed coaches at times with his power, and accuracy.

Pineiro played with punter Johnny Townsend at Florida, which adds a bit more intrigue to this kicking battle. The job is Tavecchio’s to lose heading into training camp, but it looks like Pineiro may be the better kicker at this point.

There is nothing like a good kicking battle, and it is certain that the team is only going to keep one of these two. It will come down to how they not only kick in practice, but also preseason games, where jobs like kicker and punter are won.