This preseason has helped the Las Vegas Raiders sort through a lot of their issues. In some ways, they've found solutions, and in others, they know they still need to find answers. For instance, it is clear that they need wide receiver help, but they also learned that their running back corps is deep.
At cornerback, however, the equation is a little bit different. Eric Stokes is entrenched on one side of the field, but the team doesn't exactly know who will start opposite him. Fortunately, though, the right answer is already on the roster; it will just be a matter of choice for Klint Kubiak and Co.
Darien Porter is the incumbent and probably the frontrunner for the job at this point, but rookie Zeke Masses isn't going away quietly, and fellow first-year stud Jermod McCoy is the ultimate dark horse in this battle. And the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers should be the deciding vote.
Raiders should let the preseason finale vs. 49ers decide the CB2 battle
Reports from training camp indicated that both Porter and Masses were worthy of a starting nod. The results from the first preseason game indicated that maybe the young cornerback group wasn't as far along as most thought, though. And that was emphatically pointed out in last Thursday's game.
While almost every defensive starter sat on the sidelines against the Houston Texans in preseason Week 2, both Porter and Masses suited up. This was an obvious message: neither player had earned the right not to suit up and stand on the side the other first-teamers yet. This is an ongoing battle.
Porter didn't have his best showing against Houston, giving up a sizeable reception and missing a tackle on a play that resulted in a touchdown. Masses, by contrast, had a near-perfect outing, albeit playing exclusively against the second-team offense, whereas Porter faced the Texans' 1s.
This week at practice, though, both players have brought it. Porter continues to get most of the first-team reps, and he made several nice pass break-ups during Tuesday's practice. Masses, however, is rotating in with the 1s, and he picked off Fernando Mendoza on Sunday, which was a big statement.
Honestly, the real answer lies somewhere in the middle. Both Porter and Masses should rotate in, and as the team flashed at times earlier in camp, maybe there's a world where both are on the field with Stokes, as Masses could have the versatility to slide into the slot at times.
But this battle is just too close to call at this point, so Thursday's game against the 49ers should tell the story of who deserves it. Whichever player answers the call with all of the pressure on them in this competition is likely to be the best person for the job in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins.
Can that change over the course of the season? Absolutely. These two will spell each other anyway. But Kubiak has said in no uncertain terms that every player will be competing for their spot all season long. Unlike Pete Carroll, he absolutely means it.
Earning the starting job should be a matter of pride and a goal for everyone in the building to strive for. Whether it be Masses or Porter, may the best man win. At the end of the day, they're both in Silver and Black, so whoever is out there, Raider Nation will cheer hard for them.
As Kubiak says, it will reveal itself. Probably on Thursday night.
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