Good, Bad, Ugly Preseason Week 1 vs Cardinals

[raiders4life]

Am I way off on Cowser? I only watched the first quarter, but from what I saw, he was the biggest liability on the d-line. I remember one passing play where we rushed four and he was on the ground for almost the entirety of the play. Then a running play where he rushed inside instead of setting the edge resulting in a decent sized gain. I remember thinking that he should be standing up instead of having his hand in the dirt, but I guess I could be wrong? In the end I think he is probably just a serviceable backup in the Ben Heeney/Miles Burris mold.

Vanderdoes didn't blow anything up, but I noticed him handling double teams decently, something that wouldn't happen if Mack and Irvin were in. Lee looked bad in coverage, but held his own in the run game IMO. I'm betting if Melifonwu were healthy then Lee wouldn't be in pass coverage near as much. 

This is is my first timing signing on to the new forum so I had to post.. looking forward to next week when we might actually see beast mode in the game for the first time in silver and black!

[TLO]

The good is that we all have significantly less reasons to get really hyped for preseason games now that we don't have to assume our souls will be crushed by week 3. 

[big_palooka]

14 hours ago, Silver&Black88 said:

So is that still just a hot take then, or does it have legs now? 

 

I feel like he can bounce back a bit but I do think he'll be a liability more often than not even still.  I'd rather attempt to get him to take a pay cut than cut him outright though.  Conley needs all the help he can get learning to jam.  Then again, Brandin Cooks knows Sean Smith forgets to do that from time to time lol.  His demeanor has to change overall also.

After watching the game, he's visibly lost a step. His body language was also poor, which begs the question of if his confidence is shot.

Taking a pay cut isn't happening I'd guess given he can make more by being cut. About the only thing they could do is hope a CB needy team would trade for him and agree to eat his salary for 2017 as part of a deal. Unlikely, but it's something. 

[agarcia34]

How bad Sean Smith looked stood out the most. The Cardinals picked on him and went after him. He is slow and his body can no longer do the things it was use to doing. I think once Conley comes back we will see Smith getting cut. He is to much of a liability to have on the field.

I liked what I saw from MEJ. There was one play where he took a double team and pushed them back into the RB. That's what we need from him and just hope he can stay healthy. 

LaTroy Lewis stood out as well. He was able to get pressure on the QB with ease. Would like to see him get some time against the twos to see if he can continue to do so.

[raidersedge]

First thing that jumped out to me is how strong Eddie Vanderdoes is, he is country strong. If he and Hester can collapse the pocket its going to make things so much easier for the back end and with Mack & Edwards outside. Our D-line could be a great unit.

[IdigtheRaiders!]

13 hours ago, big_palooka said:

After watching the game, he's visibly lost a step. His body language was also poor, which begs the question of if his confidence is shot.

Taking a pay cut isn't happening I'd guess given he can make more by being cut. About the only thing they could do is hope a CB needy team would trade for him and agree to eat his salary for 2017 as part of a deal. Unlikely, but it's something. 

If that happens (cutting Smith), we most likely won't see it until after the 3rd preaseason game. Methinks the coaching staff will give him a chance to redeem himself before then. There's also a chance that we keep him on the bench this year as a depth player, seeing as he'll be getting paid either way.

[OakRaiders3828]

Good: Shalom Luani!!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.silverandblackpride.com/platform/amp/2017/8/14/16146088/watch-shalom-luani-already-looks-like-a-bona-fide-late-round-steal-for-the-raiders

[Silver&Black88]

4 hours ago, OakRaiders3828 said:

Good: Shalom Luani!!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.silverandblackpride.com/platform/amp/2017/8/14/16146088/watch-shalom-luani-already-looks-like-a-bona-fide-late-round-steal-for-the-raiders

Dude I am all about this guy.  Like his game.

19 hours ago, big_palooka said:

After watching the game, he's visibly lost a step. His body language was also poor, which begs the question of if his confidence is shot.

Taking a pay cut isn't happening I'd guess given he can make more by being cut. About the only thing they could do is hope a CB needy team would trade for him and agree to eat his salary for 2017 as part of a deal. Unlikely, but it's something. 

I don't disagree with anything you said except a desperate team taking on his deal.  No one is that desperate.  Even teams without starting caliber CBs.

[MrOaktown_56]

I'd like to see the preseason play out until I say Sean Smith is "done". It's way too early. He looked bad, anyone will tell you that. But it's still too early IMO. If he's doing this the next 3 weeks, by all means. But lets see how this unfolds.

