Raiders 16, Lions 10: 3 studs, 3 duds



OAKLAND — We know everyone loves jumping to far-fetched conclusions after one preseason game, but let’s just highlight a couple top performers and a couple underachievers from Friday night’s action at the Coliseum for now.

The Raiders won, 16-10, and most of their starters only played one series. Now is the time for guys to state their claim for the 53-man roster, and some did just that while while others failed to seize their chance.

Here are three “studs” and three “duds” from Oakland’s first exhibition.

STUDS

Chris Warren – The undrafted rookie running back faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster with a cluster of backs in front of him. Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington currently sit ahead of the former Texas Longhorn, but Friday the rookie stated a convincing case to jump one, if not two of his elders. Warren ran for 86 yards on 13 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and ran seven more times than Washington, the second-most-used back.

Warren not only lowered his head between the tackles, but his 6-foot-2, 246-pound frame maneuvered around the edge swiftly, too. Warren gained attention earlier this week for lowering his pads on 2017 first-round linebacker Jarrad Davis in joint practice, sending the Lions starter flying backward. Asked about the practice highlight after Friday’s game, Warren cited the “24-hour rule” of relishing in the play for a day before moving on.

“I like that guy, man,” Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said of Warren. “If you know anything about him, his dad was one heck of a player … He’s a hammer. He can really thump ya, and he’s got breakaway speed. He’s improving in the passing game. He’s becoming more and more of a running back instead of just a runner.”

P.J. Hall – The 2018 second-round pick had some catching up to do after beginning training camp on the PUP list with a pectoral strain, but Hall seems up to speed after a strong start to Friday’s game.

With Detroit facing a 3rd-and-5 on its opening drive, Hall sacked quarterback Matt Cassel for a nine-yard loss to force a punt. Later in the first quarter, he batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage on 2nd-and-20. Hall and fifth-round pick Maurice Hurst both had strong debuts, showing why the Raiders beefed up that defensive tackle spot in the draft after a lackluster year from the position in 2017.

Hall only stands 6-foot-1, but his quickness and ability to gain leverage with his smaller frame should provide him a chance to factor significantly on Oakland’s defensive line this season.

“It felt good to accomplish that. It was a great feeling,” Hall said of his sack, which came on his first NFL snap. “We know we need to have an interior rush. Coach had faith in me to go out there with the first team in the nickel to get it done, so I was excited to get that done.”

Eddy Piñeiro – All the rookie kicker has to do this preseason to keep his job is not totally combust. Friday was a good start, with Piñeiro logging a perfect 3-for-3 night on field goals. He made a 21-yard chip shot to put the Raiders up, 3-0, then hit two off the infield dirt from 45 and 48 yards. Gruden even said he tried to get Piñeiro field goals off the dirt because of how foreign kicking off the infield was to the last rookie kicker he had in Oakland, Sebastian Janikowski.

Piñeiro sent a kickoff out of bounds late in the fourth quarter, and Gruden made sure to address that in his postgame press conference. Overall, though, the Florida product showed why the Raiders felt lucky he fell to them outside the draft, and why they cut incumbent starter Giorgio Tavecchio even before preseason games started.

Veteran Mike Nugent is still on the team, but he’s here to mentor Piñeiro and ensure the rookie avoids complacency. As long as Piñeiro doesn’t send field goals into the press box, the job is his.

“Like I was telling (Johnny Townsend), it brought back memories of college at Florida and kicking field goals with Johnny,” Piñeiro said. “We try not to put pressure on ourselves. We’re just trying to have fun and stay focused.”

DUDS

EJ Manuel – Manuel didn’t play horrendously – he completed 4-of-6 passes for 46 yards – but Connor Cook pulled further ahead in the No. 2 quarterback battle with an efficient first half. Cook completed 11-of-19 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, posting completions of 41 yards, 24 yards and seven yards on a crafty touchdown pass to Ryan Switzer. Manuel played the entire second half, but failed to open any eyes as he tries to win the backup job he held last season. He also botched an exchange with center Jon Feliciano that the Lions recovered.

Gruden wouldn’t openly say Cook is his No. 2, but it’s pretty clear the quarterback competition is trending that way. Question is, do the Raiders only keep two quarterback this season, and could Cook and Manuel be fighting for a roster spot instead of just depth chart position?

“He’s had an excellent training camp. He’s not turned the ball over. He’s showing pretty good command,” Gruden said of Cook. “There are a couple decisions I just can’t wait to talk to him about and get his perspective. But he moved the team, put points on the board. I liked the two-minute at the end of the half

“I think EJ will get more work next week against the Rams. That’ll be an interesting preseason game.”

The new Raiders radio team – The new radio broadcast team, especially play-by-play man Musburger, might need the next three preseason games more than the Raiders to fine-tune their craft.

Musburger made his debut as Greg Papa’s successor and not surprisingly, given his background, he sounded like a TV guy doing radio. He left listeners without a clue where passes were directed, for example, and was often light on details such as down, distance and yard line.

Musburger botched a couple names, but none worse than his broadcast partner Lincoln Kennedy, who referred to Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther as Gunther Cunningham, a former Raiders defensive coordinator.

To his credit, Musburger didn’t attempt to replicate Papa’s iconic touchdown call, going instead with a solid if unspectacular “Touchdowwwn!”

Kolton Miller – Before you read any further, if you’ve made it this far, Miller wasn’t necessarily a “dud” on Friday night. Just for one play he was.

A holding call against the rookie, one Gruden vehemently disagreed with, cost the Raiders seven points. Marshawn Lynch’s would-be 60-yard touchdown run came back, and you can mark it down as the first hiccup for the first-round pick and current starting left tackle.

Miller played only two series, and that was his only mistake. He retreated to the sideline, where Donald Penn demonstrated stances and footwork for the 22-year-old who could end up taking the veteran’s job.

“I didn’t agree with that call at all honestly, but that was a well-blocked play,” Gruden said. “I was really ticked off though after that was called back. You know I just got to the stadium, I just called my fourth play. Anyhow, Chucky came out for a brief moment tonight right there.”

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