5 possible surprises from Las Vegas Raiders training camp

5 possible surprises from Las Vegas Raiders training camp

Maliek Collins wins starting defensive tackle job

Jon Gruden has come out and revealed how high he is on defensive tackle Maliek Collins and his importance to the defense. Collins had an excellent 2019 with the Dallas Cowboys, and could be one of the under the radar moves that helps the Raiders totally revamp their defense.

One of the defensive tackle spots is spoken for by Johnathan Hankins, but there is going to be a fierce battle between Maurice Hurst and Collins for the second spot. Hurst has the continuity advantage, and had a good 2019, but Collins appears to be a favorite of both Gruden and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli so he could just as easily win that starting role.

Remember, Collins played under Marinelli, who was brought in to be the defensive line coach, in Dallas last season, so that could play to his advantage. In addition, Gruden has recently said that the defense will go as far as Collins will take it, which is incredible praise.

Regardless of who starts, depth on the defensive line is vital to a winning team, and as long as the Raiders get great contributions from both Hurst and Collins, the rest of the defense should be in good shape. Finally, there are debates circling around solid players on the defensive side of the ball, which can only be seen as good news for the coaches, team, and fans alike.