[big_palooka]

2 hours ago, MrOaktown_56 said:

I'd like to see the preseason play out until I say Sean Smith is "done". It's way too early. He looked bad, anyone will tell you that. But it's still too early IMO. If he's doing this the next 3 weeks, by all means. But lets see how this unfolds.

Way too early? He's a veteran player who clearly we as fans are just catching up on what's being seen in camp. He's 30 and has visibly lost a step. It's unfortunate, but father time is undefeated. He's clearly not the same player. Can he be serviceable? Maybe. But his foot speed looks like a liability at this stage in the game. Not to early to see that.

[Rolni]

Sean Smith is done as a quality CB IMO, but I think we should find ways to use him, since he is here to stay with his contract for this year anyway. I think he can be used as a TE guard and also as a LB/S against RBs.

Cowser was playing the inside against the run regulary when he should have kept the edge on the outside. He seems to be too weak for run D to me, but has solid potential as a rotational pass rusher IMO.

Calhoun also looks too weak against the run, but he looks too slow for pass rush. So far he seems like a bust to me...I hope he make me wrong here this year. Lewis can replace him next year maybe...

Edwards and Eddie looks pretty strong and so far Jelly looks to be in form too. Great news IMO. All the big runs where to the outside where Cowser and Calhoun wasn't able to contain...with Mack and Irvin that won't be a problem...

Hester and Latham also looked good against depth and Autry looked solid too.

This DL group finally looks like a real one, but I don't want to jump the gun here...

I really liked what I saw from KJ, but Nelson will still be a liability IMO. Obi needs to step up sooner then later...Luani looks like a legit depth\rotational S and ST player.

Carrie and Borders looked alright, so with Conley back we could have a solid CB group...Amerson still can't tackle a RB, but hopefully he will be alright in coverage...

I liked C.James a lot and thought Lee had a solid debut. He was around the play, looked a bit slow mentally, but that should improve with gametime. He will never be a cover specialist, so we should not put him on guys like Ellington 1on1, but I think he could be a good enough middle zone guy. We need James or Obi\Karl\Sean on RB's...

This back up OL had no real push in the running game, but both Richard and Washington showed good vision and movement. I like our chances with them and Lynch behind our starting unit this year.

Mickens and Holton looked solid and I really liked what I saw from Clive Walford...finally he might show why we drafted him? 

[big_palooka]

39 minutes ago, Rolni said:

Calhoun also looks too weak against the run, but he looks too slow for pass rush. So far he seems like a bust to me...I hope he make me wrong here this year. Lewis can replace him next year maybe...

 

These type reactions make me laugh. Lewis is a nobody, gets a couple sacks on some 3rd stringers and now maybe he can take Calhoun's roster spot next season? Maybe we wait to see if he show any consistency or if the performance was a blip on the radar before jumping on the bandwagon? 

[Rolni]

48 minutes ago, big_palooka said:

These type reactions make me laugh. Lewis is a nobody, gets a couple sacks on some 3rd stringers and now maybe he can take Calhoun's roster spot next season? Maybe we wait to see if he show any consistency or if the performance was a blip on the radar before jumping on the bandwagon? 

I get where you coming from with your comment, but I think I used Maybe...I used it because it is a strech right now...

If Calhoun continues to struggle and If Lewis continues to work hard and perform well, he could replace him. 

There is no bandwagon for Lewis from me, but what I wrote down could happen...

I didn't wrote that he Will take his spot or most probably he will...All I wrote was an option.

But hey if it made you laugh...good for you! We all need to laugh more IMO

[SilverNBlackFan]

Since we are paying him either way, I want to see more of Sean Smith in that hybrid S/LB/TE cover guy role.

I know that's essentially what we drafted Obi to do this year, but I don't trust a raw rookie who has missed a good chunk of time to be the remedy right away. TEs will eat him alive right now.

Maybe Smith can carve out a role there. But I agree with others, I believe he's done as a boundary corner. 

[BackinBlack]

2 hours ago, Rolni said:

Sean Smith is done as a quality CB IMO, but I think we should find ways to use him, since he is here to stay with his contract for this year anyway. I think he can be used as a TE guard and also as a LB/S against RBs.

 

I agree completely, I have hopes for this being somewhat of Obis role in the future, but for the time being Sean Smith should have no problems covering TEs.

We are paying him regardless, dont cut him. Get creative, and play to the strengths he still has as a football player. And he does still have strengths.