Not sure if this was posted earlier, and if it was, enjoy it again. Renfrow

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If Jimmy sucks, he sucks. There will be no excuses from me. I bet Jimmy won't blame everyone else though. Well, if Jimmy sucks I hope he sucks real bad so we'll have a chance at getting Caleb Williams in the draft. :thinking: I hate it when QBs suck but not bad enough to lose their job and it just goes on and on year after year, not good enough for playoffs, not bad enough to get fired.

LOL

https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/saints-camp-observations-derek-carr-still-settling-in/article_cbba0ddc-32f9-11ee-a450-5fabe6467a82.html Thanks for the link. The quotes below are from that link. Just wanted folks to feel better about Raiders TC.

The off day Thursday was not enough for the offense to regain some of its mojo — at least in the passing game.

Derek Carr and the rest of the New Orleans offense had their second straight disjointed-looking practice Friday. Carr was regularly under duress, which threw off the timing. The veteran quarterback also missed some makeable throws, including what would’ve been a huge gain to an open Chris Olave deep downfield.

One team period, in particular, highlighted the difficulties the passing game had: In four pass plays, Carr had a pass batted down at the line, appeared to deliberately throw a pass over Kawaan Baker’s head near the sideline in a throw away, was sacked before he could get rid of the ball then overthrew an open Olave. After the sack, Carr spiked the ball in disgust.

Again, this is only a snapshot of one practice. It is far too early to be concerned about the offense, especially given some of the strong practices earlier in training camp. But the group is definitely in the midst of some growing pains. Been there, done that, glad it's no longer the Raiders. About that idea, "It is far too early to be concerned about the offense. . ." Riiiiight.

I must admit the tweets or whatever we call them now, have me divided.

My interpretation (guess): it appears the passing defense right now are showing signs of improvement while the passing offense is showing signs that they need to work on timing and developing some chemistry. Three new QBs on the team, I guess we should expect the D to be ahead of the O at this time of year. More than likely, the beat writers will give us some articles that will (hopefully) give a more fulsome picture of what is happening on the field. Tweets (I don't care what Musk wants to call them) are cryptic and often give a message that wasn't intended by the tweeter. A tweet is just a tweet.

KillerRaider30 wrote Fri Aug 04, 2023 11:27 am:All the interceptions have me worried

Doesn't it make you hopeful about the D?

Tweets are few and far between right now.

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Tell me again Atlasffa how Hoyer is the perfect fit? It's not a question of if, but when, G goes down with an injury. Hoyer hasn't won a game since '16 going 0-12 in that time span. Dude is 38.

I thought the whole Idea of the NFL is to have a good backup in case of an emergency unless the grand plan is to sign a gimp.... with a lame backup so we can get the 1st pick in the '24 draft.

Then I say fucking brilliant.

https://images.flickreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Al-Swearengen-deadwood-20807784-1692-2560.jpg From my perspective, it's his intangibles that make him a good fit for this season. He knows the system inside out and is ready, willing and able to coach up young guys at a reasonable price. He's a locker room guy, no ego, humble, does whatever he can to make the team better. I think he can promote good chemistry and do a lot of behind the scenes stuff that never gets noticed or praised by the public but teammates and coaches know. Not saying he could compete for QB1 at this point, and that's not why they signed him on, but he'll be ready to jump in on a moment's notice and won't be clueless if his number gets called. He's probably a one-year guy. Just helping the team gel while they are getting accustomed to the McD method. Not a long termer, a rental in time of need, a guy who can teach on the field.

Meanwhile, in the "Andy Dalton after a trip to Sephora on Groundhog Day" thread... crickets.

We could argue they deserve to be top 10. . .

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Nice article about Brian Hoyer today in The Athletic written by Tashan Reed. Video of the presser was posted above by Raiderandbulldog. It's worth listening to--Brian is well-spoken and his commitment to being a great teammate is evident. He's the perfect fit for this season.

The bottom of the article includes these notes:

• Running back Zamir White had his first highlight of training camp with a long run down the left sideline during 11-on-11 drills toward the end of practice. He’s known as a power runner, but he showed an ability to separate from defenders once he made it to the second level. He’s been able to show off his talents as a runner and blocker more vividly during padded practices Tuesday and Wednesday.

