Green Bay Packers at Oakland Raiders: 3 up and 3 down

Backup QBs

Honestly, what is there to say about Connor Cook and EJ Manuel. One of them is most likely going to be cut in the next week or so. “I don’t know”. That is Jon Gruden’s response when asked if the backup quarterback is currently on the team. That is as blunt as you can get. Gruden is right though and I’ll take it a step further.

The backup quarterback is not on this team. Almost every team in the league would be done for without their starting quarterback, but the Raiders wouldn’t even have a chance of scoring with their backups.

Cook looked solid against the Detroit Lions and has flamed out since. Manuel has fumbled in every game and can’t even throw a simple swing pass. We saw a lot of garbage on the field Friday. It truly was hard to watch. Whoever the Raiders bring in to fill the backup quarterback spot can’t get much worse than these two. Their stocks are easily in the negative and have no way of rising.

Mario Edwards Jr

Mario Edwards Jr is going to be phased out of any significant role thanks to the rookies. Edwards hasn’t played bad this preseason, but he hasn’t played lights out either. I don’t think Edwards would get cut from the team, but his minutes are going to be very low this season.

Maurice Hurst is easily the better player, so he’ll box out Edwards for most of the minutes. Edwards isn’t really gonna be an end much either, although he did get looks at it in the second half. Paul Guenther wants him manning the middle more, which means he’ll be subbing in.

Edwards is buried on the depth chart. That’s actually a good thing. Well not for him, but the defense overall because if Edwards is on the back end of your depth chart, then the quality of the position is stellar. It’s hard to see Edwards earn his way back up.

All the rookies who have been brought in are outperforming him easily and effecting plays more often. Who knows, Edwards might even get cut. He’s definitely expendable at this point.

Ryan Switzer

I don’t want to read too much into one preseason game, but this was supposed to be the “dress rehearsal” game. Switzer hardly got looks with the starting offense and was barely targeted in the whole game. After Gruden’s recent comments regarding who the No. 3 receiver, you’d think we would’ve seen more from Switzer.

He was raved all offseason, but hasn’t really done much this preseason. His stock has definitely declined since Gruden doesn’t see him as a big contributor to the offense.

Especially if his main role will be as a punt returner. Seth Roberts received more snaps than Switzer, but that’s because Gruden hasn’t seen anything of Roberts yet. Still, Switzer was quiet. He didn’t make much of the limited opportunity this game. That’s probably why Gruden is frustrated with no one stepping up to be the No. 3 receiver.

No one is taking advantage of their opportunities and Switzer isn’t building upon his offseason praise.