After imposing their strength as a perennial powerhouse Week 1--beating the New York “football” Jets 32-19 the San Francisco 49ers (1-0) now travel to face the Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at U.S. Bank Stadium.

What we learned from New York Jets game:

• Rookie RG Dominick Puni showed promise in NFL debut

• WR Brandon Aiyuk was rusty after training camp “hold-in”

• RB Jordan Mason stepped in proving team has “quality depth” at RB

• DT Maliek Collins is strong in run-support BUT not an interior pocket-pusher

• OLB De’Vondre Campbell is just a tier below OLB Dre Greenlaw

• CB Deommodore Lenoir was TARGETED early and often

• SS George Odum is not a very good SS tackler in open-space

3 phases of football 🏈

Who holds the BEAST EDGE when it comes to offense, defense & special teams?

• OFFENSE: 49ers

• DEFENSE: 49ers

• SPECIAL TEAMS: 49ers

BEAST top-3 matchups to watch

• RG Dominick Puni vs DT Jerry Tillery

• RT Colton McKivitz vs OLB Andrew Van-Ginkel

• CB Charvarius Ward vs WR Justin Jefferson

Puni vs Tillery

This matchup will move the needle in terms of whether Puni’s impressive NFL debut was as advertised or a fluke. The Niners drafted Puni as a R3 pick (No. 86) in hopes of competing for the starting right guard position. He ended up beating out OG Spencer Burford in training camp.

Fast forward to Week 1 and Puni did an admirable job holding his own while going up against first-team All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams. The ability to hold his own in both pass protection and run blocking had reporters in awe.

Puni now will face a lesser opponent in Tillery. While not on the level of Williams, Tillery has a quick first-step as a 3T defensive tackle. I covered his game during my time as a beat writer/reporter for the Las Vegas Raiders & while he doesn’t say much in the locker room, his play as a pass-rusher speaks volumes.

It will be fun to watch the two go heads-up in this highly anticipated matchup.

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McKivitz vs. Van Ginkel

This matchup is key on so many different levels (no pun intended).

At 6-6, 306 pounds, McKivitz’s size alone should be a tough task for Van Ginkel. Now, in his second-year as the full fledged starter, McKivtiz will need to prove his 2023 campgaign was no fluke, as he eases the blow of losing RT Mike McGlinchey.

Van Ginkel may win this matchup…

I covered Van Ginkel during his time with the Miami Dolphins and he always has a “knack” for being around the ball. A non-stop motor will be his effort but it’s his “take-on” skills that has me drawing rave reviews.

If you look around the landscape of the NFL and do enough legwork, you’ll find those high-effort guys who NOT only play to the whistle BUT end up making the play. Van Ginkel is NO EXCEPTION!

Van Ginkel is more of a win with SPEED & EFFORT rather than being fundamentally sound with his hand-usage and leverage which leaves plays to be desired. However, this matchup will undoubtedly come down to scheme & using Van Ginkel’s speed (6.89) 3-cone drill against him, while attacking his leverage in open space on 2nd level.

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Ward vs Jefferson

Ward received my PFWA vote for 1st-team All-Pro and deservedly so. Jefferson would’ve been right there with him if it wasn’t for his pulmonary contusion injury that forced him out of action.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/08/29/49ers-ward-john-kyle-owner-know-what-theyre-doing-to-settle-disputes-soon/

When I evaluate a boundary CB, I look for cover-shell discipline, minimal penalties, and how mental lapses which include missed tackles, assignments, etc. Ward is as disciplined as they come.

That being said, I don’t see them extending him this offseason. Not enough money to go around with QB Brock Purdy being their No. 1 priority. But that’s for a later article.

Today, we talk Ward vs Jefferson where I see Jefferson winning this battle if the Vikings offensive line can hold up.

Jefferson was one of my favorite players coming out of the 2020 NFL draft, so much that I predicted the Niners to target him. Truth be told, it was confirmed after the dust settled that they were looking to take the LSU product if he was on the board.

No receiver has better route-running precision other than WR Davante Adams than Jefferson. You take false steps, it throws off timing. You use the wrong press-release technique it can throw your QB off in terms of RTE (Route Tree Expectation).

So many rules to the game YET they all play a small part to a play. Jefferson is one of the best at finding soft spots vs zone coverage, and if the Niners LBs don’t peel back far enough in their hook/curl drops, it could mean a BIG day for Jefferson as he runs the DIG behind the backers from outside the numbers.

Last week, I witnessed OLB De’Vondre Campbell give up a few plays as an underneath curl/hook defender. Vikings may exploit that come Sunday.

BEAST PREDICTION

The 49ers will prove to be too much in all three phases. It appears that second-year K Jake Moody has finally found his stride while the Niners defense continues to be top-5 all the way around. Shanahan is arguably the best play-caller in the NFL & he’ll cook up a game-plan where he puts enough points on the board & then plays keep away in the fourth-quarter.

Final score: 49ers win 26-20

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Why the move was made?

If a player’s success is measured by the number of Pro Bowl selections or All-Pro nods, then DT Christian Wilkins is definitely OVERPAID. He doesn’t have one next to his name.

Still, new Las Vegas Raiders GM Tom Telesco understood the value of pairing his 2x second-team All-Pro DE Maxx Crosby with a bonafide impact player--enter Wilkins.

For the past two seasons, the Raiders front office has made a concerted effort in rebuilding the team’s defensive line.

In 2022, then GM Dave Ziegler (now a Saints advisor) made the following plays to address the interior:

• Signed DT Andrew Billings to one-year deal

• Signed DT Bilal Nichols to two-year deal

• Drafted DT Neil Farrell in R4 (No. 126) in trade up w/Vikings

• Drafted DT Matthew Butler in R5 (No. 175)

• Claimed DT Jerry Tillery off waiver wire from LA Chargers

All but one of those five players currently remain on the 2024 roster…

In 2023, the shotgun approach continued for Ziegler when it came to finding a serviceable defensive tackle:

• Signed DT Adam Butler to one-year deal

• Signed DT John Jenkins to one-year deal

• Drafted DT Byron Young in R3 (No. 70)

If you’re doing the math, that’s a total of eight transactions that focused on one position over a two-year span. Simply put--not good.

However, 2024 showcased a new vibe…

Telesco understood the need to do much better than his predecessor and was well aware that he would have to slightly overpay for the No. 1 ranked DT on most team’s boards which was Wilkins.

In my valuation vs. evaluation of the player, I had Wilkins valued in the $18-$20M APY (annual per year) range. That would be right below San Francisco 49ers DT Javon Hargrave & Indianapolis Colts DT DeForest Buckner ($21M APY).

Do you think Wilkins is better than those two players?

How about New York Jets DT Quinnen Williams ($24.5M APY), Tennessee Titans DT Jeffery Simmons ($23.5M APY), OR Baltimore Ravens DT Justin Madubuike ($24.5M APY)?

I would be quick to tell you that Wilkins is no where close to their level--AT LEAST not yet. That’s All-Pro conversation.

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The first wave of free-agency is set to begin on March 11. That date is considered by many to be the “legal tampering” window before UFAs can officially sign offer sheets on March 13.

The calm before the storm has always been “free-agency frenzy.” The storm being the NFL draft.

Still…many fans every single year would love nothing more than to talk about the household names their favorite team signed in free-agency. However, household names don’t always pan out.

That being said, I am going to diverge into that crystal ball and PREDICT five household names whom I believe will be targeted and ultimately landing within the framework of three to four teams.

How will I fare? Time will tell but the BEAST receipts check out more times than not. So without further ado, here is my BEAST analysis on the following five unrestricted free-agents who will be coveted by all 32.

