The Las Vegas Raiders are 1-0. They beat the 115-degree heat in Henderson, Nev., by having minicamp practices this week at 7:30 a.m.
“Here we are in a meeting, we’re watching the tape and it’s 9:45 in the morning,” new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “That doesn’t happen very often, so I think it’s best to keep the guys fresh to practice early in the morning like we’re doing.”
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Minicamp broke after some mandatory meetings on Thursday, and being at the Raiders facility this week cemented some ideas that were floating around in our heads. It also gave us some new things to ponder until training camp starts July 27.
1. Arnette already on the way out after one season?
The Raiders drafted cornerback Damon Arnette in the first round last year and got mad when experts said it was a reach. (Sound familiar?) Arnette started seven games, was a little over-aggressive at times and had bouts with COVID-19, injuries and concussions. General manager Mike Mayock mentioned in January that Arnette needed to “apply himself” and to get stronger in the weight room.
Well, after watching minicamp practices Tuesday and Wednesday and talking to people in the building, Arnette has become almost an after-thought. The Raiders signed veteran Casey Hayward in May and all but handed him Arnette’s starting job opposite Trayvon Mullen. There was some speculation that one might move to slot corner but neither has practiced there yet.
(Veteran Nevin Lawson looks to be the starter in the slot, with rookie Nate Hobbs pushing him. Amik Robertson, a fourth-round pick last year, is in third place at that position and might need a huge training camp to make the roster.)
Coach Jon Gruden was asked about the cornerback position on Wednesday.
“We’ve put a lot of (draft) picks into our secondary if you count Tre’von Moehrig and Tyree Gillespie and obviously Karl Joseph and John Abram,” he said. “We have a lot of high picks in that secondary. They’re young.
“Hayward is going to be a veteran that brings us some seasoning and some day-to-day consistency. He’s going to provide a lot of competition, I promise you that. He’s not here to give away his job.”
All coaches say the best players will start, and Gruden is no different.
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“I don’t care if it’s Nate Hobbs and Amik Robertson,” he said. “I don’t care what round they came in, we’re going to play the best four to five guys. The players will decide that.”
Unless something changes drastically in training camp, Arnette may have a limited role.
The Raiders had concerns last year about third-round pick Lynn Bowden Jr.’s maturity and ability to handle distractions in Las Vegas, and they quickly traded him to the Dolphins when he also struggled on the field. NFL scouts had similar red flags on Arnette — he talked to us about the “character issues” last year — and now the first-round pick may not be a starter in his second season.
Like Gruden said, the Raiders don’t care what round players are drafted in.
2. Ngakoue has big plans for himself and Maxx Crosby
New pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue showed up for mandatory minicamp — with an added 10 pounds of muscle — and there was a collective gasp from teammates.
“When he steps on the field,” quarterback Derek Carr said, “there’s certain guys in football that when they step on the field and they do something, you’re like, ‘That’s a different level.’ He definitely has that about him.”
Ngakoue clearly feels the same way about Crosby, his new teammate who had seven sacks last season despite playing with a broken right hand and a torn left shoulder.
“I think that Maxx and myself are the best duo that’s going to come hit the scene,” Ngakoue said Wednesday. “I’m already putting that out there. … He’s a guy that’s putting in the work. Literally, I’m lifting weights right now and Maxx is in there doing things to get better. It’s the dedication and commitment. I can play all day with a guy like that.”
Bradley has also been impressed with Crosby.
“Maxx is a very good player and he’s come in in great shape,” Bradley said. “I like the way he looks, the way he’s practicing. He’s leaned up, he’s fast and I’ve been very impressed with him.”
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3. John Brown reminds Carr of Nelson Agholor
Agholor quickly became the Raiders’ best receiver in training camp last season, but the veteran is gone after one season for greener pastures in New England. The Raiders went out and signed Brown off the Bills.
“‘Smoke’ is an awesome person, great teammate,” Carr said. “Reminds me a lot of Nelson. Very fast, very smart, works hard. But he’s a great person just like ‘Nelly’. I think that they are very similar players. So, sad to lose Nelly – love him and wish him the best. But … great relationship with him already.”
4. Littleton may move to outside linebacker
Do the Raiders have bigger plans for returning linebacker Nicholas Morrow, like maybe moving him inside? That theory has some more legs after Bradley said inside linebacker Cory Littleton could move outside. Littleton struggled last season after he was one of the Raiders’ big free-agent signings, and I asked Bradley how he gets more out of him than last year’s staff did.
