Ballers & Busters: Raiders preseason Week 3 vs Cowboys
One more chance for many hopefuls on this Raiders training camp roster to show what they can do, both for the Raiders coaches as well as the rest of the league.
How did they do in this final exhibition? Let’s take a look
Ballers
WR Kristian Wilkerson
With one, and possibly two, receiver spots up for grabs on the Raiders roster, Wilkerson set out to prove he was worthy of it. And he put his best foot forward, catching 10 passes for 122 yards. No other Raiders receiver came with seven catches of his total and only one receiver came within 100 yards of his receiving total.
K Daniel Carlson
Went three for three in the game, including a 62-yarder and a 50-yarder. That 62-yarder was an upright splitter which looked like it would’ve been good from 70 yards. What a weapon.
RB Damien Williams
He doesn’t just have a great first name, he was breaking off big yards in chunks. He had two of the top four longest plays by the Raiders in this game and the only two runs that went for over ten yards. He had the Raiders’ only touchdown in the game on a 24-yard burst. Then he had a 20-yard run to lead out the third quarter that led to a field goal. He finished with 54 yards and a TD on six carries (nine yards per carry).
G Jordan Meredith
On both of those long Williams runs, Meredith laid a key block. His only mistake in the game was being flagged for holding.
DT Nesta Jade Silvera
Early in the second quarter, he had a run stuff for one yard on third and two. A few plays later he made the stop on a three-yard run. His best play may have come on a 16-yard catch in which he raced into the secondary to make the tackle. His five combined tackles led all Raiders defensive linemen. He added a QB hit as well.
Honorable Mention
QB Aidan O’Connell — Another efficient day for the rookie. Though he was unable to throw any touchdowns, he didn’t turn the ball over either.
WR Cam Sims — Had another fantastic grab in this one. This time reaching up high to pluck a 22-yard grab up the left sideline. The skills he has shown as a jump ball target are valuable.
Busters
LB Amari Burney
Rough outing for the rookie linebacker. On the Cowboys’ second scoring drive, Burney was out of position on a 10-yard screen and an eight-yard completion that put them in first and goal from the eight.
Next scoring drive, he missed a tackle on a 29-yard catch and run and then was out of position to allow a wide open touchdown catch from 15 yards out.
Next scoring drive he missed a tackle to give up an 11-yard run and was among those who gave up a four-yard run on fourth and one that put the Cowboys in first and goal at the seven.
S Isaiah Pola-Mao, David Long Jr
The Cowboys were able to get in scoring position four times in the first half and score three TD’s in large part because of Pola-Mao and Long. Long gave up an 11-yard catch on third and five to keep the drive alive. Then on the next play, Pola-Mao missed a tackle on a catch in the right flat that went for 13 yards. Then in first and goal from the two, he was blocked to allow the QB to scramble for a touchdown.
A 12-yard catch Pola-Mao gave up put the Cowboys in field goal range on the next drive. Then Long was burnt badly on a would-be touchdown pass if not for the pass sailing over the receiver’s head. The long field goal was missed.
Long was out of position on a nine-yard catch that put the Cowboys in the red zone on their second scoring drive. And he was among a few Raiders players to miss the tackle on a 29-yard catch and run that set up their third touchdown.
DE George Tarlas
Tarlas had the Raiders’ only sack in the game. But otherwise it was a whole lotta bad for the undrafted rookie. He gave up a 13-yard run early in the Cowboys’ scoring drive in the third quarter. Then, later in the drive, he gave up a four-yard run on fourth and one to set up first and goal. The next play, he gave up the touchdown on a scramble from seven yards out.