DT Christian Wilkins (Dolphins)

Analysis: The 2019 R1 pick (No. 13) will be one of the first ones off the board when free-agency begins. A scheme-diverse defensive lineman who can two-gap as a 3-4 (4-technique) or penetrate the A-gap as a traditional 4-3 (3-technique), Wilkins adds rare versatility at a premium position.

In 81 career games, Wilkins has amassed 20.5 sacks and boasts 204 solo tackles. While, he’s not on the level of a perennial All-Pro player like DT Chris Jones, DT Quinnen Williams or DT Aaron Donald--Wilkins does provide instant Pro Bowl potential coming off his best season in which he registered 9.0 sacks in 2023.

Scheme-fit: Texans, Raiders, Lions

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The Cleveland Browns bolstered their receiving unit by acquiring 2020 first-round pick (No. 15) WR Jerry Jeudy via trade with the Denver Broncos.

A move that GM Andrew Berry thought was well worth the risk, as he traded multiple 2024 late-round picks--he felt the move needed to be made in order to push the Browns forward in their quest for a deep playoff run.

Below outlines the draft capital the Browns sacrificed in order to land the Alabama product:

• 2024 R5 pick (No. 135)

• 2024 R6 pick (No. 202)

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Why the move was made

Browns needs:

• Needed WR2 to complement WR Amari Cooper

• 2023 traded for WR Elijah Moore who primarily lined up in slot while providing “gadget player” skillset

• 2024 NFL WR draft class is weak, leading Berry to find value in Jeudy despite acquiring him in a contract year

Broncos wants:

• GM George Paton is in rebuild mode & wanted draft capital to mortgage future after releasing QB Russell Wilson

• Paton believes foundational core comes from drafting/developing players

• Broncos now have a total of $30.5M in cap space to sign UFAs

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The 2024 NFL draft class is extremely top-heavy with limited first-round grades across the board. In any given draft you would be lucky to have 20-25 R1 grades. In 2024, I only accounted 14 players with that coveted first-round paycheck.

In grading the snap NOT the box score (GTSNTB), UCLA “Tweener” Liatu Latu comes in as a mid-level R2 graded player.

I…

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When the Los Angeles Chargers cleaned house after 11 years with GM Tom Telesco, it left a gaping hole in the organization.

At a time when plenty of big fish names surfaced after the firings of the GOAT Bill Belichick (New England Patriots), Seattle Seahawks XLVIII Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll, and the emergence of Michigan 2023 National Champion head coach Jim Harbaugh, I thought those three would all be ideal fits for the organization simply because of one word--”power.”

Belichick & Carroll were not one-trick ponies. In fact, during their respective tenures with the respective teams they coached, they were also the de-facto GM. This was something Harbaugh struggled with in San Francisco.

A power struggle that caused friction between ownership, management, and personnel. How do I know? I was there first-hand witnessing it all as my office was there covering the team as a San Francisco 49ers beat writer/reporter.

Not to mention, the close relationships I’ve made over the years, it was no secret that if Harbaugh was to land another NFL job, it would have to be on his terms without the oversight of a GM like he had with Trent Baalke (currently with Jacksonville Jaguars).

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When talking to people inside NFL circles, they asked for my thoughts on Harbaugh. I told them there’s really only one landing spot--Los Angeles Chargers.

Conventional wisdom would tell us, first hire the GM, then the GM marries himself to the head coach of his choice. But conventional wisdom doesn’t always pan out.

In fact, if you do it right, you can land a head coach before the GM and still see an abundance of success--most recently dating back to 2017 with San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan.

No question, Harbaugh wanted personnel power as part of negotiations and now he gets his wish in LA.

Harbaugh timeline

Harbaugh’s track record speaks for itself. He may also get on people’s nerves but the track record speaks for itself.

If winning is all that matters--no question, the Chargers won the jackpot. Below is Harbaugh’s track record dating back to the 619.

• 2004-2006: San Diego Toreros (29-6) | 2x Pioneer League Champion

• 2007-2010: Stanford Cardinal (29-21)

• 2011-2014: San Francisco 49ers (44-19-1) | 3 consecutive Championship berths

• 2015-2022: Michigan Wolverines (86-25) | 2023 National Champion

Which assistant coaches will follow?

If you’re going to change the cultural identity of an organization, you certainly need people who are like-minded at the top.

Back in San Francisco, Harbaugh was able to piece together a top-level coaching staff on both sides of the ball while retaining others:

• OC Greg Roman

• DC Vic Fangio (currently w/Eagles)

• RBC Tom Rathman

• OLC Mike Solari (currently w/Cowboys)

• WRC John Morton (currently Broncos pass-game coordinator)

• DBC Ed Donatell (most recently Vikings DC)

• Assistant DBC Greg Jackson (currently Texans DBC)

• Quality Control Coach Ejiro Evero (Panthers DC)

Some of these names will resurface including Donatell, who was very much liked by the players and helped the maturation and growth of young cornerbacks including CB Chris Culliver, CB Tramaine Brock, CB Tarrell Brown, CB Carlos Rogers, FS Dashon Goldson, FS Eric Reid and SS Donte Whitner.

Rathman is another name to watch. Although retired, I wouldn’t be surprised if Harbaugh reached out to his former running backs coach who helped fine-tune fundamentals working with RB Frank Gore, RB Kendall Hunter, RB Anthony Dixon, and RB Carlos Hyde, as he resides in Redwood Shores, CA.

And then there’s G-Ro. A guy who favors power-run, the scheme-fit would be ideal as the Chargers have a strong unit for playing power ball down in the trenches:

• LT Rashawn Slater (scheme-diverse)

• LG Zion Johnson

• RG Jamaree Salyer

They also hold the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and based on my analytics will have their pick of the top OT should they prioritize the trenches.

Two names to watch Penn St. Olumiywa Fashanu and my top-rated offensive tackle--Notre Dame OT Joe Alt (legacy of the great Chiefs OT).

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Could Ejiro Evero make the switch?

Another coaching candidate who seems to be gaining interest around the league is Carolina Panthers DC Ejiro Evero.

The Panthers just announced the hiring of Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Dave Canales as their next head coach. He will surely bring in his guys, which makes Evero a Harbaugh target if Canales opts to go in another direction.

Some things that Evero is known for includes an unquestioned work ethic--wakes up at 3:45 am PT to start his day, being a player’s coach, and tailor-made for a 3-4 base which the Chargers play.

He favors players who are physical, tough, and display a non-stop motor. That’s his identity. One player I spoke with who played for Coach Evero said:

“Coach is going to put his players in the best position to make plays. He’s a great teacher and always allows us players to provide feedback with a clear communication of our goal. Being a former player, also helps.”

Whether Evero reunites with Harbaugh remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised if it does.

Chargers salary cap-strapped

The Chargers are currently $45.8M over the cap. Harbaugh doesn’t have the luxury of a Paraag Marathe anymore to manipulate that aspect in helping turn that roster bonus into the signing bonus conversion spread over the life of that contract.

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He will have to rely heavily on the cap guys to maneuver that parameter which falls on the new GM’s shoulders.

Some big fish names to keep an eye on for my top-3 salary-cap casualties for each team include:

• OLB Khalil Mack ($23.2M savings)

• WR Keenan Allen ($23.1M savings)

• WR Mike Williams ($20M savings)

If you’re looking at this from a GM perspective, the best bet would be to release some of those players and then target a top tier WR with their No. 5 overall pick.

The analytics will tell you that although WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio St.) will likely be off the board to GM Monti Ossenfort and the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4, they could trade down, stockpile more picks, gain a fountain of youth, and use those rookie contracts from multiple picks to manipulate the cap, all while filling pressing needs--that would otherwise not be a viable option when having to overpay in the free-agent market in future years.

It’s a doggy-dog world, and the Chargers need the cap relief. Look for one of the two receivers to be let-go before June 1.

