Las Vegas Raiders may finally be getting the version of Jackson Powers-Johnson that the NFL has been waiting to see
The Las Vegas Raiders have a very good center in Tyler Linderbaum, but the guard spots next to him need to be better. That includes Jackson Powers-Johnson.
The Las Vegas Raiders had one of the worst offensive lines in football last year. With bad coaching, some bad personnel, and just being a bad team, they made the offensive line look very, very bad overall, not just one area. This year, that has to get fixed.
One guy who will have all eyes on him: Jackson Powers-Johnson. He was a second-round pick a few years ago, and while there have been flashes of good, there have also been flashes of bad. He has the talent, but always appears to be injured. So, how’s this training camp going for him? This is his third offensive line coach in three years. So far, so good.
Raiders offensive line Rick Dennison likes what he’s seeing from Jackson Powers-Johnson
“I think he’s done a really good job in the offseason,” offensive line coach Rick Dennison told reporters on Tuesday after practice. “He’s studied really hard. He’s one of the first guys to answer any question I say in there, and he’s consistent. I wasn’t here. Couldn’t tell you what happened the last couple of years. I know I evaluated him when he came out of the draft, and I think he’s done a great job. He’s working hard, getting better every day.”
In just seven games this last year, JPJ had 14 blown blocks and one hold with no false starts, according to Sports Info Solutions. He has the talent. The Raiders drafted him and played him at center as a rookie. Pete Carroll came along, and his staff wanted him at guard. That’s fine; he’s played it a ton before. He was good at guard, but had a better season at center.
Now he could be on the opposite side of where he was last year at guard. He’s been moved around a bunch, had so many different coaches, been on some bad teams, and dealt with injuries. The Raiders believe in him, even tho this isn’t the regime that drafted him. Now, with a better offensive line, a better coach, and hopefully a good offense, he can show what he can really do. He just has to stay healthy.
