Las Vegas Raiders: Predicting winners of top 6 training camp battles
Las Vegas Raiders: Predicting winners of top 6 training camp battles
No. 4 Defensive Tackle
Top Competitors Vying for Spots: P.J. Hall, Daniel Ross, Kendal Vickers
Here’s the jaw-dropper if you haven’t paid attention to Mayock and Gruden call out a specific defensive tackle by name.
During the NFL Scouting Combine, Mayock put P.J. Hall on notice, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic:
A little alarm went off for third-year DT P.J. Hall today in Indy.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) February 25, 2020
Here's Mayock: "P.J.’s got a challenge. We have a new defensive line coach coming in, and trust me, Rod Marinelli doesn’t put up with anything but 100 percent hustle. Nothing but.” #Raiders
During Thursday’s media press conference, Gruden made a direct statement concerning Hall’s conditioning.
“…P.J. Hall, I’m anxious to see where his weight is, he came in overweight last year and at that position that can’t happen,” Gruden said.
Mayock and Gruden didn’t have a problem putting Hall’s name out there as someone who has to press harder in preparation or give more effort. Once those issues come into question, it’s difficult to shake that label.
Monday, the hammer fell, as Hall was released by the team.
The Raiders replaced defensive line coach Brentson Buckner with Rod Marinelli, who held the same position with the Dallas Cowboys since 2013.
Vegas signed Daniel Ross. He spent two active years under Marinelli in Dallas, so one may expect him to make the final roster. The fourth-year pro landed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury last August.
Ross could claim the fourth spot at defensive tackle behind Johnathan Hankins, Maliek Collins and Maurice Hurst. Thinking outside the box, the Raiders may find a veteran upgrade among roster cuts this summer.
In 2019, the club signed Corey Liuget late August, and he held a roster spot through late October. We could see that happen again.
Typically, the fourth defensive tackle isn’t noteworthy, but this situation got a little clearer Monday with Hall’s release.
Prediction: Player Not Yet on Roster (Mike Daniels? Damon Harrison? Marcell Dareus?)