Harbaugh inherits Pro Bowl talent

Just like with the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh has a nice foundation to work with and for the first-time--a franchise NFL quarterback:

• QB Justin Herbert

• WR Keenan Allen

• LT Rashawn Slater

• EDGE Joey Bosa

• EDGE Khalil Mack

• SS Derwin James

Back in 2011, Harbaugh inherited Pro Bowlers:

• RB Frank Gore

• TE Vernon Davis

• DT Justin Smith

• ILB Patrick Willis

• K David Akers

• P Andy Lee

Coincidentally a total of 6 players as lightning strikes twice. As Coach Harbaugh pieces his staff, don’t be surprised if he delves into the past to bank on his future.

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Waiver wire vs Release

What’s the difference between a player being waived versus a player being released? This is a term that is often thrown around in the NFL media, and I understand the lingo can sometimes be a bit confusing. Don’t worry, I have you covered.

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Below is the simplest form breakdown of the subtle differences between the two terms and how they impact a team:

Waiver wire

• >4 years of service

• They go in the waiver wire pool

• 31 teams can “claim” that player (24-hour active deadline)

• HOWEVER, not anyone can simply call dibs on that player as it's based on the NFL draft order

• For example, CAR had 6th overall pick, so their claim spot is 6th overall

• IF the player clears waivers from ALL 31 teams, he’s viewed as UFA

• The waiver wire position remains UNCHANGED until Week 3 of the 2022 season, from there the NFL standings dictate the updated/new waiver wire positioning.

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Release

• <4 years of service

• Free to sign with ANY NFL team

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Speed. Instincts. Agility. These are three intangibles every scout looks for when evaluating cornerbacks:

• A cornerback needs speed to mirror fast wide receivers

• A cornerback needs a high football IQ to anticipate route recognition

• A cornerback needs loose hip flexors to change directions at the depth of his drop.

However, in my opinion no skill set is more important than fundamentals.

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CB Ahmed Plummer vs CB Rashard Anderson

A solid cornerback can get by with marginal quickness, marginal instincts, and marginal agility, if he’s fundamentally sound. A prime example of this was when the San Francisco 49ers first drafted CB Ahmed Plummer back in 2000.

If you remember, Plummer was highly regarded as the most NFL-ready cornerback coming out of the 2000 NFL Draft, despite being the third cornerback taken off the board. Why? Because he was a true-technician (student) of the game.

I hate to say it but fundamentals have become a lost art in today’s NFL. Today, we are seeing more underclassmen enter the NFL draft than in year’s past, and that greatly hampers a player’s development if they aren’t coached up.

Raiders of the lost art? Not under Coach McDaniels

Raiders HC Josh McDaniels echoed the importance of fundamentals--in last Sunday’s training camp press conference while citing the importance of the lost art:

“There’s an element of pre snap communication, there’s an element of post-snap assignments that really is the most important parts of this.

We spend the entire first half of the practice teaching the techniques and the fundamentals we’d like to see show up in the team drills.

So, you can evaluate the communication, you can see that they know their assignment and you can see that they are trying to use the techniques and fundamentals that we’re teaching.

And really there is not many good plays in football that happen without good communication and fundamentals, and that’s really a huge focus for us right now while the physical part is on hold for a few more days,” coach said.

Plummer entered the 2000 NFL draft as a senior and endured early success in San Francisco compared to Carolina Panthers first-round pick (No. 23) CB Rashard Anderson.

In Plummer’s first four seasons, he racked up 270 tackles, 12 interceptions and 59 PBUs.

Compare that stat line to Anderson who finished with 66 tackles, 1 interception and 6 PBUs before running himself out of the league after only two seasons, and you can see where the value of fundamentals lie.

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On the surface, one would fall in love with Anderson’s size for the position. At 6-2, 205, with a 123-inch broad jump, it’s not surprising to see an NFL team take a risk on a player’s upside rather than drafting a sure thing (Plummer).

He had the prototype size and length that scouts covet. But the one thing that was sorely missing from his game was being fundamentally sound. Let’s be honest, every coach believes he can get the most out of the player but it’s up to the player to turn that teaching into action.

Fast forward to present day, and the Raiders have a plethora of young cornerbacks to coach up including but not limited to:

• CB Rock Ya-Sin

• CB Trayvon Mullen (PUP)

• CB Nate Hobbs

• CB Amik Robertson

• CB Anthony Averrett

Whoever wins the two Raiders boundary CB positions weighs heavily on fundamentals. After all, part of any learning curve is understanding the minute details of the position.

So let’s open up my playbook and breakdown the fundamentals of the cornerback position and what the job entails when fundamentals are involved: (PSA: I posted my 49ers practice clips for reference).

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Four Common Techniques

When evaluating any cornerback you need to see how well they play their respective pre-snap splits/leverage.

• Press-man

• Press-zone

• Off-man

• Off-zone

Press-man/zone coverage

When the cornerback is lined up directly across from the wide receiver usually in bump-and-run. The whole purpose of press-man is to disrupt the timing between quarterback and receiver. In order to accomplish this action it requires fundamentals at the LOS (line of scrimmage).

Off-man/zone coverage & Press-Bail Technique

A cornerback can be in off-man or off-zone coverage. The difference is man vs zone coverage.

Now, we can talk about ROE where it may look like 1/4, 1/4, 1/2 based on how the coverage is drawn up. We can also talk about middlefield close, middlefield open, or the ROE of a complex Cover-7.

Note: Middlefield close is focused on an 8-man box--stopping the run first.

The ROE for each defensive coordinator’s scheme varies but for the sake of this article we will keep it very vanilla and stick to the techniques required for off-coverage.

Press-Bail Technique

Pre-snap technique showing (bump-and-run) then turning back toward the sideline once the ball is snapped--looking via the receiver to the quarterback.

In a nutshell, this is a zone-coverage where your post-snap leverage is flushing the receiver back inside using outside leverage. The downside to playing this technique is your hips are opened up too early allowing for speed-outs and breaking routes to the boundary.

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No matter the pre-snap split: To be fundamentally sound you must do five things:

1. Do the cornerbacks keep their shoulder’s squared at the LOS?

This is extremely important. Just like in basketball when coming off a screen, a cornerback shoulders must be squared in order to maintain proper leverage throughout the jam. If they don’t, they are susceptible to opening up their hips too early defeating the purpose of the initial play-call (technique).

2. Do their feet remain patient?

Many times over I have seen cornerbacks get happy feet when they are up in press coverage. Whether taking false steps or giving up too much ground off the release, it’s imperative that the cornerback maintain patient feet throughout, as they try to flat-line the receiver laterally.

3. Do they use proper hand-placement?

Using the proper hand to jam or disrupt the timing of the receiver coming out of his release (route-tree) is key. Whether playing with outside integrity (forcing player back inside) in a press cover-2 or simply playing straight up in press cover-0, the cornerback must be fundamentally sound when jamming the receiver off the line of scrimmage.

These three techniques are the building blocks for a strong press cover corner. There are more nuances that go into the process after that and it starts with pad-level.

4. Pad-level (stay low)

Does the cornerback keep a low center-of-gravity pad level? Does he have a strong cadence in his backpedal while cutting down false steps? Can he drop at the top of his depth? Does the CB close to the receiver first before trying to find the football? (find man then ball concept).

5. Sure-Tackler

Does the CB show fight in run-support and can he be a sure-tackler once the receiver makes the catch in open-space? This is very important. If you can’t tackle, if you take poor angles to the ball-carrier, if you don’t wrap up, if you don’t squeeze via the thighs, good luck my friend.

Secondary Fundamentals

Once the receiver comes off the line, the cornerback must keep his pads low maintaining a smooth cadence in his backpedal. From there he must have the COD (Change of Direction) skills to shadow the receiver downfield. Once the ball is up in the air, the fundamentals of locating man then ball come into play. From there it comes down to receptions, interceptions or PBUs depending on your closing speed.