‘I’ve been impressed with him and his speed,” Bradley said. “He’s a very skilled linebacker. One of the things is his physical nature, that’s the thing we are looking at right now and challenging him on, but he has it in him. But matchups … what I think is great about Cory is the matchups he allows us to have. He’s really a skilled cover guy, what I’ve seen so far.”
Again, this was minicamp, Bradley reminded. Let’s not jump to conclusions.
“When the bullets fly and we go full speed, I think we’ll have a better sense of where everybody’s at,” he said. “And I think the other thing we’ve seen on him is he’s really a good edge setter. So, I think he has that ability maybe in base to be more of an outside linebacker for us too.”
5. The other interesting unknown at receiver
We have already written about Dillon Stoner. But there is another undrafted receiver standing out., even though he is only 5-foot-9.
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“This DJ Turner, the punt returner from Pitt,” Gruden said. “Very interesting. He’s quick, smart.”
Turner led the Panthers in punt and kickoff returns, averaging 8.3 yards per return and 22.2 yards, respectively, and the Maryland transfer finished second on the team with 44 receptions, 634 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
He is looking up at Brown, Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, Zay Jones, Hunter Renfrow, Willie Snead and Stoner on the depth chart, but Turner has the coach’s attention in June.
6. Bradley’s energy is contagious
You won’t find a more positive person than Bradley, and he’s given the defense a jolt even before he has fully implemented his scheme.
He was Ngakoue’s head coach as a rookie in Jacksonville, and the pass rusher missed Bradley.
“The thing that’s really crazy to me is that he’s the same guy,” Ngakoue said. “If not, he has way more energy. He always was a high-energy guy, a guy that’s personable, a great coach and unfortunately in Jacksonville we didn’t do what we were supposed to do to keep him there. …
“That’s a guy that loves the game, brings passion every day no matter what’s going on in his life. He’s always going to have a smile on his face.”
Players love Bradley, Gruden said.
“That’s one of his strengths. He’s a people person,” Gruden said. “He’s a great communicator.”
7. Divine Deablo is out with an undisclosed injury
Those waiting to see how the third-round pick will be used at either linebacker and/or safety will have to wait. Deablo was at the facility this week but didn’t participate in the first hour of practices that reporters were allowed to attend.
“He’s out right now,” Gruden said. “We’re very hopeful that he’ll be ready to go for training camp.”
8. Raiders coaches are all vaccinated
Some head coaches have given out numbers or percentages on how many of their players have been vaccinated. Gruden didn’t do that, but his players may realize that there is also a competitive advantage to getting it done, now that the league announced serious restrictions for players who don’t get the shots.
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“I’m not at liberty to give any statistics on our vaccination numbers,” Gruden said. “Myself and our coaches, we’ve all had our vaccinations. I think our players have bought in. I think we’re as good as anybody in the league or better. We hope to have every man vaccinated and most importantly, every man as safe as possible when the season starts.”
9. Players can’t wait to play for Las Vegas fans
Carr sounded the pre-game alarm at a recent Golden Knights playoff hockey game, and the energy got him counting the days until the “Monday Night Football” season opener at home. Last season, due to the pandemic, the Raiders opened their brand new stadium with no fans in attendance.
“It’s been really cool just seeing the city come together,” Carr said. “I try to take that and imagine what 70,000 people would be like with laser shows and the music and all that. I’m sure our defense will be really excited to go hit some people with that kind of atmosphere.”
10. Sometimes seizing the moment isn’t good enough
The Raiders had No. 63 in for a tryout during Wednesday’s practice. The only reason I noticed was because at the end of practice, the Raiders put some players on an island. Mr. 63 — the Raiders didn’t share his name — was pitted against undrafted defensive tackle Darius Stills in a one-on-one matchup in front of Carr, who had to wait for a receiver to get open against a defensive back down the sideline.
Mr. 63 repeatedly stuffed Stills, as the rest of the team watched and hollered on either side of the five players. After the last play, when 63 again held his ground, players yelled, stormed him and slapped his helmet and congratulated him.
Hopefully, that moment will carry him for a while, as the Raiders did not sign him.
Tip of the cap, 63.
(Photo of Damon Arnette: Chris Unger / Getty Images)