When asked what stands out about White’s game, McDaniels said, “His run skill and innate ability to see things when he has the ball. Find lanes and cutbacks. When he’s supposed to bounce and when he’s not. When he’s supposed to go ahead and tuck in there and make some hard yards. And I’d say just overall his ability to go forward on contact. …

“He didn’t have a lot of opportunity last year, obviously, because of Josh (Jacobs). I’m just looking forward to continuing to work with him, but he’s putting a lot of time and effort into trying to be a complete player. … He wants to be good in blitz pickup, he wants to improve in the passing game, and all those things are part of a young back’s progression. He’s really working at all those phases.”

• For the second practice in a row, Thayer Munford was the starting right tackle during 11-on-11 drills. Jermaine Eluemunor had that spot locked down for most of OTAs and the first week of training camp, but it looks like Munford has made up some ground in the competition.

Eluemunor split time between right guard and right tackle last season, but he has been working exclusively at right tackle this year. The Raiders like Alex Bars at right guard, so it could be a make-or-break situation for Eluemunor at right tackle.

“This is the first training camp of my career I’ve been able to come in as a starter,” Eluemunor said Wednesday. “But then that adds more pressure. In this camp, it’s more about solidifying my spot than it is earning. But then also we have talented guys in the room: Thayer, Brandon (Parker), even Justin (Herron). It’s more about improving every day myself and solidifying my spot, but then also finding ways to get better.”

• McDaniels was asked Wednesday about the status of edge rusher Tyree Wilson (non-football injury list), defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (NFI) and defensive tackle Byron Young (physically unable to perform list). He wouldn’t disclose when he expects them to return but said they’re getting closer.

“They are. Day-by-day,” McDaniels said. “They’re in every meeting. They’re paying attention. They’re studying. They’re doing all the things they can do at this point while they’re getting closer to returning. … As soon as they’re ready, they’ll be out there.”

• Cornerback Brandon Facyson had to be carted off the field during practice Tuesday due to a leg injury and didn’t practice Wednesday, but McDaniels said he doesn’t expect him to be out long term. A timeline for his return remains unclear, but it seems the injury wasn’t as bad as it appeared.

• During 11-on-11 drills, Nate Hobbs was lined up at nickelback with the starting defense. He had a stellar rookie campaign at the position in 2021 but, last season, mostly played outside due to injuries elsewhere, and his play dropped off significantly. With him inside, Marcus Peters and Jakorian Bennett held down the two first-team cornerback spots.

• Running back Austin Walter also didn’t practice Wednesday after suffering a leg injury Tuesday. Safety Jaquan Johnson missed the last two practices with an undisclosed injury but returned to action Wednesday wearing a red non-contact jersey. The Raiders signed tight end Jacob Hollister on Wednesday to replace fellow tight end O.J. Howard who was cut Tuesday. Link to article for subscribers: https://theathletic.com/4743724/2023/08/02/brian-hoyer-raiders-jimmy-garoppolo/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

Various talking heads and sources giving high praise to Hunter.

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Here's some excerpts from an article by Tashan Reed posted in The Athletic. Gives some insight into the cryptic tweets we see from various sources.

HENDERSON, Nev. — After a poor snap exchange between center Andre James and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the ball hit the ground Tuesday during an 11-on-11 drill featuring the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting offense and starting defense. Unbeknownst to edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the play had been blown dead before the snap due to a false start. So Crosby kept going and made a move for the ball while Garoppolo scrambled to pick it up.

There were heated words exchanged between Garoppolo and Crosby immediately after, a spat that continued even after another group of players took the field for the next snap. The coaching staff eventually got involved, and Crosby was told to take a lap around the field. While jogging along the sideline, Crosby turned toward the crowd in the stands and waved his arm in the air.

“Turn up!” he shouted before completing his lap and retaking the field.

The Raiders didn’t hold anything back in their first padded practice of training camp. It has become standard practice across the league to merely make contact and leave it at that, but the Raiders were hitting and tackling each other to the ground during 11-on-11 drills toward the end of the session.

“Real football is what we play on Sundays, right?” running back Ameer Abdullah said. “It’s always interesting to see how fundamentals carry over from non-padded to padded practice days. These are the days that we really lock in on the fundamentals, make sure we’re keeping it simple and guys are playing with the right technique because that wins football games.”