However, it’s important to note that if you get too far up vertically on the receiver, you put yourself at a disadvantage. How? Because then the wide-receiver has the luxury of running back play-side toward the line of scrimmage, allowing himself a safe cushion for an easy catch (also called keeping it friendly). Instead the fundamentally thing to do is stay on his hip slightly in a trail position throughout the play.

From here it’s making a play on the ball at the catch-point--forcing turnovers and coming up with interceptions:

Now that we understand the basics of pass coverage, you’re probably wondering which Raiders cornerbacks are the most fundamentally sound when it comes to using these techniques? As of right now my top two choices would be CB Rock Ya-Sin & CB Nate Hobbs.

CB Rock Ya-Sin & CB Nate Hobbs shining in camp

I had the opportunity to catch up with Hobbs in yesterday’s presser while citing his innate ability to learn multiple positions using spacing to his advantage.

Watch my YouTube video below:

As the Raiders continue to groom their young but very talented core of cornerbacks, it will be interesting to see who wins the starting role opposite of Ya-Sin (taking my shot) as the position is up for grabs.

Mahalo for the read. If you enjoyed the content, please feel free to share this article, and also subscribe/follow on social media below to stay up-to-date on all things BEAST. Mahalo :)

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The Las Vegas Raiders took the practice field--this time in shells. A 9:00 am kickoff set the day in motion while getting in those mental/physical reps indoors.

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On Thursday we witnessed a Raiders offensive line where OT/OG Alex Leatherwood was playing backup duties to OG Lester Cotton & RT Brandon Parker. Could this be a sign or just a message to the players--that no player is safe, no matter your draft status in the “iron sharpens iron” mentality--so you better bring your A-game.

Whatever the case may be, it was surely a head-scratcher for me, considering Leatherwood played at a Pro Bowl level once kicked inside last year in my grading system.

Fast forward to today, not much has changed--as Leatherwood was again running primarily with the 2’s. Should we hit the panic button? Not yet.

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My guess is that Coach McDaniels wants to see how Cotton and Parker play before naming Leatherwood a potential starter. Remember, the “iron sharpens iron” mentality I touched on earlier in the year? This scenario certainly applies.

Therefore, I will reserve my analysis on the starting right side before dismissing Leatherwood completely. But what does Leatherwood have to say?

Raiders beat writers had the opportunity to catch up with the second-year player and how he felt fighting for a starting spot despite being a 2021 1st-round pick (No. 17). The question was asked by Vegas Nation reporter: Vinny Bonsignore

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“It’s just all about going in each day, keep your head down and working…make the main thing, the main thing…just have fun and compete.”

Notes

• RB Zamir White returns to practice

• OLB Chandler Jones misses practice for 2nd consecutive day

• GM Dave Ziegler again watches practice

• WRs do drill work on red zone efficiency

• NFL Network present with M.J. Acosta Ruiz & David Carr

7/30/22: Training camp videos via my iPhone

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Players/Coach Post-Practice Pressers

My question to CB Nate Hobbs on cross-training boundary CB from slot:

As training camp continues tomorrow, I’ll keep you updated on all things BEAST, as the team preps for their first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Today was the day where we can actually evaluate player performance. Guys running around in shorts isn’t going to cut it. Put the pads on and then formulate your analysis. For the Las Vegas Raiders, it was their first padded practice as training camp continued week two…

Raiders secondary

All eyes on the Raiders secondary. That was my mission going into today’s first padded practice. How are these young DBs learning their pre-snap splits?

• Do they play with proper leverage?

• Do they display patient feet while staying square at LOS

• Do they refuse to open hips up too early

• Do they stay on hip of receiver downfield in slightly trail mode while maintaining leverage advantage.

These are all fundamentals. It’s hard for anyone to notice them or point them out--if you don’t know what to look for.

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FS Tre’von Moehrig shines

My PFWA rookie 1st-team selection continues to impress me on many levels.

• Strong cadence in backpedal

• Doesn’t take false steps

• Displays range to play all cover-shells

• Displays oily hips to turn-and-run

• Wins leverage game (inside/outside)

Today, he did a tremendous job in 1-on-1 drills vs TE Darren Waller. The second-year player displayed sound fundamentals--winning early in the down as Waller tried to win 1/2 man game--attacking Moehrig’s leverage (moving defender one way) before making his break. A simple double-move if you will.

It didn’t work. Moehrig stayed square while keeping that strong backpedal cadence before breaking on the ball once Waller made his move.

I said to myself: “Wow”

I caught up with Moehrig last week. If you missed my question you can watch it on my YouTube channel below. (Be sure to subscribe for more exclusive silver & black coverage)

Too early to call Moehrig a Pro Bowl talent? Not me. I’m taking my shot and slapping that label on him, as he’s the real deal! BEAST approved!

SS Johnathan Abram struggles in 1-on-1 drills

To say that four-year veteran SS Johnathan Abram is shining is concerning. He’s not. He’s a huge liability in pass coverage and continues to be one step behind the play. To make matters worse, he doesn’t possess any range or makeup speed to recover once initially beat early in the down.

In today’s practice, Abram was routinely beat time and time again but did have a nice PBU toward the middle of practice. Still, not much has changed since running my grades on the 2019 1st-round pick. A huge liability in pass coverage but brings the hammer in run-support. Simply put, a traditional box safety with little movements skills in space.

Notes

• OLB Clellin Ferrell leaves practice with undisclosed injury

• OLB Darian Butler delivers violent blow to RB Brittain Brown

• ILB Divine Deablo gets coached up by Coach Pierce in stack-and-shed

• WR Hunter Renfrow continues to put on 1-on-1 clinic

• QB Derek Carr to WR Davante Adams deep downfield along left sideline was a bread basket catch type of play (in stride)

• Owner Mark Davis comes out to play, dressed like a boss

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7/27/22 Training camp videos via my iPhone

Players/Coach Post-Practice Pressers

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If you followed my training camp journey yesterday, you would know that I primarily focused on the wide receivers.

BEASTwriter+ Newsletter

7/21/22: News, Notes, & Quotes from Raiders Day 1 training camp practice

Football is back and so are the the Las Vegas Raiders--who are coming off a 2021 playoff run. However, a new management, new regime, and new cultural identity has created quite the buzz within NFL wavelengths…

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4 years ago · Ryan Sakamoto

Today, it was all about the offensive lineman--led by OT/OG Alex Leatherwood. The left side of the offensive line is pretty much set if you were to ask me.

• LT Kolton Miller | 2018 R1 pick (No. 15)

• LG John Simpson | 2020 R4 pick (No. 109)

• OC Andre James | 2019 UDFA

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OT Alex Leatherwood

The question marks are along the strong side.

• Who plays RG?

• Who plays RT?

That answer lies within OT Alex Leatherwood--the team’s 2021 R1 pick (No. 17). For those who are new to following me over the years, I developed my own grading-system when evaluating talent.

I don’t rely on PFF, I developed my own algorithm to determine the proper analysis. How credible is the analysis--check the #BEASTreceipt over the years and see for yourself. But back to Leatherwood--does he play RT or kick inside to RG?

When the Raiders kicked Leatherwood inside Week 5--it was an overnight success.

Through the next 3 games, Leatherwood quickly graded out as one of my risers:

• Week 5: 7.0 | Chargers

• Week 6: 6.0 | @Broncos

• Week 7: 8.5 | Eagles

Total: 7.2 | Pro Bowl level

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But Leatherwood wasn’t drafted to play on the interior--he was drafted to be a bookend tackle. Still, GM Dave Ziegler who comes from the Bill Belichick tree believes in fielding the “best five.”

Something I talked about earlier, the question remains, should Leatherwood be inside or outside? I believe Leatherwood should get a second shot to play right tackle--he’s young, talented, and strong at POA.

