Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 10, 2015 6:22:22 GMT
Jack Del Rio happy to go into season with young cornerbacks
Bill Williamson, ESPN Staff Writer
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- It is Week 1 and the Oakland Raiders are going into the season with the same three young cornerbacks general manager Reggie McKenzie said they planned to feature way back at the NFL combine in February.
The original plan was to go with DJ Hayden, TJ Carrie and Keith McGill although Hayden is going into his third season and Carrie and McGill were rookies last season. None of them are established starters, but McKenzie explained that the Raiders were believers in the group.
“I think they’re ready now,” McKenzie said in February.
The Raiders, who had nearly $70 million in salary-cap room, didn’t add a significant piece at corner in free agency. Oakland didn’t draft a cornerback until the seventh round and they haven’t added any cornerbacks this week after waiver-claim period.
Carrie and Hayden are expected to start, with McGill playing a key role. Carrie was solid this summer, but Hayden and McGill had their struggles.
Yet Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio reiterated his confidence in the young group on Wednesday. He once again said the Raiders never planned any outside upgrades at the spot during the roster-building process.
“If you look at all the options available on our approach, in our estimation, developing our guys was the best approach. That’s all I’m saying. Look, we’ve had a good camp with our guys,” Del Rio said. “We’re prepared for the regular season and we’re looking forward to seeing what they have for us.”
In other Raiders’ notes:
The Raiders’ players voted two captains on offense and two on defense for the season. There were no surprises. On offense, quarterback Derek Carr and fullback Marcel Reece are captains. On defense, safety Charles Woodson and defensive end Justin Tuck are captains. “It means the world to me,” Carr said. “That right there, for it to be something that other people say about you, that meant a lot to me.”
Del Rio said rookie tight end Clive Walford is not totally back up to speed after missing most of training cap with a hamstring injury and then a knee injury. But Del Rio said he likes the way Walford has been practicing this week.
Carr said the quarterbacks watch film with offensive line coach Mike Tice and he often praises Austin Howard. Howard is replacing injured Menelik Watson at right tackle. Watson ruptured his Achilles in the preseason.
Bill Williamson, ESPN Staff Writer
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- It is Week 1 and the Oakland Raiders are going into the season with the same three young cornerbacks general manager Reggie McKenzie said they planned to feature way back at the NFL combine in February.
The original plan was to go with DJ Hayden, TJ Carrie and Keith McGill although Hayden is going into his third season and Carrie and McGill were rookies last season. None of them are established starters, but McKenzie explained that the Raiders were believers in the group.
“I think they’re ready now,” McKenzie said in February.
The Raiders, who had nearly $70 million in salary-cap room, didn’t add a significant piece at corner in free agency. Oakland didn’t draft a cornerback until the seventh round and they haven’t added any cornerbacks this week after waiver-claim period.
Carrie and Hayden are expected to start, with McGill playing a key role. Carrie was solid this summer, but Hayden and McGill had their struggles.
Yet Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio reiterated his confidence in the young group on Wednesday. He once again said the Raiders never planned any outside upgrades at the spot during the roster-building process.
“If you look at all the options available on our approach, in our estimation, developing our guys was the best approach. That’s all I’m saying. Look, we’ve had a good camp with our guys,” Del Rio said. “We’re prepared for the regular season and we’re looking forward to seeing what they have for us.”
In other Raiders’ notes:
The Raiders’ players voted two captains on offense and two on defense for the season. There were no surprises. On offense, quarterback Derek Carr and fullback Marcel Reece are captains. On defense, safety Charles Woodson and defensive end Justin Tuck are captains. “It means the world to me,” Carr said. “That right there, for it to be something that other people say about you, that meant a lot to me.”
Del Rio said rookie tight end Clive Walford is not totally back up to speed after missing most of training cap with a hamstring injury and then a knee injury. But Del Rio said he likes the way Walford has been practicing this week.
Carr said the quarterbacks watch film with offensive line coach Mike Tice and he often praises Austin Howard. Howard is replacing injured Menelik Watson at right tackle. Watson ruptured his Achilles in the preseason.