Naturally, tensions were heightened as a result of the contact. There weren’t any fights, but there was a copious amount of trash-talking, yelling and other emotions.

Crosby was particularly amped up. In addition to the back-and-forth with Garoppolo, he pancaked and intentionally stepped over rookie tight end Michael Mayer during a red zone drill and was talking throughout practice. Crosby’s energy wasn’t ill-willed, of course. He wanted to ramp up the competition, tenacity and energy of practice, all of which had been lacking throughout the first week.

“That’s every day with Maxx,” defensive tackle Bilal Nichols said. “He’s that type of guy. He inspires others with his work ethic and he’s going to bring it every day. And, as a teammate, it forces you to have to match his energy. He’s just an all-around unbelievable dude and he inspires all of his teammates to be better and better each day.”

Coach Josh McDaniels and his staff didn’t allow full tackling in their first season with the Raiders, so the approach is a notable change. McDaniels won’t talk to the media until Wednesday, but it’s presumably an effort to help improve the team’s physicality, toughness and grit in the lead-up to the regular season. The bottom of the article included these notes:

• Garoppolo had a rough day at practice Monday, but he bounced back Tuesday with a strong outing. He didn’t turn the ball over and there weren’t many balls that hit the ground, period. He had a few nice intermediate to deep throws during one-on-one and seven-on-seven drills. His best throw of the day was a go ball to receiver Davante Adams, who was matched up one-on-one with cornerback Marcus Peters. The 11-on-11 session was more focused on the run, but Garoppolo still displayed good accuracy on a few short completions.

“He’s mentally tough,” Abdullah said of Garoppolo’s resiliency. “He’s a guy that’s going to stand in there. He’s a guy who’s a leader. He’s a guy who is the same if he throws a 60-yard bomb or an interception. And I think that’s what’s really important: keeping the same energy. Because, as the quarterback, everyone’s watching you. You’re the guy. Whether it’s the fans or your teammates, everyone’s watching you. So, if you hang your head and you’re low in your low moments and you’re high in your high moments, people kind of ride off of that. So, a guy who’s very steadfast is what this team needs.”

• The Raiders signed linebacker Darius Harris on Monday. The four-year veteran spent his first three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Last year, he played all 17 games, made four starts and finished with a career-high 43 tackles as a contributor on defense and special teams.

The team also re-signed quarterback Chase Garbers, whom they waived last month. To make room, they waived tight end O.J. Howard, offensive tackle Justin Murray and linebacker Kana’i Mauga.

• Cornerback Nate Hobbs returned to practice Monday wearing a red non-contact jersey after missing the first week of training camp with an eye injury, but he wore a normal jersey and was a full-contact participant Tuesday. He largely played with the backups as he works himself back into game shape, but, intriguingly, he was one of the players fielding punts during special teams drills. That’s something he has never done in the NFL, so it’ll be interesting to see whether he’s able to carve out a role there.

“I’ll be honest with you: I don’t know if I’ve seen Nate back there,” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said Tuesday when asked about Hobbs’ fielding punts. “Some guys are just going back, and I don’t know who they are.”

• The offense had some issues with pre-snap penalties Tuesday. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was responsible for several. In response, the coaching staff had Thayer Munford take his place during 11-on-11 drills.

• With Josh Jacobs still away from the team, Zamir White and Abdullah split time as the starting running back. White took most of the carries and Abdullah was called upon more in pass-catching situations. The Raiders are expected to take a by-committee approach to the position as long as Jacobs remains unsigned, but, ideally, White will be able to separate himself.

“That guy finishes, man,” Abdullah said when asked about White. “He finishes all the way down the field almost every single time. He’s a guy who’s going to do the little things.”

• There were three mainstays on the starting defensive line Tuesday: Crosby and Chandler Jones on the edge and Nichols at nose tackle. The other defensive tackle spot was rotational, but John Jenkins and Jerry Tillery split most of the snaps. It’s important to keep in mind that edge rusher Tyree Wilson and defensive tackles Neil Farrell Jr. and Byron Young are all out due to injury, so the group is far from full strength.