Year two is where a young player progresses the most anyway. Do you give up after year one or see what you have in year two? Another layer of the onion is this new offensive system--predicated on the power run not ZBS.

Despite my belief that Leatherwood is best suited inside, I still hold faith in that he can be a serviceable right tackle with pro bowl potential.

Below is a quick slant video of the Raiders OL as they work on fundamentals:

The wide receivers were on the short side of the field, so I had the opportunity to get some more video footage on Day 2. Below is a quick slant video of the WRs:

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Post-Practice Pressers

• CB Rock Ya-Sin

• OC Mick Lombardi

• OLB Chandler Jones

• QB Derek Carr

After practice concluded, the four players/coaches above were made available for the media. Here is a quick slant video of each of the four, as we take the sound bites from today’s festivities…

OC Mick Lombardi

OLB Chandler Jones

As the Raiders continue their early training camp schedule thanks to the Hall of Fame Game, I’ll keep you updated on all things silver & black as I report straight from Raiders HQ:

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Everyone is interested in new HC Josh McDaniels and how he will use the quartet of skill players including:

• WR Davante Adams

• WR Hunter Renfrow

• TE Darren Waller

• TE Foster Moreau

While we certainly can add RB Josh Jacobs to the list, I’ll leave him out for now, as we shift our focus to QB Derek Carr and the promising aerial attack.

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Earlier this morning--McDaniels met with Raiders beat writers before the team’s first practice to discuss his vision for the upcoming season. And while McDaniels wouldn’t delve too deep into specifics, he did touch on a number of topics.

Below is my quick slant video of McDaniels’ presser earlier today.

PUP | Physically Unable to Perform

• NT Johnathan Hankins (knee)

• DT Bilal Nichols (knee)

• CB Trayvon Mullen (foot)

Those players are currently in rehab and will continue to seek physical therapy for their respective injuries.

Competition internally creates positive vibes

Coach then touched on the design to add competition both internally and externally. The old saying that Jim Harbaugh used to tell me, “iron sharpens iron.” He also often used the term “every day you wake up, you either get better or worse, you never remain the same.” Both were evident in today’s pressers.

The iron sharpens iron mentality was in full swing as Coach McDaniels said that “competition” was best for all parties involved because it motivates the other to keep up or do better every day.

Below is Coach McDaniels talking about why competition is good and what it means for his players moving forward.

That’s the Raider Way. This is the Raider Mentality. This is the cultural identity moving forward. Aside from “accountability” and being “fundamentally sound,” you can add competition to compete at the top of the list.

Twitter Practice videos | Individual Work

• All eyes on WR Davante Adams

• QB Jarrett Stidham shines

• All players working on fundamentals

WR Davante Adams leads off individual drills

QB Jarrett Stidham works with TEs on intermediate game

Post-Practice Pressers

• S Duron Harmon

• TE Foster Moreau

• OC Andre James

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The rookies were the first to report on Monday and today the veterans were scheduled to come into Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center.

Tomorrow, the first day of practice will take place as training camp officially gets underway.

Today--it was news, notes and quotes from four key veterans as they met with the Raiders media:

• OG John Simpson

• WR Hunter Renfrow

• OLB Maxx Crosby

• ILB Denzel Perryman

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OG John Simpson

Third-year OG John Simpson was the first to take the podium and talked about “buy-in.” What does it mean when players buy-in? To put that in perspective from a coach/player relationship--the coach can structure the perfect game-plan, cultural identity, and scheme but if the players don’t believe in it--it’s all for naught.

Below is one of my quick slant videos of Simpson as he explains ‘buy-in.”

OLB Maxx Crosby

The second veteran to take the podium was OLB Maxx Crosby. The third-year vet was recently rewarded with a new four-year, $95M ($53M guaranteed) in new money.

Despite being the fourth-highest paid EDGE in the NFL in terms of APY coming in at $23.5M, the sack numbers don’t necessarily matchup. But as I always say, don’t be a box score reader.

BEASTwriter+ Newsletter

Raiders OLB Maxx Crosby rewarded with four-year, $95M new money deal

The Las Vegas Raiders acted swiftly in terms of extending one of their own, as three-year veteran OLB Maxx Crosby was rewarded with a four-year, $95M new-money contract extension with $53M guaranteed according to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter…

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4 years ago · Ryan Sakamoto

That’s why I run my BWF grades and grade the snap of a player rather than judging them off YouTube highlights or box scores. If a QB pressure creates a loss of down or negative play for the offense--that’s just as good as a sack.

Furthermore, when peeling back layers of the onion to get to the core, what if Crosby created pressure and the play resulted in a INT or turnover? Even better, right?

Crosby shed some light on only recording 25.0 sacks in three years in my quick slant video below:

ILB Denzel Perryman

The heart and soul of any defense usually comes down to the MIKE linebacker widely because they make the defensive calls and get their teammates aligned pre-snap. One could argue--for the Raiders, the heart & soul is Perryman.

Perryman, who is coming off his first Pro Bowl berth after being traded by the Carolina Panthers for a swap of late-round picks is seeking a new contract--just like TE Darren Waller.

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However, that hasn’t stalled Perryman from maintaining his focus in “doing his job.” He lightheartedly said that his agent will be handling that dilemma while wiping sweat from his head.

I have to be honest. The beanie/beater game is on point. I do the same, no matter the weather conditions (forreal forreal). But back to the 8-year vet.

He touched on a number of things today but mainly spoke on the new cultural identity that has taken the team by storm--”accountability.” My quick slant video below sheds some light on Perryman and how “accountability” has always played a role in his game.

WR Hunter Renfrow

If you were to ask me who the most valuable skill player on the Raiders current roster outside of WR Davante Adams--it would be hands down WR Hunter Renfrow.

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The diminutive yet shifty wide receiver has produced Pro Bowl numbers aligned from the slot. In HC Josh McDaniels’ offense the slot gets targeted early and often and the receivers have produced. Case in point--WR Wes Welker & WR Julian Edelman.

BEASTwriter+ Newsletter

Raiders gain $19.7M in cap space, why re-signing WR Hunter Renfrow should be top priority

The Las Vegas Raiders will gain $19.7M. in cap relief tomorrow due to releasing both ILB Cory Littleton and OLB Carl Nassib as designated post-June 1 cuts. The way contracts are structured for each individual player will determine the cap relief or cap hit the team endures…

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4 years ago · Ryan Sakamoto

To think that Renfrow won’t put up a similar stat line is fool’s gold. He’s the perfect complement to Adams, as he does the dirty work underneath against slower linebackers and taking command of middle ground real-estate.

Today, Renfrow touched on being a man of faith while echoing Simpson’s earlier comments on “buy-in.”

Renfrow then doubles down on his “bread-and-butter,” which happens to be his faith. Watch my quick slant video below as Renfrow provides insight on how he stays grounded while being able to perform at the highest level.

While there wasn’t much to report other than the team prepping for tomorrow’s first day of practice--it is important to understand the team’s cultural identity, mindset, and direction moving forward, as all parties need to “buy-in” to the new movement--simply labeled the Raider Way from 1475 Raider Way.

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The Las Vegas Raiders made headlines once again, but this time for the positive, as they announced the hiring of Sandra Douglass Morgan as the team’s new president.

Morgan, who abruptly replaces Dan Ventrelle--becomes the first black woman to hold the title of team president for an NFL franchise.

If you watched Morgan’s live presser--it was quick. No more than a handful of questions were asked by media members.

But the question remains…who is Morgan and what is she all about? Below is a breakdown of the person, leadership qualities and pedigree she brings to the silver & black along with some news, notes and quotes from her introductory press conference.

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Who is Sandra Douglass Morgan?

• Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV

• Studied political science at University of Nevada

• Studied at UNLV | Boyd’s Law School

• Served on Nevada State Athletic Commission

• Chairwoman & executive director of the Nevada Gaming Control Board

• Husband played SS for Cardinals and Vikings

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Raiders recent off-field drama

No question, Morgan will have her hands full from the get-go--primarily due to the team’s off-field incidents dating back to last year.

Morgan did not side step from the recent off-field issues that’s been hanging over the Raiders over the past few seasons:

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“I want to be clear. I’m not here to sweep anything under the rug or avoid problems or concerns that need to be addressed,” said Morgan.

“I accepted this role because I believe in the promise of the Raiders. I believe in the future of the Raiders. And I believe in the organization’s tenets, of integrity, community and most of all commitment to excellence.”

Morgan also revealed that she would continue to promote diversity in the workplace and that’s always a positive in the right direction. But what did the owner have to say on the new hiring?

Owner Mark Davis on hiring Morgan

“I am thrilled that Sandra has agreed to join the Raiders family,” Mark Davis, the team’s owner, said in a statement. “Her experience, integrity and passion for this community will be invaluable to our organization.”

While Morgan seems to be the right person for the job, it remains to be seen, how she will build up the team’s cultural identity from the ground up, as people have left the organization over the years for various reasons.

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The Las Vegas Raiders just signed slot machine WR Hunter Renfrow to a two-year, $32M deal. Something I predicted would happen sooner rather than later while putting his valuation vs. evaluation at roughly $15M APY, Renfrow received just that.

Now the focus has quickly shifted to another receiver. This time--TE Darren Waller.

BEASTwriter+ Newsletter

Raiders reward WR Hunter Renfrow with 2-year, $32M extension

Back on June 1, I predicted today’s outcome--WR Hunter Renfrow would be re-signed sooner rather than later. I doubled down on those gains by further taking my valuation vs evaluation analytics when predicting Renfrow’s potential new-money contract. Prediction: $15M APY…

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4 years ago · Ryan Sakamoto

Waller is under contract for the next two seasons--the problem is that he's outplayed that contract. Scheduled to be a UFA in 2024, Waller is seeking to be a top-10 paid TE.

Currently, Waller is the 17th highest-paid TE in terms of both APY ($7.6M) & Guaranteed Money ($16.5M). That clearly needs to change. Something I talked about on my facebook page for our Aloha kickoff question, the verdict is out whether he will get that deal in Las Vegas. You can follow us below:

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Waller seeks new deal

On Tuesday, Waller took the podium as mandatory minicamp began and was asked by Vegas Nation reporter Vinny Bonsignore about his current contract situation.

Waller responded:

“Whether I’m here 10 years or who knows how long, just being present here. And my agent’s job is to do that stuff and I just focus on the football part.

Because if I don’t focus on football and your mind’s elsewhere--you gotta be locked-in as a professional, I just try to be a professional every day.”

If you're his agent, you go straight to the numbers when discussing his numbers (no-pun intended).

BEASTwriter+ Newsletter

6/7/2022 | News, Notes, & Quotes from Raiders Coach McDaniels, QB Derek Carr, and TE Darren Waller

The Las Vegas Raiders beat writers were afforded the opportunity to meet with both coaches and players as mandatory minicamp began. On the podium schedule for the first day of minicamp: HC Josh McDaniels QB Derek Carr TE Darren Waller McDaniels spoke first and while he didn’t delve too much into the x’s and o’s, he did shed some light on the team’s progres…

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4 years ago · Ryan Sakamoto

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Since becoming the entrenched starter over the past three seasons, Waller has racked up:

• 252 catches | 3,006 receiving yards | 11.9 avg. | 14 TDs

Over that same time span, the third-highest paid TE Dallas Goedert has recorded:

• 160 catches | 1,961 receiving yards | 12.2 avg. | 12 TDs

The fourth-highest paid TE Mark Andrews has registered:

• 229 catches | 2,914 receiving yards | 12.7 avg. | 26 TDs

The fifth-highest paid TE David Njoku was the worst of the bunch:

• 60 catches | 729 receiving yards | 12.2 avg. | 7 TDs

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Valuation vs. Evaluation

In predicting the future numbers for Waller, I believe he will get paid somewhere in the ballpark of $12-14M APY which would place him in Patriots TE Jonnu Smith, TE Hunter Henry and Browns TE David Njoku company--right above Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki.

For kicks & giggles, let's just breakdown their respective numbers for the sake of my analysis.

Gesicki recorded:

• 177 catches | 2,053 yards | 11.6 avg. | 13 TDs

Smith registered:

• 104 catches | 1,181 yards | 11.4 avg. | 12 TDs

Henry racked up:

• 165 catches | 1,868 yards | 11.3 avg. | 18 TDs

If you take all those numbers from those higher paid TEs--this is where Waller ranks over that 3-year span:

• 1st in catches | 252

• 1st in receiving yards | 3,006

• 3rd in TD receptions | 14

For those wondering who the top two highest-paid tight ends are:

• TE George Kittle | $15M APY

• TE Travis Kelce | $14.3M APY

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I’m in many of the facebook groups and have a strong pulse of the Raider Nation when it comes to their team. Some say the player should play out his contract while others say a new money deal is earned.

In the end, I'm fairly confident a long-term deal will be reached. Waller's character, team leader, and Raider Way mentality alongside Pro Bowl intentions year-in-and-year-out will be something Coach McDaniels will lean on and a BIG reason Y (tight-end) Waller will remain in the Silver & Black long-term.

What are your thoughts, DOB fam? Start the discussion and drop those comments below…

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The Las Vegas Raiders beat writers were afforded the opportunity to meet with both coaches and players as mandatory minicamp began. On the podium schedule for the first day of minicamp:

• HC Josh McDaniels

• QB Derek Carr

• TE Darren Waller

McDaniels spoke first and while he didn’t delve too much into the x’s and o’s, he did shed some light on the team’s progress up to this point. The POE (point of emphasis) during camp and OTAs include but not limited to:

• Individual skills

• Fundamentals

• Technique

All those things embody the team’s cultural identity I spoke about when fostering the “Patriot Way” making its way to Raider Way in an earlier article (read below).

BEASTwriter+ Newsletter

How the "Patriots Way" is making it's way to Raider Nation

“The transition from a traditional 4-3 base to an odd-man front requires building the team from the inside/out. The Patriot Way has always been finding value in interior defensive lineman who can set the edge while rushing from the interior.” This was something I pointed out in an earlier article on March 10 …

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4 years ago · Ryan Sakamoto

Coach McDaniels was also asked about his Pro Bowl tight end and his current contract situation--without going into specifics he instead talked about the player and what he embodies:

Coach McDaniels on Waller:

“Good player…We love having him here. It’s really a pleasure to coach the guy. Comes with a great mindset and attitude every day. Here early, stays late, does extra, takes care of his body…love having him here and looking forward to coaching him.”

Waller is definitely in line for a new deal. Something I talked about on our facebook page that generated plenty of positive feedback from Raider Nation (follow us below).

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A beat writer then followed up with a question for Coach McDaniels regarding starting QB Derek Carr--as he wanted Coach’s insight on Carr’s most underrated part of his game that people might overlook.

Again, McDaniels deterred the question and instead enhanced the strengths of what Carr brings to the table…

Coach McDaniels on Carr:

“He’s been a good player for a long time…He’s smart. He works really hard at it. He understands the game of football. He’s got good arm strength and accuracy. He’s a good leader. Tough, he doesn’t miss a lot of games, he’s durable…been very impressed with him.”

OT camp battle

The team’s offensive line is by far the team’s weakest link especially on the right side. As of now, the front-runner is currently OT/OG Alex Leatherwood but that could change as it gets closer to the season opener—seeing his best fit could be on the interior.

