Raiders mailbag: More Morrow and Conley please, and what fans yell out during safety blitzes
Vic Tafur
58 minutes ago
Raiders fans, you done dancing yet?
The 2-0 Raiders have their first real test of the season Sunday night when they take on Washington and future 49ers quarterback Kirk Cousins in Washington, D.C.
Washington is 1-1 and can run the ball behind a big offensive line. Their passing game has a lot of new faces — hello, Terrelle Pryor — and would love to hit its stride against what, just two weeks ago, everybody thought was a suspect secondary.
Jordan Reed is the kind of tight end that had Raiders fans tossing and turning the last two seasons, getting their silver and black face paint all over the sheets.
(Oh, are you still stuck on the first test thing? Yeah, the Titans are good but the Raiders own them. Sometimes, that just happens. Rolando McClain and Matt Giordano would terrorize that offense.)
Let’s open the mailbag and see how carried away people are getting:
@RaiderMatt5204 on Twitter asks, Will Nicholas Morrow play more and more?
Yes, the rookie from Division III saw his snaps increase from four to 25 in Week 2, while middle linebackers Tyrell Adams and Marquel Lee both watched more.
Adams saw the field 38 percent of the time (21 snaps, down from 41), while Lee was down to 18 percent (10) usage. Morrow is undersized but quick to the ball.
Shayne Greaney asks, Do you see Conley being an All-Star in a couple of years?
Yes, because he swatted away a pass from Josh McCown to Jermaine Kearse. The rookie is headed to the Hall of Fame. Give him a jacket.
Austin Wagner asks, Pagano calling defensive plays?
New assistant head coach John Pagano has definitely helped, especially in working with young safety Karl Joseph, but he is not calling the plays. Jack Del Rio still has a heavy hand in things, just like he did when the defense struggled, and Ken Norton Jr. is still the defensive coordinator and does defensive coordinator things.
I know everybody looks at things like the safety blitzes and yells “Pagano!” like they yell “Keno” when they hit their numbers in a lounge in Reno. But Joseph blitzed a lot in college and it was a reason he was drafted in the first round last year. He just wasn’t healthy and comfortable last season.
Mario Edwards Jr. is healthy and a presence inside, and that’s not because Pagano is giving him rub downs every day and telling him where to line up.
Steven Curup asks, Do you think the Raiders D is actually getting better or is it that we played the Titans and Jets?
As just mentioned, I think Joseph and Edwards have been huge. They were the two players I highlighted as keys to the season back in Napa, and they are showing up. Justin Elllis has lost some weight and along with rookie Eddie Vanderdoes is giving the Raiders a push inside that they just didn’t have last season.
I still wouldn’t throw a parade over the linebackers or secondary, and the upcoming games at Washington and Denver will tell us more than the last two games did.
Paul Solviletti asks, Is Amari Cooper’s dropping problems and rather slow start concerning to anyone at all?
Not really. I do think Cooper is in his own head at times, but he is one of the top route runners in the NFL, is quicker than defensive backs think, and now, after another offseason lifting weights, won’t be pushed around. Last Sunday’s game plan swung to Michael Crabtree because of matchups, but Cooper will still make fantasy players’ dreams come true. (That’s really what we’re talking about here, right?)
@Srfndoc on Twitter asks, What’s going on with Latham? Haven’t heard much.
The Raiders drafted Vanderdoes and Treyvon Hester, a rejuvenated Ellis is on his contract year, hard-working Denico Autry is a coaches’ favorite and Jihad Ward is a big, strong guy the Raiders have a lot invested in. Darius Latham, who had flashes last year, is just the man out.
Jules Malone asks, Is the plan for Marshawn to get more snaps and run through someone’s face over and over and over again after the bye?
My preseason number was 18 touches a game and so far Lynch is averaging 16. They haven’t needed him to do more than that yet, and backups Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are both dangerous backups, as you saw by Richard’s touchdown against the Jets. The Raiders want Lynch fresh for the playoffs.
Derick G. asks, How is Olawale being incorporated back into the offense?
Like seasoning. You don’t want to add too much, because he is a fullback, bless him, on a team full of faster playmakers. But Jamize will be there in some delicious bites, like he was last season when opponents were served some surprising big-yardage pass plays. (I must be hungry.)
@ZacharyJ_Mi on Twitter asks, When will Mack start getting sacks?
Last week.
@jhong721 on Twitter asks, Aldon?
No. Vic.
Stephen Perron asks, Toughest primetime game?
I would say yes because it’s a road game, but the Washington offense is not what it was last season. So we’ll say the Oct. 19 home game against the Chiefs, because of the ownage.
Daniel Diaz asks, Thoughts and prayers are with those in Mexico City. With the Raiders scheduled to play there in Nov. what are the chance it gets moved to Oakland?
There have been conflicting reports on the damage done to Estadio Azteca and there is plenty of time to take care of more pressing issues down there first. But the NFL really wants this game in Mexico and that ancient stadium was not in good shape to begin with, so I could see Goodall out there on his hands and knees using crazy glue and duct tape.
@SportsHackCA on Twitter asks, Liked the dump-off passes to the RBs
a la the Charlie Garner days. More of that?
Yes. With the receivers pulling the defense downfield, there is a lot of room for Richard and Washington to operate. Back at training camp, when Washington was getting more carries, Richard didn’t care because of all the pass plays they had drawn up for him.
@orderofdracul on Twitter asks, When all the corners are healthy who’s the odd man out?
I think it will be based on matchups, between Smith and Carrie.
@mannyvice15 on Twitter asks, Can you Gig like Marshawn?
Wrong question. Can Marshawn do the Kid ’n Play like me?