• Marcus Peters and David Long Jr. took most of the first-team snaps at outside cornerback with Duke Shelley and Jakorian Bennett working in behind them. The defense spent most of its time in a 4-3 base with three linebackers on the field — Divine Deablo, Robert Spillane and Luke Masterson — so it was hard to glean the pecking order at nickelback.

• The Raiders practice in pads again Wednesday. After an off day Thursday, they’ll return to action Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Next week, they’ll host the 49ers for joint practices leading up to their first preseason game Aug. 13. Link to complete article for subscribers: https://theathletic.com/4740023/2023/08/01/maxx-crosby-raiders-training-camp/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

"He'll be like "that's on me, that's on me and we're like 'no it's a collaboration...' " Get used to it Michael. . .

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Glad Hunter is looking good in TC. Hopefully Jimmy won't throw him hospital balls every game.

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Just saw our new #4 throw the bomb with some of the worst mechanics i have seen in a long time. Think it was from last week, no pads on. Completed pass but ugly to watch I had the same thought when I saw that clip. Very ugly. Let's hope it wasn't his best. -- Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:53 am -- Any news on Pola-Mao? I think this kid can be a breakout player for us. I haven't seen anything specifically about him. Now that you've mentioned the name, I'll keep a look out.

Nice article about Jokobi Meyers in The Athletic, written by Vic Tafur. Here's some excerpts:

Meyers, 26, also has the work ethic of a player who went undrafted, and he doesn’t have much time for compliments.

“I just like to stay out of the way and play football, man,” Meyers said. “That’s the honest truth. I don’t want any problems with anybody, and I don’t want anybody to have problems with me. I just go out there and play football.”

He did get a chuckle out of Adams, arguably the best receiver in the NFL, learning something from him.

“He’s just a pro, honestly,” Meyers said. “All the good things you hear about him, those aren’t just things people just randomly said. He earned every compliment. … He attacks the game well, he can do a lot of things on the field, and I see why he gets paid the big bucks. … It’s been a lot (to watch) honestly, I could sit here and name it all day, but I know y’all want to go home.”

Raiders coach Josh McDaniels was Meyers’ offensive coordinator during his early years with the Patriots and remembers Meyers not wasting any time making an impression.

“He played on opening day as a rookie, I remember that. So, he’s always been a mature guy,” McDaniels said Saturday. “He’s always been intelligent, and he learned quick. And so, like all young players, you have to kind of go through that process of making a few mistakes and then learning from those, but he very rarely repeats an error.

“And that’s something we preach as much as anything. It’s OK to make a mistake, you just can’t keep making the same one over and over again because that usually hurts your opportunities to win. … Jakobi has learned from every player that he’s been around and now he’s able to kind of give back to some of the younger guys on our team.” At the bottom of the article, Vic included some TC tidbits:

• Garoppolo nearly threw back-to-back interceptions on Monday, but the first one was dropped before Isaiah Pola-Mao picked him off on the next play. He then hit DeAndre Carter on a tight-window sideline pass and threw Adams open on a deep post. Adams made a gesture to reporters after the play to make sure and write that down.

Garoppolo has struggled with the deep ball early in camp — and some critics would say it’s never been a strength — but he is coming off foot surgery and shaking off some rust.

• Adams talked about it the last week but you can see how fired up the defensive backs are to go against him. The defensive coaches are as well — on one play on Saturday, Adams had four DBs covering him.

Besides the defensive backs’ competitiveness, the chemistry developing between safeties Tre’von Moehrg and Marcus Epps has also been evident.

“Man, he’s awesome,” Moehrig said of Epps, the free-agent addition from the Philadelphia Eagles. “That’s my dawg, ever since we came in the first day we’ve been talking, just picking his brain about what he knows, and he’s been picking my brain just trying to help each other out.

“The chemistry for us is just making sure we’re on the same page, the communication, making sure everybody on the defense is on one accord.”

• Cornerback Nate Hobbs was on the practice field for the first time Monday after he took a fly ball to the face in a charity softball game before camp. He was wearing a non-contact jersey.

• Pads go on for the first time on Tuesday. New linebacker Robert Spillane on camp practices without pads: “It’s football-like, it’s not football.” Link to article for subscribers: https://theathletic.com/4736504/2023/07/31/jakobi-meyers-raiders-training-camp-baseball/?source=emp_shared_article

https://twitter.com/VicTafur/status/1686103170114805763