That being said--another Alabama product named RT Lester Cotton has been seeing some PT at RT. My guy and Vegas Nation reporter Vinny Bonsignore asked McDaniels for his thoughts on Cotton’s play up to this point:

Coach McDaniels on OT Lester Cotton playing RT:

“Les shows up every day, works really hard, he’s having a great offseason…this time of the year for the linemen on both sides of the ball--you can only see half of what you need to see…Lester’s done a good job.”

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QB Derek Carr

Next on the podium was Carr. A player who was rewarded this offseason with a 3-year, $121.5M in new money. What did the franchise quarterback have to say in regards to his new team, coaching staff, and management? Here’s the most important information I gathered from his presser:

Q: On why the team is further along this time of the year, as opposed to year’s past:

“I think it starts with Dave [Ziegler] & Josh [McDaniels]. Keeping the right people here and they’re signing the right new guys. The expectation is always that we’re going to be here and we’re going to work. The guys that they signed and the guys that they re-signed, that are here—there’s literally no other answer.”

Q: On being reunited with college teammate WR Davante Adams:

“It’s cool. It’s kinda surreal. It’s been really fun for us. A lot of inside jokes from college and things like that...it’s just been fun to have my friend back.”

Q: On his first impression of new teammate OLB Chandler Jones:

“Just hard worker and great guy to be around. I think that’s the one thing that sticks out about Chandler is he’s really fun to be around. But at the same time when the helmet comes on and he gets between the lines, he works extremely hard.

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TE Darren Waller

The team’s Y was up next. I call him the Y because he plays tight end. A top-10 tight end, Waller has outplayed his current contract and was asked that very question, the moment he stepped up to the podium. Waller responded by saying the process will take care of itself:

“Whether I’m here 10 years or who knows how long, just being present here. And my agent’s job is to do that stuff and I just focus on the football part.

Because if I don’t focus on football and your mind’s elsewhere--you gotta be locked-in as a professional, I just try to be a professional every day.”

Waller is due for a new deal. The question remains--when will it get done?

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Notes

• All players present for mandatory minicamp

• RB Josh Jacobs worked “inside" facility

• Limited | ILB Divine Deablo (red jersey)

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Back on June 1, I predicted today’s outcome--WR Hunter Renfrow would be re-signed sooner rather than later. I doubled down on those gains by further taking my valuation vs evaluation analytics when predicting Renfrow’s potential new-money contract.

• Prediction: $15M APY

• Actual: $16M APY

If you would like to keep tabs on all my BEAST receipts (predictions/analysis), you can start by reading my previous June 1 article below:

BEASTwriter+ Newsletter

Raiders gain $19.7M in cap space, why re-signing WR Hunter Renfrow should be top priority

The Las Vegas Raiders will gain $19.7M. in cap relief tomorrow due to releasing both ILB Cory Littleton and OLB Carl Nassib as designated post-June 1 cuts. The way contracts are structured for each individual player will determine the cap relief or cap hit the team endures…

Read more

4 years ago · Ryan Sakamoto

Fast forward to today and Renfrow got was rightfully earned. An extension where fair-market value was in play--two-year, $32M deal ($21M guaranteed).

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Snippet from June 1 article:

Last year, Renfrow racked up 103 catches for 1,038 receiving yards & 9 TDs. Furthermore, when peeling back layers of the onion to get to the core, a whopping 50% of his catches were good for moving the chains (1st downs). That’s called production--the ultimate SLOT MACHINE!!!

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The argument for Renfrow’s extension can be further analyzed by his NFL rankings on those gaudy stats:

• 103 catches | T-9th in NFL

• 1,038 receiving yards | 21st in NFL

• 9 TDs | T-9th in NFL

• 452 yards after contact | 15th in NFL

Originally a 2019 R5 pick (No. 149), Renfrow is the perfect WR for HC Josh McDaniels’ system. Remember while in New England and how he utilized WR Wes Welker & WR Julian Edelman? Look for that type of production from Renfrow as he understands leverage, spacing, and finding soft spots in zone-coverage.

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A silky smooth route-runner who wins early in the down, Renfrow is a joy to watch from snap to finish. You can watch my YouTube video below as I praise Renfrow’s game while being fundamentally sound--”The Raider Way.”

What exactly do I like about Renfrow aside from the numbers? I’ll be breaking that down on my YouTube channel later today for our Mahalo Friday LIVE STREAM Q&A.

Next on the menu has to be TE Darren Waller. I spoke about his contract situation in our Aloha kickoff morning question on our facebook page & despite being two years away--he’s outplayed his current deal, as he’s clearly a top-10 tight end.

As the Raiders prep for their next set of OTAs on June 13-14, I’ll be sure to keep you updated on all things Raiders--just be sure to subscribe/follow all our social media so you get notified when we do below…

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The new regime is not taking any chances when it comes to potential foundational core players. All three 2019 first-round draft picks are playing in the last year of their respective rookie contracts.

• R1 (No. 4) | OLB Clellin Ferrell

• R1 (No. 24) | RB Josh Jacobs

• R1 (No. 27) | SS Johnathan Abram

Out of the three, I believe Jacobs has the highest probability of a potential return. Still, the new regime drafted RB Zamir White. So a two-headed monster in 2022, could see only one player gaining the lion share of the reps in 2023--if you know what I mean.

But this article focuses on one player--that’s SS Johnathan Abram. If you’re new to following me, I’m not afraid to voice my opinion. I always tell it like it is from the BEAST perspective.

Box Safety

When it comes to Abram, all I see is a traditional box safety. That’s not as much as a knock on his game, as it is hard to find a dual-threat safety who can do both--show up in run-support and cover ground downfield.

A couple weeks ago, I went on Raiders Nation Radio with my guy Vinny Bonsignore and he asked for my analysis of the team’s secondary. I told him Abram has the tools to play the box but range is questionable and needs some serious work to stay in Las Vegas. (You can follow my guy on Twitter below).

For the record, I’m a fan Abram. I like his leadership, tenacity, toughness, and grit. Those same traits are also what makes him oft-injured.

Too many times over we see defensive players go for the bone-crushing hit instead of squaring up to the target. This leads to injuries as players initiate contact with their shoulders.

Some players like SS Ronnie Lott, SS John Lynch, and SS Rodney Harrison have been known to the lay the wood. They’ve also been extremely durable during their respective NFL careers. So take this with a grain of salt.

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But in today’s NFL, the target area has been greatly diminished. Here is a brief breakdown of current hits on defenseless players:

Prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is:

1. Using helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder to initiate contact to a player’s head or neck area, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him

2. Lowering the head & making forcible contact with the crown or “hairline” parts of the helmet against any part of the defenseless player’s body

3. It is an illegal launch if a player (i) leaves both feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and (ii) uses any part of his helmet to initiate forcible contact against any part of his opponent’s body.

(This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless player, as defined in Article 7.)

Basically what you are teaching defensive players is to take your head/shoulder out of the game--with the mindset that using your shoulder to a defenseless player is fair play if you can predict the kinetic energy vs potential energy based on momentum. Take me back to senior year of high school physics.

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Abram style of play is violent but risky

• Missed 21 regular season games | 57% healthy

• Torn rotator cuff/labrum can be chronic despite surgery

• GM Dave Ziegler declined his 5th-year option

What does Abram do well?

• Tough, physical, throwback safety

• Locker room leader with strong football IQ

• Plays like a LB

• Perfect HWS for today’s safety | 5-11, 205 | 4.45 (40-yard)

Where does Abram need work?

• Pass coverage

• Takes poor angles at times

• Late to the spot when ball arrives

• Stiff hips for a safety

2022 Outlook

Every day (M-F), I release my Aloha kickoff question to kick start the day on my Facebook page. Be sure to follow all our social media listed below to be entered for our weekly #DarksideofBEASTwriter giveaways!

