Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has proven that he is not afraid to challenge his players, nor has he been scared to put his money where his mouth is and actually institute change. On this four-game losing streak, and really all year, the Raiders have been searching for answers up front.
“We’re going to give other guys opportunities. We’re going to keep shaking it up until we find the right mix," Kubiak said on Wednesday about the offensive line.
At first, the solution was to challenge Jackson Powers-Johnson and have Caleb Rogers compete with him at right guard. Then, Rogers took over for Powers-Johnson and left him on the bench. But the results haven't been any better, and arguably worse, with Rogers in the lineup.
But instead of going back to Powers-Johnson amid those struggles, it seems like the Raiders are at least trying something different: rookie Trey Zuhn III at right guard. And perhaps this is the shakeup that could actually solve things for Las Vegas once and for all. The optimism is there, at a minimum.
Raiders appear to be trying out Trey Zuhn III at right guard before Week 8
After Sunday's loss, Kubiak took the podium on Monday and said that Zuhn III and Bryce Cabeldue would be considered for reps at guard going forward. And during Wednesday's practice, it sounds like Kubiak followed through on that.
In a now-deleted social media post, Raiders.com reporter Levi Edwards said that Zuhn III was, in fact, getting first-team reps at right guard. While it is unclear why the post was taken down, Zuhn III talked to the media about what those aforementioned reps did for his confidence.
"Super confident," Zuhn III said. "The team believes that I can get those reps there, so I'm gonna take those reps and be confident. I know I can do it. ... I'm prepared to go help the team win on Sundays."
Oddly enough, Zuhn III hasn't really played guard yet for the Silver and Black. Although he was announced as one on draft night and got some snaps there during practice, in the preseason he played at center and right tackle. And in the regular season, Zuhn III has only played in jumbo sets.
Kubiak seems to be impressed with Zuhn III's development track, though.
“I’ve seen a guy who, since the day he got here, has been a Swiss Army knife. He can play so many positions. He’s a very intelligent, hardworking player who’s still ascending and still getting better, and he’ll have his chance. ... He can do a lot. You’ve got to focus in on a few [positions], but he can do it all. He can play tackle, he can play guard, he can play center. He might be able to play quarterback, I don’t know, I haven’t let him try yet.”
Kirk Cousins felt the same way about the young and versatile offensive lineman.
"We’ve moved him around quite a bit. Part of the reason you move a guy around is because you feel like he can handle it. He’s high capacity. You can make it harder on a guy when you ask him to move around a lot, but it’s also a sign of respect. You do it because you trust him and you say, ‘We’re going to put more on your plate, but we feel like you can handle it.’ He’s done a nice job, worked hard, does whatever he’s asked, and when you do that, your role can keep growing.”
It seems like things are trending toward Zuhn III starting at right guard on Sunday. Obviously, fans won't know until the offense trots out onto the field at MetLife Stadium, but reading the tea leaves, there is a lot of discussion surrounding him. An increase in attention is rarely a complete nothing.
Why Trey Zuhn III could be the solution at right guard for Las Vegas
Simply put, both Powers-Johnson and Rogers have struggled, and Zuhn III looked promising, both in the preseason and has held his own in the real games, albeit in limited reps. And the only way to find out is if he's given a full workload on Sunday against an underrated New York Jets defensive front.
Zuhn III is incredibly athletic, so he's always been the kind of offensive lineman that Kubiak covets. And with months of experience under his belt in the Raiders' mix of blocking schemes, which has included gap, inside zone and outside zone, he should have a mastery of the playbook and concepts.
Plus, he has been getting his feet wet already, with 21 offensive snaps played in the last six weeks. That may not sound like a lot, but even a handful of reps helps both to calm the nerves and help a young player catch up to the speed of the game. Zuhn III has hopefully accomplished both.
Coming out of college, and according to what his coaches and teammates say about him, Zuhn III is incredibly intelligent and hardworking, so there should be no mental errors. And his effort is heralded constantly, so any mistakes Zuhn III may make won't be for a lack of trying. He won't give up on plays.
If given the opportunity, Zuhn III will undoubtedly have some plays that he wants back; he would be a mid-round rookie making his debut in the starting lineup at a position he has never played before. But if he can put enough good stuff on tape, Las Vegas could easily bank on his upside.
Right now, the Raiders have the worst rushing attack in the league, and a lot of that can be attributed to the interior offensive line getting blown up and missing assignments. Pass protection has largely been good, but a bit streaky lately as well, again, particularly from the center and guards.
In a way, Zuhn III can't be much worse than what the Silver and Black have had to deal with. And folks in the building seem to be confident that this next potential shakeup could be the one that actually solves things. A lot can change in a few days, but Las Vegas is seemingly entertaining Zuhn III at RG.
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