Three biggest storylines to watch before Day 1 of Las Vegas Raiders training camp under Pete Carroll
Training camp is a day away for the Las Vegas Raiders. Many teams have already started, but Pete Carroll elected to talk to the media on Tuesday, July 22, the day veterans report to camp, and start practice on Wednesday. For the Raiders, this is a huge season. Carroll has proven that he can rebuild […]
Training camp is a day away for the Las Vegas Raiders. Many teams have already started, but Pete Carroll elected to talk to the media on Tuesday, July 22, the day veterans report to camp, and start practice on Wednesday.
For the Raiders, this is a huge season. Carroll has proven that he can rebuild football teams, as he did with the Seattle Seahawks, very quickly. He did it with the USC Trojans back in his day with them, and he plans on doing it with the Raiders. This is a guy who has won a Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos and went to another one, but lost to the dynasty that was the New England Patriots.
So, this season is one that could see the raiders find themselves in the playoffs. There aren't expectations there for that, but they do think this team is built to compete right now, not rebuild. Training camp will be our first look at the serious version of this team. Not serious as in they will be playing actual football, but serious as in they are getting ready for the season, and they are going to do it at the highest level possible.
This is how we kind of figure out what this team can be, what the weaknesses and strengths will be, and many other things. So, with practice starting on Wednesday, let's dive into the three things that you need to be watching for the most when it comes to the Raiders' first training camp under Pete Carroll.
Three storylines for Raiders' first training camp under Pete Carroll
How do the rookies react to their first-ever training camp?
This rookie class is loaded, from star running back Ashton Jeanty to the two big receivers who are bound to play a big role in 2025, to the offensive lineman, and to the athletic freak in the secondary. There are dudes everywhere, but how do they do in their first-ever NFL training camp?
NFL training camps are much different than college camps. I won't say that one is harder than the other, because truthfully, I'm not sure which is harder; I've never been through either of them. But the schedules are different, the practices are different; these aren't other kids you are practicing against, these are all grown men. So, how do they react to that?
I'll be looking at which rookies stand out the most. Which rookies are we hearing the most, who is starting, or getting starting reps, who is working their way up, and things of that nature. I think there will be a handful of rookies who get more big-time reps than we initially thought they would.
How does the defensive line look?
This is actually a huge one because there are so many questions in this one question. First, who gets reps in place of Christian Wilkins? The Raiders drafted two defensive tackles, so is one of them getting the bulk of the starter reps? Is there a veteran getting those reps? Where are those reps going, and where will those reps go when Wilkins is back, if he ever comes back during camp?
Secondly, how does Malcolm Koonce look after recovering from the ACL injury? Does he start with the starters in camp, or do they let Tyree Wilson start and ease Koonce into that spot? And, of course, how does year three of Wilson look? Does Tonka Hemingway get some reps as an edge rusher? There are so many things to watch with this group.
Does the young secondary hold its own against Geno Smith?
Sure, we could make a storyline about Geno Smith and how he does, but that's one of those obvious ones. So, with how young this secondary is set to be, with the only real veterans being Eric Stokes and Darnay Holmes, how do they do?
Jakorian Bennett is set to be the CB1 after recovering from an injury, so there is that. But how do the rest fill out? Is Porter, the rookie, one of the starters? Is Stokes, the free agent signing, a starter? And, where is Decamerion Richardson? That unit is so young and inexperienced, but it has so much potential. It will be interesting to see how they go up against an elite QB in Smith.
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