Today’s Aloha kickoff question was in regards to Abram and how the Raider Nation envision his play in 2022. The comments were concerning:

“Waive him.” - Justin K.

“I think he's out of position. I know he is a safety but he would be more useful as a linebacker... since his coverage game is a consistent liability.”- Joe O.

“He's got this season to prove and improve and that's it. He's nearly single handedly lost us games because of blown coverage.” - Allen S.

“I think damaged goods, cut your losses now.” - Donna H.

While I do think Abram has the traits to be a starting SS for the silver & black moving forward, it will be a tough sell for Ziegler and company, especially if Abram gets injured again--third time in four years.

In three injury-plagued seasons, Abram has recorded:

• 207 tackles | 3 INTs | 10 PBUs

What are your thoughts Raider Nation? Drop those comments below and lets hear your take on the 2019 R1 product…Mahalo :)

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The Las Vegas Raiders will gain $19.7M. in cap relief tomorrow due to releasing both ILB Cory Littleton and OLB Carl Nassib as designated post-June 1 cuts. The way contracts are structured for each individual player will determine the cap relief or cap hit the team endures.

For Littleton and Nassib, their 2022 cap number minus “dead money” will be the cap savings for LVR. Below is a breakdown of those numbers so you can see visually how it works:

ILB Cory Littleton

• 2022 cap number: $15,768,000

• Dead money: $4,018,000

• 2022 cap savings: $11,750,000

OLB Carl Nassib

• 2022 cap number: $9,652,000

• Dead money: $1,652,000

• 2022 cap savings: $8,000,000

Total cap savings: $19,750,000

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Salary cap-health

The Raiders currently sit at $4,759,843 in salary-cap health. Removing Littleton and Nassib off the books ($19,750,000) gives the team a total of $24,509,843 of salary cap flexibility.

Now the question remains, what direction do they allocate those resources? Do they use the funds to solidify the offensive line OR do they retain homegrown talent and give slot WR Hunter Renfrow a long-term deal?

If it was me, I would use the money to extend a top-5 slot guy in Renfrow. He’s entering a contract year, and you don’t want to enter a bidding war at season’s end.

WR Hunter Renfrow

Last year, Renfrow racked up 103 catches for 1,038 receiving yards & 9 TDs. Furthermore, when peeling back layers of the onion to get to the core, a whopping 50% of his catches were good for moving the chains (1st downs)--the ultimate SLOT MACHINE!!!

The argument for Renfrow’s extension can be further analyzed by his NFL rankings on those gaudy stats:

• 103 catches | T-9th in NFL

• 1,038 receiving yards | 21st in NFL

• 9 TDs | T-9th in NFL

• 452 yards after contact | 15th in NFL

Originally a 2019 R5 pick (No. 149), Renfrow is the perfect WR for HC Josh McDaniels’ system. Remember while in New England and how he utilized WR Wes Welker & WR Julian Edelman? Look for that type of production from Renfrow as he understand leverage, spacing, and finding soft spots in zone-coverage.

A silky smooth route-runner who wins early in the down, Renfrow is a joy to watch from snap to finish. You can watch my YouTube video below as I praise Renfrow’s game while being fundamentally sound--”The Raider Way.”

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How much is Renfrow worth?

When evaluating NFL contracts and assessing wide receiver money, it has definitely sky-rocketed. In today’s NFL, you need a trio of wide receivers. That’s just the way the league is trending.

While he’s not in line to make WR Davante Adams money--somewhere in the ballpark of $15M. APY is fair market value. That’s WR Allen Robinson, WR Adam Thielen, and WR Cooper Kupp price range. Anything below that you’re entering WR Corey Davis, WR Michael Gallup, and WR Curtis Samuel territory. Renfrow is far better than those latter players mentioned, so $15M. APY seems reasonable and fair.

• 4-year, $60-$65M. deal

Should the Raiders sign a veteran?

If Renfrow gets paid, that leaves the team with only $9.5M. of cap-health. Enough funds to give a seasoned veteran OT or CB a one-year deal. Whether that’s OT Darryl Williams or going after CB Chris Harris Jr., GM Dave Ziegler will continue doing his “due diligence” in fielding the best 53.

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t sign any of those players mentioned and would rather give OT Alex Leatherwood the right to win RT (no pun intended).

Salary cap outlook

What the Raiders plan to do with the extra cash remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure--Renfrow needs to be re-signed sooner rather than later, as he is a foundational player the team can build around.

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The Las Vegas Raiders are led by a new regime. GM Dave Ziegler and HC Josh McDaniels both hail from New England and both bring the mindset of leaving no stone unturned. “It’s the Patriot Way.”

Still, we must consider whether this was a PR move or a real opportunity for QB Colin Kaepernick to get back in the NFL. We all know the rampant off-field drama the Raiders endured last year.

From Henry Ruggs III fatal car accident to Jon Gruden’s resignation, the Raiders have been in complete disarray of late but hope the new regime can turn it around. I believe they will.

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Former NFL Player OG Glenn Parker

I host a show every Thursday at 4 pm PT called “In The Huddle” via RELEVNT and four-time AFC Champion OG Glenn Parker made a great point saying the move could’ve stemmed from “good faith” considering Kaepernick played at Nevada.

He also said that he didn’t believe Kaepernick was good enough to unseat QB Jarrett Stidham or QB Nick Mullens as the primary backup. “He’s a half the field read QB, he only plays 1/3.” Parker cited the Arizona Cardinals game as a turning point. I can’t disagree.

What we witnessed in that game based on film-study was something that was concerning and a big reason why Kaepernick struggled as safeties were afford the flexibility to cheat their pre-snap splits.

Still, Kaepernick is the perfect QB Marcus Mariota replacement with a strong arm and winning track record.

What are the Raiders getting with Kap?

I covered Kap during my time as a 49ers beat writer and no one was closer to him than I was. Maybe it was because of my ties to his childhood friends from Turlock or the fact that I worked out competitively and we would talk shop and fitness gains after practice.

Routinely, Kap would bring me Muscle Pharm products after practice for me to try out as post-workout or intra-workout meals. Who does that? He didn’t have to take that extra step with a random beat writer-- he could’ve just recommended the product for me to buy online while he gets paid for the cross-promotion. But that’s Kap. Rarely does he let people in but when you gain his trust, he lets his guard down a bit.

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Vegas Nation Reporter Vinny Bonsignore

While I was in Henderson, Nevada on the flight back to the Bay Area, Kap was working out with the Raiders. I didn’t get the opportunity to watch him in action but I did get some strong feedback from those were afforded the opportunity to interview head coach Josh McDaniels the following day.

My guy Vinny Bonsignore who covers LVR as a Vegas Nation Reporter for Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote:

“It doesn’t appear — as of now, anyway — that they view Kaepernick as a situational player who can be featured in specific packages during games.

For now, Raiders officials are keeping a tight lid on what they saw when Kaepernick took the field. Coach Josh McDaniels said general manager Dave Ziegler has worked out many players this spring.

“We really don’t make comments about the evaluations that we’ve made or what they look like or what they didn’t look like, strengths and weaknesses, those kinds of things are kind of private between us,” McDaniels said.

Asked about the motivation to work out Kaepernick, McDaniels said the Raiders are leaving no stone unturned in improving the roster.

“We’ve said it from Day 1 that we would look at every opportunity,” McDaniels said. “He’s not the first player that we looked at, not the last one. There’s going to be a lot of players that come in and out of this building and try to make an impression.” [read full article by clicking here]

While it appears a long shot for Kaepernick to make the Raiders roster--it’s intriguing to point out that his dual-threat ability down in the red zone, as a potential zone-read QB may be too good to pass up. Think situational football.

Let’s be honest, Kap still has the legs to reach the end zone while kissing his bicep--the question remains--will it be in Las Vegas or somewhere else? Time will tell.

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