While some teams have already started training camp and have been in it for the last week, the Las Vegas Raiders are just not getting started and will kick things off on Tuesday in Costa Mesa, California , close to some of their Los Angeles roots.
This will be new head coach Antonio Pierce's first training camp where he is running things, so it will be interesting to see how different things are the dynamic is from when Josh McDaniels and Jon Gruden, and all of the others, ran things. How Pierce does things won't determine whether he's a good coach or not, so that is definitely something to keep in mind.
As we write this the day before the first day of training camp, it's very obvious there will be certain things to focus on within the camp dynamic. One of the biggest has to be the position battles that are going on and who is winning what battle. Three position battles in particular should have some action during camp.
3 position battles at Raiders training camp
QB
I think this one is so obvious. It's the talk of the town. Anytime a Raiders player has talked to the media or went on TV or a podcast, they get asked about Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew, and who is winning the battle so far. A lot of the answers we have heard have been from O'Connell leading the charge. But, that doesn't mean we should rule out the idea of Minshew possibly being the starter for the 2024 season.
Both of these quarterbacks are fairly decent players. Could the position group use an upgrade? For sure. But, these two guys have the tools to lead this offense. And, ultimately, Antonio Pierce and Luke Getsy were the better guys at that time, will win the job. The dynamic of how this plays out will be so fun to watch over the next few weeks. A old fashion QB battle is everything.
CB2
We know who the primary cornerback is on this defense. Jack Jones has officially taken that over and has the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks in the entire NFL. But, he could use a great supporting cast around him. The CB2 position is one of the biggest position battles to watch in camp, and it's really not close.
The second position will be between a few different players. Jakorian Bennett, the draft pick from last season, Brandon Facyson, and rookie Decamerion Richardson will all be players battling for that second spot. Nate Hobbs will play in the nickel, and rookie M.J. Devonshire could be his backup. This is going to be so much fun to watch in camp.
RB3
With Josh Jacobs gone now, the Raiders made Zamir White the RB1 going into 2024. They signed Alexander Mattison, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, to be the backup and maybe even take some starter snaps here and there. But the real question is what happens with that third spot. They brought back Ameer Abdullah but also drafted a guy who is getting a lot of buzz.
Whoever gets that third spot will have to be a player who plays special teams. Abdullah did last year and was good. But Dylan Laube, the rookie from New Hampshire, has come in and is blowing people away, and he's even said he's willing to do it all, even play defense. He, Sincere McCormick, and Brittain Brown will all battle to take Abdullah's job, respectfully.
There are so many other little position battles we will see throughout camp as well, but these three are uber-important to how the season will go in 2024.
Related: Dates for Las Vegas Raiders rookies and veterans to report to 2024 training camp have been announced
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