Raiders' HC shows appreciation to rookies after recent play
The Las Vegas Raiders may have started the year on a completely different note than what we thought they would, but there are still some positives to take away from this bad start to the season. The offense may not be clicking just yet or firing on all cylinders, but there are signs it will. […]
The Las Vegas Raiders may have started the year on a completely different note than what we thought they would, but there are still some positives to take away from this bad start to the season.
The offense may not be clicking just yet or firing on all cylinders, but there are signs it will. And what we thought would be the biggest problem for the offense is starting to get solved. At least, that's what it looks like.
On Monday, Raiders' head coach Josh McDaniels was asked how the two rookies on the offensive line have performed so far this season.
"I try to avoid expectations in terms of timelines and those kinds of things," McDaniels told the media when asked if the rookies have played to his expectations. "I allow those things to happen organically with each player. Every guy is different. We certainly liked both players when we drafted them [Dylan Parham and Thayer Munford], and I don't think they have let us down at all. They work hard.
"They are prepared. They practice hard. They have been out there every day… and so they have given themselves, they have earned the opportunity to go out there and keep playing because of what they keep doing in practice. So, no I feel like both of them represented themselves well… Look, there are a lot of good players up there, they are doing a good job of blocking them for the most part… They gave us an opportunity to win."
During training camp and the preseason games, we saw that the offensive line had the potential to be one of the worst in the league. After the first game, it looked like it very well could be.
Now, it seems they may have gotten their stuff together. A large part of that is because of the two rookies who have really stepped up.
Parham, an offensive lineman who can play all five positions, has been stellar when you think of production from a third-round rookie. While he can play five different positions, he has only played 135 snaps at center, and 35 snaps at right guard.
He has just two penalties on the year and hasn't allowed a sack yet, despite allowing six pressures.
Munford was drafted in the seventh round and has been better than good at the right tackle spot. We remember the team cutting former first-rounder Alex Leatherwood because of the right tackle issue. Well, since then, Munford has been a good fit.
He has allowed just one sack and four quarterback pressures in 107 snaps. He is a developmental piece, so don't expect him to be perfect.
The Raiders seem to have found somewhat of a solution to their problem from the offseason.
Featured Image Via The Repository / Scott Heckel / USA TODAY NETWORK
