Raiders moving Alex Leatherwood back to RT could be disastrous
Raiders moving Alex Leatherwood back to RT could be disastrous
A tough decision lays ahead for the Raiders
Reiterating what was mentioned before, the Leatherwood situation is a delicate matter that must be handled carefully. A young player’s confidence is a fragile thing and, if mismanaged, could be disastrous.
If the Raiders bench Leatherwood, for example, it would send a message to him that the team has given up on him already. Even if it isn’t necessarily true, it doesn’t inspire confidence. Moving him to guard, as they did last season, shows that coaching was trying to place him in a position where he could succeed, maximizing his strengths and acknowledging he wasn’t ready to be an NFL right tackle just yet. They’re two different approaches.
The caveat, though, is that the NFL is a business, and always has been, first and foremost. The Raiders want to win and they want to win now, especially with the incoming admin and coaching staff. I’d be remiss to say these people don’t give a damn about a player’s feelings.
You’re a professional in the NFL. If you get benched or moved, step up your play and put your best foot forward. The Raiders, much like any other team, are like a train, and they’ll keep chugging along with or without you.